Kevin Spacey has unveiled the first movie in his project to discover hidden talent from around the world.

The American Beauty  actor last year announced he was giving budding movie makers from the U.S., South Africa, and Russia the chance to direct him in a short film.

He drew up a list of contenders and then chose one winner from each country, who were then given the chance to shoot their movie with Spacey in the lead role.

The actor has travelled to South Africa to attend the red carpet premiere of one of the films - South African Alan Shelley's A Spirit of a Denture - and he's adamant the project has inspired him to continue searching for talented filmmakers in far-flung lands.

Spacey told reporters in Johannesburg, "There is no doubt that as you start to look around the world, you start to look at the Asia-Pacific region, you start to look at what's happening here, you look at what's happening in European cinema, there's a lot going on."

"I like the idea of going to as many places as possible and (enjoying) as many experiences as you can."