The Royal Film Commission Jordan | Opportunities Bulletin #153 February

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN # 153 February 2016

N.B. The information below is provided directly by the organizers of events, festivals, audio-visual organizations or independent film projects. The Royal Film Commission Jordan (RFC) cannot be held accountable for it.

In this bulletin:

• Job Opportunity at the Royal Film Commission – Jordan: Regional Training Manager
   
• Call for submissions: Berlinale l World Cinema Fund 2016
   
• Call for submissions: 7th Zayed University Middle East Film Festival 2016
   
• Call for entries: Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award
   
• Call for applications: 20th PriMed International Festival of Mediterranean Documentary and Reportage 2016
   
•  Call for submissions: The 2016 Calgary International Film Festival
   
• Call for submissions: DOCVILLE l International Documentary Film Festival Belgium
   
• Call for submissions: Brooklyn Film Festival 2016
   
• Call for submissions: Palm Springs International ShortFest 2016

1. Job Opportunity at the Royal Film Commission – Jordan: Regional Training Manager

Position’s Description:

Plan , Budget , develop , evaluate, implement and manage RAWI screenwriters lab, Med Film program, Med Culture program and Bosch Project Market, aiming to identify and empower Jordanian and Arab filmmakers.

Responsibilities:  

• Manage RAWI Screenwriters Lab program, Med Film program, Med Culture program and Bosch Project Market.
• Develop a detailed action plan.
• Work and manage the logistics of the programs and workshops
• Responsible for the outreach and callouts on a local, regional and international level, including websites, magazines and events.
• Develop a media plan relevant to the workshops and programs in cooperation with the Communication and Culture Department.
• Receive and assess application for workshops and programs.
• Assign reading committees for workshops and programs.
• Shortlist participants for the programs and workshops.
• Outreach for advisors/experts/trainers and follow-up on their participation.
• Send the Advisors relevant projects to read.
• Supervise arrangements for travel and accommodation of advisors/experts/trainers and participants.
• Any other tasks that maybe assigned by supervisor.

• A BA in business administration or any relevant field.
• Minimum 6 years’ experience in a similar position.
• Experience in proposal writing, planning and budgeting.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Exceptional presentation skills on regional and international level.
• Experience in filmmaking and knowledge of film production and culture is preferable.
• Capacity to work autonomously and under pressure.
• Experience in events/workshops’ management is a plus.

2. Call for submissions: Berlinale l World Cinema Fund 2016

Together with the Federal Foundation for Culture and in cooperation with the Goethe Institute, the Foreign Ministry and German producers, the World Cinema Fund (WCF) works to develop and support cinema in regions with a weak film infrastructure, while fostering cultural diversity in German cinemas. The World Cinema Fund supports films that could not be made without additional funding: films that stand out with an unconventional aesthetic approach, that tell powerful stories and transmit an authentic image of their cultural roots.

The World Cinema Fund has an annual budget of approximately € 350,000 and supports exclusively the production and distribution of feature films and feature-length documentaries. The support is focused on the following regions: Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus.

Eligibility:

Eligible to apply for WCF funding are Production companies from both the WCF regions and Germany. In both cases, a requirement is that the director originates from one of the listed regions. This is a precondition for applications since the “voice” of a native director and his/her connection to the identity and reality of his/her homeland are essential for the WCF. The WCF regions are Africa, Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus.

Eligible for funding are only production companies based in Germany. Producers from the WCFregions can also apply but must – if selected by the jury – provide proof of cooperation with a German partner. This can also take place after submission of the application or by the time the project is recommended for funding, following the jury’s decision.

Also eligible for distribution funding are distribution companies (and world sales companies) which have a registered office in Germany who want to bring a full-length feature or documentary film from one of the WCF regions to German cinemas. WCF production funding of the film is not a pre-requirement

Types of funding and necessary documents

Production Funding:

The maximum possible funding amount is 80,000 euros per project. The subsidy may not exceed 50% of the total production costs. The total production cost of funded projects should lie between 200,000 euros and 1,000,000 euros. The subsidy must be spent on the production in the aforementioned regions.

Required documents for production funding:

• Completed application form
• Two-pages synopsis
• Director’s Note
• Director’s Visual Concept and Description of other Artistic Elements
• Production Company Profile(s)
• CV Director
• CV Writer
• Detailed Budget (in Euro) and Budget in local currency if available
• Financing Plan (indicating which sources/ partners of the financing are already confirmed, which one you have applied for or when you apply for)
• Full Script or Advanced Treatment in case of submitting a documentary film project
• Financing agreements or letters of intent from financing partners
• Co-production / co-operation agreement(s) or deal memos
• Rights clearance (all rights)
• Director’s previous film(s) on DVD

Required documents for distribution funding

• Completed application form
• Two-pages synopsis
• Distribution Company Profile
• Description of Distribution Strategy
• Detailed Distribution Budget
• Financing Plan and Recoupment Schedule
• Financial Agreements and/or letters of intent from financing partners
• Final Cut (in English or French or with English or French subtitles) on DVD.

