The Royal Film Commission Jordan | OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #214 March 2021

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #214 March 2021

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. Call for application: The Jordan Film Fund (JFF)
2. Call for submissions: Tripoli Film Festival
3. Call for submissions: Connecting Stories
4. Call for funding: the 17th Zurich Film Festival ZFF
5. Call for submissions: The Toronto International Film Festival
6. Call for submissions: The Screenwriter Showcase
7. Two new films at The RFC's Film Library

With a budget of JOD 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Jordanian Dinars) this year 2021, the JFF will support feature-length narrative and documentary projects (60 minutes and above) at their development, production and post-production phases, Short (5 to 25 minutes) narrative or documentary (including animation), at production phase only and the development of TV series.

An independent jury of established film and TV professionals will evaluate eligible applications and will decide on the selection process. Their assessment will consider the project’s originality, creative merit, feasibility, as well as the filmmakers’ credentials and abilities.

The application deadline is Tuesday 20th April 2021 at midnight (Jordan time).

To apply, please visit the website/ JFF page and review the JFF Guidelines and Regulations for important details regarding the eligibility requirements and the way funds are allocated.

For more information, please refer to the FAQ page, also you can call the JFF team at +962 797557229 (Sunday to Thursday during working hours) or send an e-mail to: apply@film.jo.

Eligible Movies:

Feature Film - 80 - 105 min / Short film - less than 20 min / Animation - less than 20 min / Feature Documentary - from 50 to 90 min / Short Documentary - less than 20 min.

• Films completion dates should not be earlier than June 2018.
• Films screeners should be downloadable.
• The festival does not pay screening fees.
• Movies shot in Lebanon partially or completely should enclose a copy of the Lebanese “Sécurité Générale” shooting permit.
• Submission of a film material and entry form does not guarantee screening during the festival, or during any of the out-of-competition events parallel to the festival.
• Film submitter grants Tripoli Film Festival the rights to present his/her film to the press and to screen it during the festival days if selected.

The deadline is March 20, 2021

For more information, please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/TripoliFilmFestival

The Scottish Documentary Institute is pleased to open applications for its new international mentorship scheme: Connecting Stories.

Connecting Stories is a nine-month programme for documentary filmmakers developing their first or second feature film, from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

It combines seminars exploring various aspects of the industry, including the development and the production of feature films, individual mentorship sessions, and master classes with international key players in the current documentary landscape.

Up to 12 participants will be selected to take part in various online activities (group seminars, individual mentorship, industry events) designed to help them grow their knowledge of the industry, their confidence to navigate the international scene, to work with co-producers and to put together the right material to pitch their projects and apply for funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be in development, production or post-production of your first or second feature
  length documentary (60 minutes or over);
• Have a trailer or some visual material;
• Have directed at least two short documentaries shown at film festivals nationally
  and internationally or broadcast on television;
• Have an intermediate or proficient level of English;

The deadline is March 22, 2021

For more information, please visit: https://www.scottishdocinstitute.com/opportunities/connecting-stories/

The 17th ZFF will take place from September 23 to October 3, 2021. ZFF is looking for cinematic discoveries from all over the world.

Submission’s categories:

The Golden Eye endowed with a CHF 25.000 cash prize will be awarded in the Focus Competition by a separate jury. The cash endowment is to be shared equally between director and producer of winning films in all three categories. Winning films with Swiss distribution further profit from P&A contribution for a theatrical release in Switzerland.

1) Focus Competition

Competition Entry Requirements

·         Director’s 1st, 2nd or 3rd feature-length film (> 60 min)

·         Projects completed after October 1, 2020

·         Minimum status requirement: Swiss Premiere at ZFF

·         Switzerland, Germany or Austria has to be main production country

2) Feature Film Competition

Competition Entry Requirements

·         Director’s 1st, 2nd or 3rd feature-length film (> 60 min)

·         Projects completed after October 1, 2020

·         Minimum status requirement: Swiss Premiere at ZFF

3) Documentary Competition

Competition Entry Requirements

·         Director’s 1st, 2nd or 3rd feature-length film (> 60 min)

·         Projects completed after October 1, 2020

·         Minimum status requirement: Swiss Premiere at ZFF

The deadline is March 31, 2021.

For more information please visit: https://industry.zff.com/en/how-to-festival/attend-apply/film-submission/

In the Toronto International Film Festival for 10 days, film lovers, filmmakers, industry professionals and media watch the best in new cinema from established masters and new talent.

Films are selected on the basis of quality and originality. Preference is given to premieres. The Festival also promotes contacts between industry professionals to assist in the development of the Canadian motion-picture industry.

Category/Eligibility Requirements:

• International Features - International feature films with run times of 50 minutes or longer.
• International Documentary Features - International documentary feature films with run times of 50 minutes or longer.
• International Shorts - International films with run times of 49 minutes or less.
• TIFF prefers that all Short and Feature Films presented are, at minimum, North American premieres. TIFF will accept submissions that have already premiered in North America (with the exception of Toronto), but the Film’s premiere status will be taken into consideration when final programming decisions are made.
• A film will not be eligible for consideration and should not be submitted if:

a. the film was completed prior to May 29, 2020; or

b. the film was previously submitted to TIFF for Festival consideration (please note: The Festival accept a “new cut” of a film that was previously submitted to TIFF, provided that the Film still meets our eligibility requirements.

c. the film has been for sale on DVD/Blu-ray/VOD; or

d. the film:

(i) had theatrical releases, or

(ii) has aired on television, or

(iii) has been available on a public streaming platform in North America.

The deadline is March 26, 2021

For more information please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/TIFF

The Screenwriter Showcase based at Pinewood Studios is a quarterly event aimed at enriching through workshopping new scripts from unsung global talent, introducing producers to screenwriters, all with the aim of bringing your work to life!

The event consists primarily of a script reading with professional actors at the headquarters in the world-famous Pinewood Studios- home of blockbuster franchises such as James Bond and Star Wars. This is followed from feedback by everyone in the room, including co-founders Ben Pohlman and James Bradley.

The Showcase caters the rest of the day to suit your needs - whether you’d like to do more read-throughs, discuss development options, or anything else that will help launch your career and get your script made.

Rules & Terms:

• Scripts must be submitted via FilmFreeway in PDF format only.

The deadline is March 31, 2021.

For more information, please visit: https://filmfreeway.com/InternationalScreenwritersShowcase

New films are available to watch or borrow from the Film Library of The Royal Film Commission - Jordan.

•  Song of the Sea

 Trailer if the film: https://youtu.be/VrhoOzW8oF8

• Kahlil Gibran’s the Prophet

Trailer of the film: https://youtu.be/h9dY5zkwK5M

For further information, please call: 064613835 ext. 111 or send an email: filmlibrary@film.jo 

Location