The Royal Film Commission Jordan | OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #200 January 2020

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #200 January 2020

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:

1. Amman International Film Festival: Submit your Film
2. Amman International Film Festival: Submit to the Pitching Platforms
3. Call for Submissions: Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2020
4. Call for Applications: "La Fémis" Summer School 2020
5. Call for Applications: TorinoFilmLab
6. Call for Participation: The 24th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market (FILMART)
7. Call for Funding: The Film & TV Funding Award
8. Call for Funding: Sundance Documentary Fund
9. Call for Submissions: Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) 2020
10. Call for Submissions: Muscat International Film Festival 11th

1. Amman International Film Festival: Submit your Film

Submit your film to Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film!

The inaugural edition of Amman International Film Festival – Awal Film (AIFF) will take place 13 – 18 April 2020. It is organized under the umbrella of the Royal Film Commission. This is the first international film festival of its kind in Jordan. It will showcase Arab and international movies, with a focus on debut films as well as on the recognition of various talents involved in the making of a film. Submissions are open now.

All Arab and international films have to be released in 2019-2020. They must be Jordanian premiere.

 A - Competitive Arab section

This section is open to Arab filmmakers and includes the following categories:

1) Feature-length narrative film

The film must be the debut work in any of the following categories: directing, screenwriting, editing, acting in a lead role, photography.

Duration: minimum 52 minutes.

2) Feature-length documentary film

Only the first feature-length documentary by the director will be admitted in this section. Minimum runtime 52 minutes.

3) Short film

Only films (maximum runtime 30 minutes) by first-time directors are eligible. This includes: narrative, experimental and animation short films. Short documentaries are not eligible.

An international jury, composed of film professionals, will grant the “Black Iris Award” to the winning films or works in each of the a/m categories.

 B- International Section

Non-Arab Debut Film

This section is open to non-Arab films – all genres – from all countries produced in 2019-2020. Films compete for the Audience Award.

The film must be the first feature-length (minimum runtime 52 minutes) work by the director. This includes all genres: narrative, documentary, experimental or animation. Length:

AIFF reserves the right to decide whether an entry is indeed eligible or not.

Submissions close on 31st January 2020.

In addition to the above, a non-competitive section – “First & Latest Film” - will showcase the work of one Arab helmet filmmaker and one international renowned filmmaker, featuring their debut film and their last production.

The inaugural edition of Amman International Film Festival will also be the setting of the 1st edition of its industry arm, the Amman Film Industry Days (AFID), taking place from Wednesday April 15th to Friday April 17th, 2020. Please see the item below.

For more about AIFF:  www.aiff.jo

For more information about the rules and regulations:  https://aiff.jo/rules-regulations/

To submit your film to the Arab competition:  https://aiff.jo/official-competition-2/

To submit your non-Arab debut film:  https://aiff.jo/international-competition/

2. Amman International Film Festival: Submit to the Pitching Platforms

For its first edition, Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) – as part of Amman International Film Festival (AIFF) is organizing a Pitching Platforms for feature-length projects in development by Jordanian and resident Arab filmmakers in Jordan and for projects in post-production by all Arab filmmakers.

Up to 15 projects will be selected to pitch their film projects in a public presentation to industry professionals attending Amman Industry Days, where the best projects will receive awards to help them advance in the materialization of their films (complete list of awards to be announced in March 2020). Selected projects will also have tailor-made schedules that will include networking, script consulting and project mentoring.

Requested application materials to be submitted in English or in Arabic. French submissions are admissible however and in case of selection, applicants must provide the materials in English 10 days after their selection.

Please submit using the online forms below. For inquiries, please contact: afid@aiff.jo

Submissions close on 31st January 2020.

AFID will take place from Wednesday April 15th to Friday April 17th, 2020 as part of the inaugural edition of the Amman International Film Festival which will run from April 13th until April 18th, 2020.

For further information, please visit the website: https://aiff.jo/submit-afid/

3. Call for Submissions: Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2020

The upcoming 22nd Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF) is launching the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum 2020 (March 6-11, 2020). A new co-production and co-financing platform for creative documentaries, TV documentaries and New Media documentaries (VR, AR etc.) intended for theatrical distribution, TV broadcasting and exhibition in general that will kick off in the framework of TDF.

The participants will have the opportunity to discuss their projects and get feedback on their content during the two-day workshop/pitch preparation by experienced international tutors. They will also have a public one-day pitching session to international documentary players and have meetings with industry professionals suited to their projects. The projects will be presented to an international panel of industry professionals. 

There is no participation or submission fee. The festival will reimburse up to 200 Euros to each selected project for accommodation or travel expenses to Thessaloniki (receipts will be required).

Thessaloniki Pitching Forum awards include:

- Doc on Air Award of 2.000 Euro granted by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation.

- MFI Script2Film Workshop Scholarship for the Doc Lab.

Submission deadline: January 20th, 2020.

4. Call for Applications: "La Fémis" Summer School 2020

Are you a young director or cinema student residing in Jordan? Do you speak French? Will you be under 30 years old on January 1st 2020? 

The Cooperation and Cultural Action Service of the Embassy of France in Jordan is offering a scholarship opportunity to a candidate who is resident in Jordan to participate at the Femis Summer School in Paris from May 28th to July 24th 2020 on the topic of documentary filmmaking.

This training includes theoretical and practical components that will allow the selected candidate to reinforce and improve his/her technical knowledge. It is organized by the Fémis (« Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Métiers de l’Image et du Son »), main cinema school in France that is also recognized on an international level.

