Mobile and online video content company iThentic and the National Film Board of Canada have extended the deadline for viewers to submit their own films as part of their "Mobile Stories: Obsessions" project.

In phase one, iThentic commissioned six three-minute films in which award-winning filmmakers tackle the concept of obsession. Phase two invites viewers to watch the films and create their own mini movies in response for a chance to win $1,000. The viewer submissions will then be reviewed and the top six will be part of the Shortsnonstop Mobile Movie Festival and screened at the CFC Worldwide Film Festival.

The deadline for submission was extended from April 5 to April 18 in the hope that more fans will opt to send in a film.

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Shortsnonstop is a year-round mobile film festival that invites mobile moviemakers to upload their creations throughout the year. Six times a year, 10 finalists have their films promoted and distributed in Canada through Telus' mobile networks, with the winner getting $1,000.

According to iThentic co-founder and CEO Catherine Tait, she was hoping to receive the 50-60 submissions they usually get for each Shortsnonstop festival cycle, but it isn't a complete surprise that they've only received 15 so far.

Mobile Stories marks the first time that viewers have been asked to shoot narrative stories on a specific topic rather than just uploading three minutes' worth of whatever they happen to point their phone at and click the camcorder button. Tait says that Mobile Stories essentially "raised the bar" for mobile filmmaking.

IThentic is particular about the content that goes up on its Web site and tries to limit it to the best short films available. It creates some, commissions some and invites users to submit some as well. The films are offered through Cellfish's WAP portal and in Canada through mobile operators Telus and Rogers Wireless.

For folks who aren't quite sure what makes a good mobile movie, iThentic has a tutorial on how to tell a story in three minutes and other essential bits of information.

(Image credit: Jupiterimages Unlimited)