To apply and for further information, please visit:
https://www.berlinale.de/en/branche/world_cinema_fund/wcf_profil/index.html

3. Call for submissions: 7th Zayed University Middle East Film Festival 2016

Submissions are now open for the 7th Zayed University Middle East Film Festival (ZUMEFF) 2016. The festival is looking to receive documentary, narrative, and animated films.

ZUMEFF 2016 will take place from 1 – 2 May 2016 at Zayed University Abu Dhabi.
Submissions are accepted from across the Middle East and North Africa and students of middle eastern origin, who are studying abroad as long as they were made by students at universities, colleges or higher learning institutions in the past 18 months.

Submission Guidelines

• Participation is limited to students who are enrolled or were enrolled in the past year in an educational institution in the Middle East, including Turkey and Iran, and North Africa or students with Middle Eastern Origin, who are enrolled or were enrolled in the past year in an educational institution worldwide.
• Total length of each film should not exceed 30 minutes. All submitted films must be high quality copies.
• Only one submission per student
• You have three options to send us your film:
  1) Google Drive
  2) Vimeo
  3) Snail Mail

Zayed University Middle East Film Festival
Zayed University
PO Box 144534
Khalifa City
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: +9712.599.3859

• You have to submit a completed online entry form and your film before March 1st, 2016
• There is no entry fee
  Video specifications
• MP4, MPEG, MOV, MPG, MPEG or AVI format
  Contest Deadlines
• Submission deadline is 1 March 2016
• The top 5 films in each category will be evaluated by industry professionals.
• Screenings will be held during the two-day festival on 1 – 2 May 2016.
• An awards ceremony and screening of all finalists will be held at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi.

To submit your film and for further information please visit:
http://zajelzu.ae/zumeff/submission-form-2016/

4. Call for entries: Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs in Bahrain has recently launched the Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award. The Award, an initiative by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, covers six areas: Photography, Art, Graphic Design, Architecture, Filmmaking and Science.

The award provides the opportunity for youth between the ages of 14-30 years old from all over the world, regardless of nationalities, to participate with awards reaching up to $11,000 in each area and a trip to Bahrain.

The deadline for project submissions is on April 15th, 2016.

To participate and for further information, please visit the website:
http://nbhaward.bh/call-for-entries/ 
 

5. Call for applications: 20th PriMed International Festival of Mediterranean Documentary and Reportage 2016

The PriMed – International Festival of Mediterranean documentary Film and Reportage is open to all directors, producers and distributors who, through their programmes or films, contribute to a better understanding of the countries of the Mediterranean basin in its widest sense, from the Atlantic coasts to the Black Sea. The audiovisual works presented should be about the culture, heritage, history, societies and life of the men and women living in Mediterranean countries. They must not contain any form of advertising or propaganda.

The presented works have to be produced after January 1st, 2015.

The deadline for registration is on March 31st, 2016.

To apply and for further information on rules and regulations, please visit:
http://primed.tv/registrations-are-open-for-primed-2016/?lang=en
 

6. Call for submissions: The 2016 Calgary International Film Festival

Submissions are now open for the 2016 Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF), which runs from September 21st until October 2nd, 2016.

CIFF is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre films from Canada and over 40 other countries.

The festival hosts gala events, screenings, award ceremonies and special presentations. It hosts a large number of participating filmmakers from their backyard and round the world and connect them with the audience through post-screening question and answer periods, mingling at the festival’s events, and through panels and film talks open to the general public.

Each year’s line-up is presented in series that group CIFF’s offerings into easily identifiable categories including Canadian, American and World Cinema, Documentaries, Late Shows, Music on Screen and Shorts. The festival also presents a number of awards to outstanding films selected by its audiences and esteemed juries.

The recipient of CIFF's annual Best of Shorts Award is now eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film / Live Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®, without the standard theatrical run that a film typically needs to qualify for an Oscar® nomination.

CIFF exists to transform the way visual stories are shared and experienced.

CIFF’s vision emphasizes discovery. It celebrates the new energy and ideas they bring to the future of the art form, and make them an integral part of the exciting milieu of the festival.

General Rules:

Participation in the 16th Calgary International Film Festival implies understanding and acceptance of the following Guidelines and Regulations:

Films submitted to the Alberta Features or Shorts Categories, which ARE NOT ALBERTAN, will be automatically disqualified.
The Calgary International Film Festival (“CIFF” or “the Festival”) accepts submissions of films of all lengths and subject matters for inclusion the possible categories: Galas, Headliners, Discovery (first feature filmmakers), Canadian Cinema, World Cinema (including USA), Documentaries, Shorts, Late Shows, and annual Spotlight programs (TBA).

Requirements for eligibility for 2016 selection:

• The film was completed after January 1, 2015 and not previously submitted to CIFF
• All applicable licenses and waivers of copyrights, moral rights, trademarks and other such intellectual property rights have been secured by the filmmaker(s)
• All applicable legal waivers have been obtained from all participants
• Exhibition print(s) will be complete and available for screening in Calgary between September 21 – October 2, 2016
• Exhibition print(s) must be available on DCP, HD Cam, 35mm or Blu-Ray. We do have 3D capability
• PREVIEW SCREENERS ACCEPTED AS SECURE ONLINE LINKS ONLY.
• Please do not change the link address or password. If you do, please notify the festival immediately or you risk your film not being previewed and thus considered for the festival.
• Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English.

