To launch this years Virgin Media Shorts competition, award-winning British actress and Hollywood A-lister Thandie Newton has gone back in time to 1917 to celebrate the cultural and film icon that is, Theda Bara. http://twitpic.com/1eyxfu

A cinematic sex symbol of the short and silent film era in the 1910s, Theda Bara played a glamorous and alluring Cleopatra in the 1917 movie, of the same name.

Now in its third year, Virgin Media Shorts is the only short film competition to give British film makers the opportunity to have their work showcased to millions of people across the country on four screens - on 214 cinema screens, on TV, on mobile and online. The competition encourages film makers to upload their films for the chance to win a Grand Prize of up to £30,000 film funding, and the opportunity to work with Virgin Media to make their next short film.

Virgin Media Shorts aims to shine a light on the best up-and-coming British film talent with the help of a prestigious judging panel from across the film industry. This year, Thandie will team up with following judges to complete the panel:

British film director, best known for his directorial debut Moon, Duncan Jones

British film director, best known for Four Weddings & A Funeral, Mike Newell

Film critic and broadcaster, James King

Executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, Cindy Rose

Plus one very lucky competition winner!

Follow us at

http://twitter.com/vmediash... &
http://facebook.com/virginm...

for updates on our competition and the latest and best film news!