Octavia Spencer announced the following contest on her Facebook fanpage on Friday, and I'm simply passing it along, as some of you may want to participate:

I was struck this past week when a young filmmaker asked me how I coped when my dreams felt far from my grasp. My answer to her and all of you is I always feel mine are always within reach. What many people don't know is that it takes an average of 15 years to become an over night success. In that time you must create and continue to hone your skills. If you are a musician, write poetry and turn it into an amazing song. If you are a filmmaker write a short and shoot it. I've done it twice now. I know it's not easy.

Two of my friends shot beautiful, award winning shorts on the CANON EOS 60D. One of those films was shortlisted to potentially receive an Oscar nomination yesterday. Trust me I know money is tight. So, in honor of Award Season, I'd like to help someone else see their dream realized.

Here's the deal:

If you've shot a short and it's just sitting around your hard drive, post a link to it here on my page before Feb. 10th.

Film can be from anywhere in the world as long as it's subtitled, and can be any genre. It can NOT exceed 20 mins in length.

YOU MAY ONLY POST YOUR FILM ONCE! Though you may enter multiple films.

The Winner wil receive:

CANON EOS 60D,

Platinum 6000 Digital Tripod

$1000.

I will also share the link to the winning film on twitter and ask everyone to retweet it.

Good luck. This is my way to pay it forward.