The SundanceInstitute launched its fourth annual Sundance Online Film Festival (SOFF)yesterday (6), featuring 30 short films and interactive projects and newfootage highlighting the history of the Sundance Film festival and theInstitute.

The online eventruns until Feb 15 and includes three categories of animation, short subject andnew forms gallery.

An inauguraljury award will be presented to the winners from each category and onlineviewers will also be invited to rate entries for the audience award. All awardswill be announced on Jan 24 at the Sundance Film Festival's awards ceremony.

"The worldwideweb is a premiere medium to showcase the new forms of storytelling resultingfrom the continuing convergence of new technology and artistic expression,"John Cooper, director of programming at the Sundance Film Festival, said in astatement.

"We are always searching for new ways to exhibitcutting-edge work to broader audiences, and we also strive to achieve thefreedom to present original content unencumbered by traditional methods ofdistribution."

SOFF films will screen inthe SOFF LG Theatre during the Sundance Film Festival, which runs from Jan15-25.