Deadline for submitting the applications: January 31st, 2020

Complete applications should be sent by e-mail to Mrs. Hania HADDAD: hania.haddad@diplomatie.gouv.fr (06-4604747)

Torino Film Lab is currently receiving applications for TFL Extended – TV Series; an intensive workshop taking place from February 12th to February 16th in Turin, Italy.

This 4-day workshop is addressed to international scriptwriters, directors and producers, looking for a professional workshop.

TFL Extended - TV Series is designed as an immersive experience into the process of creating a successful TV series project. It offers a combination of one-on-one and group sessions aiming at implementing the knowledge necessary to create TV series concepts and to acquire a deep understanding of markets, audiences and broadcasters.

Extended deadline to apply to TFL Extended - TV Series: January 15th, 2020

The call of Feature Lab 2020 - dedicated to first and second feature film projects at an advanced development stage - is open until January 22nd, 2020.

For more information about Feature Lab, please contact: Greta Fornari – greta.fornari@torinofilmlab.it

Deadline to apply to Feature Lab: January 22nd, 2020

6. Call for Participation: The 24th Hong Kong International Film & TV Market(FILMART)

You can now take part at FILMART marketplace in Asia for entertainment industry, covering various aspects along the value chain which include TV, digital entertainment, documentary, distribution, production, post-production, location shooting, film & broadcasting equipment, film financing etc. Internationally renowned producers, distributors, investors and professionals use FILMART to launch promotions, network with key industry players and negotiate deals.

Why FILMART?

• Showcase your products and services in one of the most dynamic cities in Asia

• Maximising your visibility with tailor-made advertising and sponsorship opportunities

• Build international exposure with industry players from major regions

• Connect to over 260 Chinese mainland exhibitors

• 90% of exhibitors achieved their business objectives or established new business contact

• 90% of exhibitors rated FILMART as their must-attend event for their business

• 80% of exhibitors met or exceeded their expectations in terms of overall business results achieved

• Over 90% of exhibitors expressed interest in exhibiting at FILMART again in 2020

The Film & TV Funding Award is awarded annually to an emerging filmmaker from anywhere in the world with the most promising pitch for a director-led documentary which fulfils the core criteria detailed below. The Film & TV Funding Award for documentaries has a main award worth £80,000 and a runner-up contribution of £15,000.  

Key dates for 2020 round:

•  15th October 2019: Applications open

• 31st January 2020: Deadline for applications

• Late April 2020: Shortlisted projects announced

• 9th June 2020: Finalists pitch their projects at Sheffield Doc/Fest

• 9th June 2020: Winner of the Film & TV Funding Award announced at Sheffield Doc/Fest

THE RULES

-  Must be the filmmaker’s first 50+ minute documentary film where they own the director or co-director credit

- Open to filmmakers from anywhere in the world. International filmmakers are encouraged to apply

- Projects must be at the late development to early production stage at the time of applying – this is not a finishing fund

- Award money cannot be paid to an individual. Therefore, applicants must either: provide proof of company viability; have a fiscal sponsor on board; have a nominated production company on board to create a dedicated project account for their film; or confirm that they are willing to set up a limited company and dedicated project account if shortlisted.

- Up to six minutes of original taster footage is required at the time of applying

- Must be accessible for an English-speaking audience – whether in the English language, or subtitled in English

- Applicants must have an executive producer on board at the time of applying.

- Should they be shortlisted, applicants must be available to travel to the UK for 8th and 9th June 2020 to pitch their project at Sheffield Doc/Fest (reasonable travel and accommodation covered by The Whickers)

- In order that The Whickers remains the majority funder for the winning film, the budget for your 50-minute TV length version should not exceed £160,000.

Deadline for applications: 31st January 2020 

The Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program supports non-fiction filmmakers worldwide in the production of cinematic documentaries on contemporary themes. Established in 2002, with founding support from Open Society Foundations, the program is a vibrant global resource for independent nonfiction storytelling.

In summary, the year-round support of filmmakers through the granting fund, the labs, a fellows’ program, and strategic advice from development to distribution.

The Sundance Institute Documentary Fund supports the work of nonfiction filmmakers from around the globe. In a changing media landscape, the fund has been a stable, progressive force in supporting work that has expressed the world in creative, complex, beautiful, and provocative ways, and has created real cultural and social impact around some of the most pressing issues of our time.

The next fund deadline is on February 17th, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

For more information about rules and regulations, please visit:

Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is receiving submission to its 2020 edition. MIFF will take place in Australia from August 6th until 23rd 2020.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, all films must meet the following requirements:

• Films must have been completed after 1 January 2019.
• Films must not have been/will not be screened in the state of Victoria, Australia, in any form prior to August 24, 2020 - this includes television and internet broadcasting. The only exceptions to this requirement are for private screenings held for cast, crew, or investors, and film school graduation screenings.
• Films must be in their original language with English subtitles if the original language is not English.

Submission Deadlines

Please refer to the MIFF website for a comprehensive table regarding deadlines and associated fees: http://miff.com.au/about/submissions/submission-regulations

For more information, please visit: http://miff.com.au/about/submissions/submission-regulations

Organized by the Oman Film and Theatre Society, the 11th edition of Muscat International Film Festival (MIFF) will run from March 24th until 29th 2020, and will have attendees including international actors and actresses as well as local filmmakers.

The festival is divided into five categories for competitions: Long films competition (feature and documentary), Gulf and Arab short films competition (feature-documentary), students’ films competition, children’s film competition, and animation competition.

The submissions for various film competitions to be held as part of the 11th edition of  (MIFF) are set to close on January 15th.

For more information, please visit: https://www.miff-festival.com/shrwt-almsharkh-waltsjyl

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