Josh Brolin finds his voice

Josh Brolin, the actor who received critical acclaim for his portrayal of George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's biopic "W.," has taken on a new executive role -- honorary chairman of a film competition sponsored by Netflix Inc. and Film Independent, the nonprofit organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival.

The Netflix Find Your Voice Film Competition will award one aspiring filmmaker $350,000 in cash and production help to make and distribute the winner's movie. 

Film Independent will evaluate the submissions, due Feb. 9, and select 10 semifinalists, who will be asked to submit two- to three-minute video shorts. These videos will be posted on the competition website for the public to screen and vote on through July 5. The five videos receiving the most votes will be designated as the competition finalists.

A panel of judges, including Brolin, will review the finalists' videos and pick a winner, who will receive a $150,000 production grant from Netflix and four weeks of access to a camera package donated by Panavision, Kodak Film and Deluxe Entertainment Services. 

Brolin extolled the work of directors Robert Rodriguez, brothers Ethan and Joel Coen, and Gus Van Sant, who got their start working on small-budget, independent films. That why he decided to volunteer his time to the competition, he said, to "give hope to aspiring filmmakers."

"What these guys are doing is giving somebody an opportunity to make a film," Brolin said.

More information about the competition, its eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria and an entry application can be found here.

-- Dawn C. Chmielewski

Photo: Actor Josh Brolin speaks at the announcement of the Netflix Find Your Voice Film Competition at the W Hotel in Westwood.

Credit: Charley Gallay / Getty Images