OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #213 February 2021

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #213 February 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 submissions: The Red Sea Lodge, Filmmaking Residency Program
2. Call for submissions: 74th Festival de Cannes
3. Call for submissions: Bahrain Film Festival
4. Call for funding:  Short Film Production Grant
5. Call for submissions: One World Media Awards 2021
6. Call for submissions: My Hero International Film Festival
7. The RFC's Film Library: Donate a book and get a free membership! “More Books, More Films”

The Red Sea Lodge announces the second edition of its Filmmaking Residency Program.

Each year the Red Sea Lodge, in collaboration with Torino Film Lab, selects projects for creative and professional mentorship, development, and next-level industry opportunities!

For filmmakers on the edge of their big break, the Lodge expands across seven months to give directors, producers, and scriptwriters, an overview of every aspect of development. With guidance of industry specialists, the workshops are designed to explore each project’s full dramatic and production potential.

Grants of 100,000 each will be awarded to two of the selected projects: one Saudi project and one Arab project. 

Who Can Apply?

• a writer-director and producer or director, writer and producer.

• The director should be of Saudi nationality/origin or of Arab nationality/origin.

• Preference will be given to projects with producers and screenwriters of Arab nationality/origin.

• Aimed at first or second-time feature directors, applications from more established voices will be considered if they demonstrate daring new ideas and approaches.

• The producer needs to have demonstrable production experience.

• A screenwriter must have experience of realized scripts in any form, including shorts, TV, web series or theatre.

• The working language of the workshops, meetings and events is English; therefore, a good knowledge of English is preferred. However, should an applicant need Arabic translation they should advise the Red Sea Lodge, so arrangements can be made accordingly.

What kind of film project?

• Arab projects, directed by an Arab director with an Arab story

• Saudi projects should be directed by a Saudi director, with a Saudi story, and will be shot entirely or partly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Submissions can be for any film form – fiction, creative documentary, experimental animation, or any other

• Considering the prize award is $100,000, the producers must be able to demonstrate suggested funding for the remainder.

The deadline is February 27, 2021

For more information please visit:  http://us7.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=824bfb2d08f45ddef8888e2c4&id=f0a14cefd5

Submission of films for the 2021 Official Selection is now open! The 74th Festival de Cannes will take place from  July 6 to 17, 2021.

Feature films in Official Selection

Conditions

Only feature films that meet the following conditions may be chosen for invitation to the Official Selection:

• Films that have been produced during the twelve months preceding the Festival

• Films whose distribution is limited to their country of origin

• Films that have not been presented at any international motion picture event. If the film has been selected for an international section (competitive or not) of a festival, it becomes ineligible for the Festival de Cannes. A selection is international if it presents films from different countries.

• Films that have not been shown on the Internet or released on DVD

• Every feature film invited to be in competition must be released theatrically in France in accordance with French legislation pertaining to media chronology rules. Any beneficiary, producer or authorized representative submitting a feature film commits to honoring this clause.

Short films in competition

Conditions

Only films that meet the following conditions may be submitted for consideration by the Official Selection:

• Films that have been produced during the twelve months preceding the Festival

• Films whose distribution is limited to their country of origin

• Films that have not been presented at any international motion picture event. If the film has been selected for an international section (competitive or not) of a festival, it becomes ineligible for the Festival de Cannes. A selection is international if it presents films from different countries.

• Films that have not been shown on the Internet

• Short films that do not exceed 15 minutes in length, including credits

Films may be accepted in the Official Selection for Competition, Out of Competition or Un Certain Regard. The selection committee is the sole decision-maker of the category in which a selected film is screened.

The Selection Committee of the Festival de Cannes is exclusively in charge of the Official Selection and decides in which section a film can participate.

For more information, please visit: https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/info/articles/submission-of-films-for-2021

The Bahrain Film Festival is part of the Bahrain Cinema Club’s initiatives and projects to stimulate the Bahraini film movement and contribute to the promotion of cultural movement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The festival seeks to support and develop Bahraini talent in the film industry and celebrate their experiences in this field. The festival also seeks to develop the culture and awareness of Bahraini filmmakers, providing a rich environment to share experiences and ideas with other Arab filmmakers.

Terms and conditions:

• Participation is open to all short films genres (narrative, documentary, animation) films.

• Only Arab nationals can apply to Bahrain Film Festival competition.

• Multiple entries are allowed to the same category or to different categories.

• All films must not exceed (30) minutes.

• Arabic subtitles are obligatory for films submitted in languages other than Arabic. Arabic submissions must also include English subtitles.

• Films’ production date must be after January 1st, 2019.

