Over the weekend, Canon U.S.A. launched an interesting new contest, “Long Live Imagination,” in partnership with Hollywood director Ron Howard.

Photographers of all stripes are being asked to submit digital snapshots that fall into one or more of eight different movie theme categories. Howard will help pick the best and turn them into a user-generated short film, Project Imagin8ion, to be shot on the latest Canon DSLR products. From today’s press release:

“I was moved by the opportunity to collaborate with the masses, tapping into consumers’ creativity and using their photos as building blocks to produce a film,” said Howard. “I hope the project stimulates people’s imaginations whether they are an amateur photographer, a world traveler or a proud parent, and I hope what we create is meaningful.”

Watch for a TV commercial that starts airing today. The eight submission categories, open through June 2nd and June 14th respectively are: setting, time, character, mood; and relationship, goal, obstacle, the unknown. The eight individual category winners will get to attend red carpet premieres on both coasts.

[More info and, as of 08/04/11, eight winners: YouTube/imagination]