Marketers from Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics have jumped into the user-generated content arena with a contest that invites Web-savvy filmmakers to submit their work and compete for a cash prize.

With its “FluFlix Video Contest,” posted on YouTube during the months of September and October, Novartis asked consumers to create their own two-minute videos showing how they “feel about influenza…and how it can affect your everyday life.”

“For the first time ever, the flu can make you famous,” the contest rules read.

Submissions were sought in the following three categories: “kids and the flu,” “sports and the flu” and “workplace and the flu.” The winner of each one of the three contest categories was promised a $500 prize. Winners were scheduled to be revealed on November 19, 2007.

A Novartis spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the “FluFlix Video Contest” at press time.

Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics plans to ship more than 60 million doses of its flu vaccine Fluvirin to the US for the 2007-2008 flu season.