In a unique collaboration between Saatchi & Saatchi, Genero.tv, BUG Music Videos and Universal Music, a new competition launches today that invites aspiring filmmakers to create a music video for a classic track from the Godfather of Soul himself, James Brown.

James Brown – A Music Video Challenge gives up-and-coming filmmakers the chance to make a music video for one of four of James Brown’s most imperishable classics – Sex Machine, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World, and Try Me. These tracks – none of which have ever had a music video made for them before now – can be accessed from the competition page on Genero.tv.

The Grand Prize, awarded to the entry judged to be the outstanding visual interpretation of one of these songs from the James Brown archive, will give the winning director the opportunity to work on a project in a key office in the Saatchi & Saatchi global network.

12 finalists for the Grand Prize will also have the chance to have their work selected as the track’s official video, and win a cash prize, as the competition is timed to coincide with the James Brown catalogue being re-released digitally on iTunes and elsewhere this summer. The classic James Brown Live at the Apollo album is also being reissued later this year, to mark it’s 50th anniversary.

The judging panel, to choose both the finalists and winner, will consist of members of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Board, Genero.tv, BUG and Universal Music. And directors selected for this year’s Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase – held at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in June – will also be invited on to the judging panel to help select the winner.

The competition launches today (May 16) and runs until the June 25th 2012 – no entries will be accepted after 23.59 GMT on that date. The 12 finalists will be revealed in mid-July and the winner announced on the Genero.tv competition page on July 30th 2012.

It’s the second year in succession that Saatchi & Saatchi have collaborated with BUG Music Videos to find new directing talent via a Music Video Challenge, following the very successful competition last year involving tracks from the Moby album Destroyed. This year Saatchi & Saatchi and BUG are working with Genero.tv, the dedicated music video competition website, for the first time, with the added twist of working with well-known tracks from a legendary artist, rather than new music.

For more information on eligibility and how to enter, go to the James Brown – A Music Video Challenge page on Genero.tv here.