The just announced first ever Global Mobile Film Festival is officially calling for short films by international filmmakers on Monday.

The festival - announced by GSM Association (GSMA), the global trade group for the mobile industry, and Mofilm, pioneer of short films for mobile and online distribution - will debut at the Mobile World Congress in 2009. It follows the success of GSMA's previous partnership with the Sundance Film Festival, creating the Global Short Film Project that debuted at the Mobile World Congress in 2007.

As quoted by marketwatch.com, GSMA chief marketing officer Michael O'Hara said, "We have found there is avid interest and appeal in the idea of showcasing short films on the mobile screen, not just in terms of the ability to reach audiences in a very personal and direct way, but also in the potential scale and the viral nature of the medium."

"There are already more than three billion screens in the hands of users, and with increasing sophistication of mobile broadband networks and rapidly evolving device capabilities, the time is right to create a festival devoted to small screen movies and to invite international film makers to participate for the first time."

GSMA and Mofilm are looking for film with a maximum of five minutes in length, made using traditional filmmaking techniques by established and upcoming film directors, and films made using mobile devices.

Entries may be submitted online at mofilm.com until November 28.