Ahead of the India release of the Oscar nominated silent French movie "The Artist", filmmaker Anurag Kashyap along with Tanweer Films has launched a nationwide online short film contest.

Aspiring filmmakers are required to send three-minute black and white, silent, short films, which will be judged by Kashyap.

"I am very proud to be associated with the 'The Artist' and I think it is the finest film of 2011. I love the film for the sheer cinematic experience it offers and the nostalgia it evokes," Kashyap told in a statement.

Directed by Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist" is set in Hollywood between 1927 and 1932 and focuses on a fading male star and a rising actress and how silent cinema grows out of fashion and is replaced by the talkies. The film stars Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. Tanweer Films is distributing the film in India .

"As cinema, 'The Artist' represents unadulterated and wholesome filmmaking wherein simple storytelling takes precedence over technical embellishment. For film lovers, this film is a study in the craft and the nuances of filmmaking...a must watch," he included.

The winner of the contest will be flown down to Mumbai to watch their movie, alongside Kashyap.

The director will also enlighten them on filmmaking abilities and give them tips on short filmmaking. The winning film will also be shown on an associated news channel.

In the meantime, "The Artist" is on award winning spree. After bagging three Golden Globes, "The Artist" leads the nomination list of BAFTA.