Curious Pictures (producers of Rhythm City, The Lab, Intersexions, Hopeville), Endemol (Isidingo, Survivor: Maldives, Big Brother Africa Six) and Ochre Media (Scandal and Takalani Sesame) have launched South Africa's Next Top Filmmaker.

The competition is in its third year. It is held in conjunction with General Post, an agency that supplies clients with staff for digital media and post-production projects.

General Post's managing director Kirsty Galliard said the competition was growing each year after it started in 2010.

Galliard said: "You will never be rich as a filmmaker in this country, but if you're passionate about the industry and you enter and win such a competition, you're definitely made.

"If you're an idiot, you obviously won't get anywhere, but if you work hard, that is a huge jump-start in this industry, which we all know is hard."

Interested people can apply on the agency's website and attend a workshop on May 26, before they are expected to submit proposals for judging by June 22. No film or broadcast experience is needed.

Once all the entries have been received, the panel will whittle them down to about 15.

Budding filmmakers will be expected to pitch their script ideas on July 2.

Following that, the judges will again cut down the list to three finalists, to be announced on July 7. The finalists will then be expected to produce their films, with the mentoring of the production companies.

The competition will culminate in a gala event on October 11, at which the finalists' films will be screened and a winner announced.

The winner receives a paid one-year internship at one of the partnering production companies.