MUMBAI: Suzuki Auto has teamed with the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) and Cinedulce.com to announce the official call for entries for its first nationwide animation contest, Animate! — La vida Suzuki.

The contest will run from 15 October, 2007 through 29 February, 2008 and conclude with the winning animation being featured at the 2008 NYILFF in July.

“Suzuki is thrilled to launch its first-ever animation contest in partnership with the New York International Latino Film Festival. This exciting contest is a unique opportunity to connect our company and products with the Latino creative community and with those who choose to live life instead of watch it go by,” said Suzuki Auto vice president of marketing Gene Brown.

The online animation contest gives animators over 18 years of age, and who are US residents, an opportunity to create original animated work with an Urban Latino feel that reflects the Suzuki “Way of Life” brand proposition, which promises vehicles for active lifestyles, adventurers and thrill-seekers. Submissions must be no more than three minutes in length and feature Suzuki Auto branding and a Suzuki automobile, such as the dynamic XL7 crossover SUV.

The Grand Prize winner, to be announced in March, will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to the 2008 NYILFF, where the winning animation will be featured, and a grant of $5,000 to produce a series of two webisodes that will run on Cinedulce.com site in June and July.

“We are thrilled to have Suzuki as our official automotive partner. We are inspired by the company’s commitment to support Latino talent, particularly in animation, a new programming addition for us. We are also honored Suzuki selected Cinedulce, our new Urban Latino digital distribution platform, as the online destination for this exciting contest,” said NYILFF executive director and Cinedulce CEO Elizabeth Gardner.