The Royal Film Commission Jordan | OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #206 JUly 2020

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #206 July 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. The Royal Film Commission - Jordan: Reenactment Competition
2. Call for applications: Ibda3 Cultural & Creative Accelerator in Jordan
3. Call for applications: The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture – AFAC Grant for Cinema
4. Call for submissions: 1st Edition Sunbird Stories 2020 Films for Arab Youth and Children
5. Call for submissions: The 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam
6. Call for submissions: 2021 Palm Springs International Film Festival
7. Call for submissions: Sundance International Film Festival 2021
8. Call for submissions: Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

For those who love being behind the camera, this call is for you, your family and friends!
The Royal Film Commission – Jordan (RFC) is pleased to launch: 

“Reenactment Competition”

Gather your cast, adapt the script if you want to, make sure you have needed props, put costumes on, don’t forget the lighting and get your camera rolling. ACTION!

We selected some scenes from three movies. Now it is your turn to unleash your creativity and reenact one of these scenes.

Rules and regulations:

• The competition is open to Jordanian and Arab filmmakers.
• Each filmmaker can participate with only one reenacted scene.
• Reenactment of scenes can be done with or without adaptation. It is allowed to change the language of the scene, introduce a tweak to the script, and change the design of the set up.
• Duration of the reenacted scene: minimum 1 minute, maximum 3 minutes.
• If needed, you can use music provided you have the right to use it.
• Movie technical quality no less than 1920 x 1080 HD.
• You can use a camera or a mobile phone.
• You can edit your film, but it is not compulsory.
• Evaluation will be mainly based on directing and acting.
• It is recommended that you watch the full film before reenacting the scene.

The three selected films with indicated scenes for reenactment are:

1) Jordanian feature-length narrative film: “When Monaliza Smiled” by Fadi Haddad (2012)

The film is available to watch at the RFC’s Film Library.

Library opening hours:

Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM; Saturday from 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Scene to reenact:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwhs9TcC3Xg

To download the scene’s script, please click here

2) Lebanese short narrative film “The President’s Visit” by Cyril Aris (2017)

You can watch the full film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6GsiPf9DsE

Scene to reenact: From minute 01:19 to 02:30

To download the scene’s script, please click here

3) American Classical film “D.O.A.” by Rudolph Maté (1949)

You can watch the full film: http://publicdomainmovie.net/movie/doa

Scene to reenact: From minute 27:00 to 29:44

To download the scene’s script, please click here

Selecting the winner:

A jury of Jordanian & Arab professionals will choose the best reenacted scene. Evaluation will focus on directing and acting elements.

Eligible reenacted scenes will be posted on the RFC’s Facebook page for public voting.

Awards:

• Jury Award: 450 USD
• Audience Award: 200 USD

Submitting your film to the competition:

• You can upload your reenacted scene on YouTube, while choosing the “Unlisted” option.
• You need to send by email:

1) Your name in Arabic and English, as well as your phone number
2) Link to the video
3) Title of the video in Arabic and English
4) Specify the film you choose to reenact a scene from

To the following email address: reenactment@film.jo  , while indicating “Reenactment Competition” in the subject of the email.

Dates & deadlines:

Deadline to receive your scene: Tuesday 4th August at 12 PM (Jordan Time)

Note:

By taking part in the competition, you implicitly agree to have your film promoted on the RFC’s platforms &/or within its upcoming events and activities.

Ibda3 Accelerator was established with the purpose to push towards building an open laboratory to adopt ideas, innovations and solutions and turn them into sustainable businesses ready for small and medium investments in the creative industry and culture sector, and to introduce a culture of entrepreneurship and merge it with the cultural perception of Jordan for the coming years.

The Cultural and and Creative Accelerator is being built from the bottom-up with creative entrepreneurs in mind, who will help artists and creative businesses to overcome the challenges and risks associated with a startup.

Film-related projects – ranging from an idea to be developed to an existing project that needs revamping – can submit for support as of July . Selected projects will benefit from a three-phase support: Advisory, Mentorship, Funding and Administrative Support.

For more information about the Cultural & Creative Accelerator, please visit: https://www.ibda3.com/index.html 

Or contact Mira Samman: msamman@theventurex.com 

The program provides annual grants ranging from a few thousand U.S. dollars up to a maximum of ten thousand U.S. dollars for Development grants, up to fifty thousand U.S. dollars for Production and a maximum of twenty-five thousand U.S. dollars for Post-production grants.

In light of the current situation, artist fees and institutional running costs limits covered by AFAC Grants will be exceptionally increased this year to up to 50% of the requested grant.

In the event that the grantee does not sign the grant contract within 60 days upon receipt thereof, the grant will be canceled. Projects must be completed within 2 years of signing the contract, during which grantees are expected so submit the necessary financial and narrative reports.

No grantee will be awarded more than two deadline extensions during the grant period; such extensions should be justified by the grantee and approved by AFAC.

AFAC does not offer mobility grants. Travel costs can be covered by the AFAC grant only when they are part of the implementation of a project.

Eligible Candidates:

- AFAC is open to receive project applications from Arab directors and producers living in the Arab region or in the diaspora.

- A non-Arab producer can apply for a grant provided that the film director is Arab.

