By Roy Weavers

After last years success, the Cairns Underwater Film Festival is back this August (Saturday 7th, Civic Theatre) with more Local Talent in short Videos and a Photo Competition. 

The Cairns Underwater Photo Competition will launch this month on the Mike Ball Website and will be advertised Australia wide. Entry fee is $20 per entry, not per photo.  And the deadline for Entry will be 30th June 2010.

There are 4 Categories to enter, Macro / Fauna & Flora / Man & the Sea / Young photographer, plus a Jury’s award for Best in Show.

Winners will be announced and prizes awarded on the Sat 7th August 2010 at Civic Theatre during the Film Festival night.

Log on to www.mikeball.com for Submission Guidelines & Entry Forms.
There are a whole mass of prizes which include :

- Young Photographer 16 years and under - 1 Reef and Dive package for 2 persons on the Great Barrier Reef with Haba Dive plus a compact Camera / Housing package from Innovations Australia

- Macro winner - 7 nights Dive package at Loloata Island Resort, PNG return flights included.

- Special Jury Award - 7 nights Dive package at Walindi Dive Resort, PNG return flights included.

- Fauna & Flora - 7 nights Coral Sea Safari with Mike Ball Expeditions

- Man & the Sea winner - 7 nights Coral Sea Safari with Mike Ball Expeditions
This year will see the screening of the Winners of the 36th World Festival of Underwater Films direct from Marseille, France. 

Considered as the benchmark of underwater films, this International Festival attracts more than 25 000 general public visitors during 4 days of exhibitions and viewings and includes 900 competitors from over 50 nations. It is the most prestigious celebration of underwater art, movies, videos, photos, slideshows, music, paintings, drawings, books etc….See the website www.Underwater-festival.com

The Cairns Underwater Film Festival will delight those who love to explore remote and new Underwater Worlds. We are bringing 8 awarded films (detailed program later) from various nations and will also screen a selection of short movies from local talent.  Over 2 hours of entertainment at the Cairns Civic Theatre, Saturday 7th of August.   The Cairns Underwater Festival is now in its 4th year and is growing in popularity.

We live on the doorstep of the largest Marine Park in the world where a huge pool of talented underwater artists and diving enthusiasts live. This is the occasion to bring the North Queensland marine and diving industry together with the local community and share our common passion: the beauty of our oceans and its protection for our children. It also offers locals and visiting photographers to the region the opportunity to receive recognition for their work.

Editors Comments:  We’ve got some of the best underwater photographers in the world based in Port Douglas, come on guys let’s win this and show Cairns who really owns the Great Barrier Reef!