Deadlines:
May 1, 2016 Early Deadline
June 1, 2016 Regular Deadline
June 13, Late Deadline (late fee applies)

To apply and for further information, please visit the website:
http://www.calgaryfilm.com/2016-submissions

7. Call for submissions: DOCVILLE l International Documentary Film Festival Belgium

DOCVILLE, the largest documentary film festival in Belgium, has a strong focus on author driven documentary with special emphasis on the cinematic experience in general and cinematography in particular.

For 8 days, the festival organizes master classes, seminars, master talks next to its screenings. Invited guests are welcome to join us in our renowned festival kitchen and bar, the ideal place to meet professionals in an informal setting.

General Rules and Regulations for all competitions:
- Deadline for entry is March 1st, 2016.
- Entry fee is 15 euro (Belgian productions can request a waiver)
- Submitted films should be marked as downloadable (film will be stored in the (secured) festival archives).
- Submitting your film means accepting that the festival includes the film’s preview file and information in the festival video archive.
- Submitted films can't be withdrawn from competitive sections.

Specific Rules and Regulations for the Belgian Competition:
- All general rules & regulations apply
- Both short and feature length film are accepted for the Belgian competition
- Films should be finished after the previous deadline of Docville (March 1st, 2015)
- Films -although preferred- are not required to have premiere status at the time of the festival.

Specific Rules and Regulations for the International Competition:
- All general rules & regulations apply
- The international competition is only for documentaries over 50 minutes
- Documentaries sent in for the international competition need to be (at least) Belgian premieres (can't be shown on tv, internet, festivals, cinemas or other public venues in Belgium).
- Submitted films should have been finished after January 1st 2015.

Audience Award
- If your film does not comply with one or more of the rules stated above, you can still submit your film. However, it will not be eligible for a jury award. If screened in one of the non-competitive sections, it will be eligible for the audience award.

The deadline for submissions is on March 1st, 2016.
To submit your film and for further information, please visit:
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/docville
 

8. Call for submissions: Brooklyn Film Festival 2016

The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), is an International, competitive festival. BFF’s mission is to provide a public forum in Brooklyn in order to advance public interest in films and the independent production of films, to draw worldwide attention to Brooklyn as a center for cinema, to encourage the rights of all Brooklyn residents to access and experience the power of independent filmmaking, and to promote artistic excellence and the creative freedom of artists without censure. BFF, inc. is a not-for-profit organization.

The festival is for and by independent filmmakers. BFF accepts submissions in six categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Short Narrative, Short Documentary, Experimental, and Animation.

Submissions are open from July to March 2016, the final selection of 100+ films will be announced in May 2016, and the film festival takes place in June 2016.

Deadlines:
Regular deadline: Postmarked by February 15, 2016
Late deadline: Postmarked by February 29, 2016
Extended deadline: Postmarked by March 7, 2016

To apply and for further information, please visit:
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/BrooklynFilmFestival 
 

9. Call for submissions: Palm Springs International ShortFest 2016

The Palm Springs International ShortFest, now in its 22nd year, is one of the largest showcases of short films in North America. This year, the festival will be held from June 21st until June 27th, 2016.

Awards & Prizes:

The Festival has twenty competitive categories with prize money, film stock and production services valued over $70,000.00 to be awarded for first and second places in addition to a "Best of Festival" award and a "Future Filmmaker" award. All first place winners in the non-student Live Action and Animation categories and the Best of the Fest Award winner will automatically become eligible for nomination consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the short film categories.

Rules & Regulations:

• Films must have been completed in 2015 or 2016.
• Films must be no more than 40 minutes in length including credits.
• If selected, films must be available for projection in DCP.
• All non-English language films must have English language subtitles.
• If the film has been viewed on the internet or national broadcast, cable or satellite television, or has had a public screening in the Palm Springs area prior to the Festival screening. (press screening and/or cast/crew screening is not considered a public screening); then it is only eligible for the Online Film Festival category.
• Online Screener must be uploaded no later than the deadline date to qualify for the respective entry fees.
• For Student entries, a photocopy of an official student ID or a letter from the school must be sent with the entry submission as proof of student status when the film was made.
• Films accepted into the festival must arrive with shipping, customs duties and taxes pre-paid, by June 1, 2016.
• IF SELECTED, a digital press kit must be provided with the items below:
  -At least two (2) publicity stills from the film titled with name of film labeled FilmTitle 1 of 2, etc.
  -Full production credits and director's biography
  -Film synopsis 50 words

To apply and for further information, please visit:
https://filmfreeway.com/festival/PalmSpringsInternationalShortFest

The Royal Film Commission was established in 2003 to promote the audio-visual industry in Jordan. Tel: +962-6-4642266 e-mail: info@film.jo www.film.jo