Kevin Spacey to judge short films

A competition to find the UK's best short film makers is set to have Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey as part of its judging panel.

The competition will offer a first prize of £30,000 and screen the winner's work in cinemas across the country.

The American Beauty star will work alongside Oscar-nominated short film director Daniel Barber, head of the New Cinema Fund of the UK Film Council Lenny crooks and Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson to judge the Virgin Media shorts competition.

The competition will "provide a terrific opportunity for emerging talent to find a shop window for their work", said the actor

"It's great that Virgin Media is supporting British film in this way," he added.

"The film business is only as strong as the talent it attracts and it's really important that we find new ways of engaging young filmmakers and showcasing their ideas and creativity."

In related news, Spacey recently criticised a US TV show for cutting short his interview about the 2000 presidential election.

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