The 9FILMFEST is back for its third edition, this year offering the grand prize of a car, thanks to its new sponsor, Toyota.

Now called the Style by Toyota 9FilmFest, the annual short-film competition challenges filmmakers to craft a nine-minute movie that incorporates the festival’s “signature item”, which changes every year.

This time around, the “9SI” is “waterway”, which means the films must somehow feature a river, stream or a canal – moving-water features that are easy to find around Thailand.

“The symbol ensures that the films have been created for our festival,” says Brian Bennett. A seasoned festival hand, he founded the original Bangkok Film Festival in 1998.

The maker of the best film will drive away in “a brand new Toyota Vios”.