Student filmmakers from Iowa State and across the country will have a chance to win an MTV golden popcorn bucket.

MTV’s college network, mtvU, will be handing out the first “Student Filmmaker Award” at the June 3 MTV Movie Awards.

Ross Martin, head of programming for mtvU, said he is excited about the opportunity the award will give students across the nation.

“Because there are so many talented filmmakers on campuses, we want to give students a national platform for their work,” Martin said.

Students must submit a portfolio of short films by April 3.

Scott Beck, junior in communications at the University of Iowa, won the 2005 mtvU “Best Film on Campus.”

He was awarded a development deal with MTV and will begin work on a film with MTV Films shortly.

Beck encouraged others to try and follow his path.

“These contests are great because they give students opportunities that would be hard to get otherwise,” Beck said.

“You can really get your foot in the door of a highly competitive industry.”

This year’s winner will receive a development deal guaranteeing funding for a short-form content film, as well as having their films exhibited to a massive audience online and on mtvU Uber, the network’s broadband channel.

Anders Holine, freshman in art and design, won the ISU “Res Film Fest” this year and is considering entering the mtvU contest, said there are more benefits than just the prize package.

“It gives you confidence in your ability and makes you want to make more films,” Holine said.

Beck agreed, saying it has been a huge boost to him and his work to know that other students respect what he is doing.

Senior executives from mtvU will announce five candidates around April 11. Once the contestants are narrowed down, the final winner is chosen online by student voters.

The award will become a regular category for the MTV Movie Award show.

Holine and Beck agree that it is tough as a student to find the time and money to put together films, and winning a contest can help.

“[The contests] can help springboard your career, helping you to find budgets and money,” Holine said.

MtvU has been making an effort to expose talented students across the nation with several contests, including best band, best comic and best animation.

Martin said the purpose of the contests is to make mtvU a launching pad for student talent.

“We want to be an incubator, discovering talent and blowing it out on air through these contests,” Martin said.

Although Iowa State currently isn’t an affiliate of mtvU, ISU students can enter the “Student Filmmaker Award” contest, but may run into problems trying to participate in future contests.

“For this contest you don’t have to be an mtvU affiliate, but for about 98 percent of our contests you do,” said Jason Rzepka, manager of communications for mtvU.

Adding mtvU to a campus is free of charge and can open a large window of opportunities for a student body. Rzepka said anyone interested in bringing mtvU to the ISU campus should talk with the ISU administration and then contact mtvU.

For instructions on how to submit videos for the “Student Filmmaker Award,” log on to www.mtvu.com/contests and click the student filmmakers link.