- It is highly recommended that film projects applying to the production and post-production grants have producers attached to them.

- Project applications are accepted irrespective of age, years of experience, country of residence, ethnicity, gender or religion.

- A film producer is eligible to apply with a maximum of two projects per category per cycle provided the two projects are not attached to the same director. However, if a film producer has one open grant, s/he can apply with one project. If s/he has two open grants, s/he is not eligible to apply before closing one grant at least.

Eligible Expenses:

AFAC only covers project-related expenses (including Artist fees). Neither running operating costs nor purchase of equipment can be covered by the grant.

Place and Duration:

Projects may be implemented anywhere as long as they are created by Arab filmmakers.

The project’s time frame should not exceed 24 months.

How to Apply

Applications are only accepted through AFAC's online applications forms available the our website. Applications submitted via regular mail or e-mail will not be accepted.

The applicant will receive a confirmation e-mail once the online application has been received. Applicants are advised to follow up on the full completion and delivery of requested material as AFAC will not contact applicants if any part of their application is incomplete.

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

To apply, please login with your username and password. Once you login, you will be directed to the applications page.

The deadline for applications in on 1st of August 2020.

To apply and for further information, please visit: https://www.arabculturefund.org/Programs/12 

With children and teens’ life being underrepresented on screen, the program is designed to stir up a genuine excitement in filmmakers to illustrate diversity by examining the significance of storytelling for young audiences and the power it holds in creating a positive change in the emotional and psychological fabric of the next generation of Arab youth.

Sunbird Stories intends to develop six to eight narrative short films in the often overlooked genres – children, teen, family and coming-of-age – by emerging and up-and-coming Arab filmmakers.

During the 8-week intensive residency, selected filmmakers will work in three segments to develop their projects towards production: screenwriting, directing child actors, and producing.

Sunbird Stories will culminate in six to eight projects ready to advance into the production phase by equipping the teams with solid screenplays, directorial training, production packaging, financial and distribution plans.

A jury of industry professionals will award two projects, each $10,000 prize plus in-kind production and post-production services.

To apply, please read the eligibility requirements and project criteria carefully prior to submitting your application.

This 1st edition of Sunbird Stories is aimed at Palestinian filmmakers living in Palestine and/or in the diaspora.

Application Deadline:  July 20, 2020 (No Extension)

For more information, please visit: http://www.cinephiliaproductions.com/sunbirdstories

5. Call for submissions: The 50th International Film Festival Rotterdam

The submissions for short films and feature films are now open.

All submission materials (online entry form, entry fee and screener) should be delivered to IFFR by the following deadlines:

Short films (up to 60 min.) completed before 1st July: 24th August

Short films (up to 60 min.) completed after 1st July: 21st September

VR Immersive: 21st September

Feature-length films (60+ min.): 14th October

For further information, please visit the website: https://iffr.com/en/film-entry?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=film-entry

6. Call for submissions: 2021 Palm Springs International Film Festival

The festival is now slated to kick off Feb. 25, 2021 with the Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center. It's typically held in January.

Submissions for the Palm Springs International Film Festival open on August 1, 2020 and close on September 1, 2020.

For more information, please visit: https://www.psfilmfest.org/submissions 

7. Call for submissions: Sundance International Film Festival 2021

If you have any questions, please contact programming@sundance.org for details on how Sundance Institute has met the current moment and addressed new realities, please visit www.sundance.org/COVID19 .

The 2021 edition will take place from 21st until 31st January next year.

Submissions are now open for the different categories. Each year, the festival selects a slate of feature films, short films, episodic projects, and New Frontier exhibition and performance projects to play within each of the festival's programs.

You can check the "Rules and Regulations" section through: https://www.sundance.org/pdf/submissions/2021_Submissions_Rules.pdf

Deadlines for Features:

Early: 17th August / Official: 7th September / Late: 2nd October

Deadlines for Shorts, Episodic and New Frontier Projects:

Early: 7th August/ Official: 24th August/ Late: 14th September

For more information, please visit: https://www.sundance.org/festivals/sundance-film-festival/submit 

8. Call for submissions: Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival

The festival will take place from 29th January until 6th February 2021.

You can submit you film to: International Competition 2021

Registration deadlines: October 5th 2020 for films completed in 2020

Requirements:

• Films completed after: October 1st 2019
• Maximum running time: 40 minutes
• Origin: All countries (except France)
• Festival screening format: DCP
• Lab Competition 2021

No application for this competition is necessary since the films will be chosen from those submitted to two competitions above.

The Lab Selection Committee will select the films for the Lab Competition from a pre-selection proposed by the Committees of the International and National Competition.

International Short Film Market 2021

The International Short Film Market is organized by the association Sauve qui peut le court métrage (hereafter “SQP”) alongside the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in the aim of facilitating economic activity and encouraging professional interaction in the short film sector. The International Short Film Market is a unique venue for meetings, promoting and networking.

Participation :

The referencing of films at the International Short Film Market is free and non-competitive.

All films submitted to the National or International Competition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, whether or not selected, will be referenced in the digital catalog of the International Short Film Market.

Conditions:

Referencing at the International Short Film Market is only available for films who have been submitted to the National or International Competition of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

For more information, please visit: https://www.clermont-filmfest.org/en/short-film-festival/submit-a-film/