Since EFIS is putting its focus on young people, EFIS has started a new approach to interest especially this group for science.

Scientific reportages normally attract an audience which is already scientifically oriented, and have as their main objective, providing information. In contrast, short films are provocative and entertaining and deliver a message that inspires the audience to learn more about the topic. The short film format may be viewed as catching a viewer with an appetizer and thereby stimulating curiosity, instead of offering the whole meal.

Besides Short films are becoming more and more interesting as a film genre throughout the world. The internet, in particular, supports this kind of communication with formats such as YouTube and others. Renowned film festivals feature among others, the category of short films, establishing it as a serious art form. It is an exciting medium which is alive in the fast-paced world of young people today.

EFIS, the European Federation of Immunological Society, has started a contest called Short Cuts for Immunology offering an prize for the best short films that:

• create a relationship between short film and the science of Immunology
• use the short film genre as a media to set scientific topics in a specific context
• encourage young directors to address scientific topics of social concern

The contest was dedicated to discovering new talent in short film submissions from all over Europe, including Turkey.

The reply was impressing with the high quality of incoming submissions as well as with the wide variety and inspiration of the approaches to the specialized subject of immunology.

An international jury evaluated the incoming proposals from varying viewpoints: as screenwriters, movie specialists, audience members, as well as the media.

One proposal with the potential to reach a wide audience, using humor to breaking down barriers and lead people into a the discovery of a scientific topic with a simple, globally understood theme was chosen for realization.

The short film will be introduced to the public in combination with the DoI 2009 and will be shown on numerous occasions. Click here for your invitation to the premiere

EFIS feels strongly that this contest has been successful in demonstrating that short films are a suitable medium with which to cover scientific subjects such as immunology .EFIS hope that this publicity will stimulate and attract lay people to become more actively informed about the topic and to make immunology more visible to the public.