• Submitted films must not have been broadcast on television, streaming, or anywhere else..

• Films submitted for Bahrain Film Festival will be reviewed by a selection panel to ensure they meet the terms and conditions of Bahrain Film Festival.

The deadline is March 15, 2021

For more information, please visit: https://bahrainff.com/terms-en/ 

Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) is an annual film festival organised by Sharjah Art Foundation in support of the burgeoning art scene in the UAE, surrounding region and internationally, providing a critical platform for emerging and established filmmakers, producers, critics and students.  SFP screens regional and international films selected from the open call, out of competition films and the films awarded by the Short Film Production Grant.

Sharjah Art Foundation invites filmmakers to apply for the fourth edition of the annual Sharjah Film Platform (SFP) Short Film Production Grant. The recipients will share a total of 30,000 USD; the monetary amount and the number of awardees will be determined on a need-by-need basis.

For the purpose of this grant, a short film is defined as an original film with a running time of 50 minutes or less, including the credits. This application is open internationally to all filmmakers and video artists.

SFP screenings and events will be presented in several Sharjah Art Foundation venues, including the contemporary open-air Mirage City Cinema in Al Mureijah Square as well as in various locations across the Emirate.

Requirements:

• To apply, please complete the application form and attach your three-minute pitch original script, budget and production schedule when prompted.

• The video should provide the plot, setting and characters for the short film and explain why this film should be selected.

• Applicants will also be assessed on the basis of the original script they submit, their creative and technical skills along with the vision for the final film in terms of plot, genre, themes and structure.

• The budget and production schedule with a projected completion date is also necessary for this grant as this demonstrates the preparedness of the project and execution in finalizing the project.

The deadline is March 7, 2021.

For more information please visit: http://sharjahart.org/sharjah-art-foundation/events/open-call-2021-sfp-short-film-production-grant

The One World Media Awards 2021 celebrates underreported stories from around the world.
Across 15 categories, the awards celebrate and recognize the best media coverage of the global south, stories that break through stereotypes, change the narrative and connect people across cultures.

The Awards looks to champion stories that demonstrate originality, creativity, and the potential to catalyse change. All entries should highlight underreported stories or issues, or explore new angles on familiar topics.

Eligibility:

• All entries should focus on stories, topics or issues in, about or related to low and middle-income countries across the global south. This includes countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East.

• Entries must have had their first screening, broadcast, theatrical release, launch or publication between 13 February 2020 and 16 February 2021.

With the exception of the Special Award, all categories are open to entrants anywhere in the world, as long as the work meets one of the following criteria:

• the entry has been broadcast, screened or published (in print or in an established online publication/website) in the UK; OR

• the entry has been broadcast or published (in an established print/online publication/website) internationally and is available for an English-speaking audience; OR

• the entry has been screened at an international film festival.

The deadline is February 16, 2021

For more information please visit: https://www.oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards/eligibility/

The My Hero International Film Festival brings together professional and youth filmmakers who honor local and global heroes working for positive change in the world.

Prizes are awarded to elementary, middle school, high school, college and professionals in a variety of categories including: documentary, narrative, music video, animation, experimental, and more.

Rules & Terms:

All works needs to be appropriate for children

My Hero will not accept films that promote hatred, violence, or intolerance. The festival strive to be an all-ages friendly festival, so please keep that in mind when submitting a film for consideration.

Work submitted to this film festival must celebrate a hero, explore concepts of heroism, or examine hero-related topics.

1. All work must be original, unless you have the express written consent of the original owner for use in your work.

2. Only videos 10 minutes and under will be accepted. This includes excerpts from longer works.

3. Acceptable film formats: links to work in Vimeo preferred, Youtube accepted.

4. If your film is selected to be screened you will be contacted to complete the required release/consent forms.

5. A panel of judges will review the films and award individuals.

6. 1st Place winners will receive a certificate. Selected works will be featured on the My Hero web site throughout the year. Sponsored Awards come with cash prizes from $500 - $1500.

The deadline is March 1, 2021.

For more information, please visit: https://myhero.com/festival-information

Donate a book and get a free membership! “More Books, More Films”

Tuesday, the 16th of February 2021

From 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM

At the Film Library located at the Royal Film Commission – Jordan (1st Circle)

With your membership, you can borrow films and books, and use our space for reading as well as watching movies films.

Accepted books:

- Books not available at the Film Library (Here is the list of already available books http://www.film.jo/Contents/Library.aspx 
- Books should be in a good condition.
- Books are to be related to cinema like: filmmaking, history of cinema, novels turned into films.
- Books in English or Arabic.

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

Location