OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #224 January 2022

OPPORTUNITIES BULLETIN #224 January 2022

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 funding: Doha Film institute Film Grant
2. Call for applications: Red Sea Lodge 2022
3. Call for applications: The 8th Tripoli Film Festival 2022
4. Call for submissions: The 21st Tribeca Film Festival
5. Call for applications: Film Independent’s Episodic Lab 2022
6. Call for submissions: Micro Minute Film Festival 2022
7. Call for submissions: One World Media Awards 2022

The goals of the Doha Film Institute Grants Programme are to identify new talent, seek out new cinematic voices and discover universally resonant stories.

The Institute’s approach is to champion projects that aim to explore, expand and cultivate authentic storytelling, with a keen interest in propelling forward the medium of cinema.

The Programme provides creative and financial assistance for short and feature-length films, subject to eligibility criteria, by Qatari and international first- and second-time directors, as well as established MENA directors.

Financial support is also available for TV and web series helmed by MENA scriptwriters and directors, subject to eligibility criteria.

International Applicants:

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Development, production and post-production funding is available to first- and second-time directors from the MENA region for feature-length projects. Short films are eligible for production funding only. Established MENA directors may apply for post-production funding for feature-length projects.

Development funding is available to screenwriters from the MENA region for TV series.
Production funding is available to directors from the MENA region for web series.

The deadline is on January 18, 2022

For more information please visit: https://www.dohafilminstitute.com/financing/grants/guidelines

For filmmakers on the cusp of their big break, the Red Sea Lodge, in partnership with TorinoFilmLab, selects projects for creative and professional mentorship, development, and next-level industry opportunities. Submit your project to get your chance to be part of the ten-month program.

Open to teams of Saudi and Arab directors and producers, with scriptwriters if on board, this intensive creative and professional training program will take your project from an idea to reality.

In 2022, the Lodge expands across ten months (duration is subject to change depending on the to-be-announced Festival dates and the global health situation) with five workshops to give you a broad overview and strong grounding to explore your project’s full dramatic and production potential. You will be mentored by a Head of Script Development and Head of Production, with guidance from specialists across the industry.

Alongside ongoing script development sessions, the programme features a producers coaching programme and covers professional development, production, financing, sales and marketing. During the workshop, participants also have the opportunity to work with internationally experienced professionals from the fields of directing, cinematography, sound editing, post-production and sales.

Following development and meetings with industry professionals, two projects will be awarded the annual Red Sea Lodge's production prizes ($100,000 each), a grant and an Arab premiere at the next Festival's edition.

For more information, please visit: https://redseafilmfest.com/en/red-sea-lodge-2022/#

Tripoli Film Festival (TFF) is calling for film submission to its 8^th edition, which will take place 22 until 29 September 2022.

The Festival is a cinematic event conceived to ameliorate the image of the city of Tripoli (Lebanon) with three main objectives:

• Enriching local cultural environment in Tripoli.

• Promoting the rich cultural heritage of Tripoli and its local artists.

• Branding and Marketing Tripoli and its region as a highly promising tourist destination.

Rules & Terms:

• Eligible Movies: Feature Films – (from 80 to 105 min) / Short films – (less than 20 min) / Animation  (less than 20 min) / Feature Documentaries– (from 50 to 90 min) / Short Documentaries– (less than 20 min).

• Films completion dates should not be earlier than December 2020.

• Film screeners should be downloadable.

• Movies shot in Lebanon, partially or completely, should enclose a copy of the Lebanese “Sécurité Générale” shooting permit.

• By submitting your film to TFF 2022, you are granting the organizers the rights to screen your film in the out of competition events parallel to the festival during the year 2022.

• By submitting your film to TFF, you declare that all rights on the film are acquired.

TFF offers awards and prizes in the different categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Animation, Best Short Film, Jury Special Award.

The deadline is on  June 3, 2022.

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

A platform for independent filmmaking, creative expression and immersive entertainment, Tribeca Film Festival  supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences, and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions, and live performance.

The 21st edition of the Festival will take place from 8 until 19 June 2022 and is now calling for submissions in all categories.

Feature and Short Films:

Tribeca FF showcases short and feature films from emerging talents and established filmmakers with distinct voices and bold new ideas. Films invited to participate in the 2022's edition (TF22) will be shown in the section determined most appropriate by Festival programmers, in their sole discretion. Short films will also be considered for an online section, which will premiere on our Tribeca At Home platform.

Eligible projects include feature films (runtime ≥ 40 minutes). Short films (runtime < 40 minutes); including documentaries, narratives, animation, experimental films, and music videos.

Tribeca Now:

Tribeca Now is a platform that discovers, highlights, and celebrates independent episodic work, including short and long form pilots/series, of both narrative and documentary genres. Eligible projects include episodic projects created for broadcast television and/or streaming, and web series. Submitted projects must show the potential for serial growth; standalone short films will not be considered.

Additional to consideration as an Official Selection of TF22, filmmakers submitting to Tribeca Now will also be considered for the Tribeca Creators Market, a first-of-its-kind, private industry market held during TF22 that brings together emerging feature film, episodic, immersive, podcast, and games storytellers to pitch new projects to and network with a wide range of industry, including distributors, producers, networks, funders, and more. Interested participants must have prepared pitch materials (i.e. scripts, look books, etc.) in advance of the event for Market staff to review. All filmmakers chosen as Official Selections of the Tribeca Now section will receive an automatic invitation to the Tribeca Creators Market.

The deadline for submissions is on January 19, 2022

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

Designed to support writers with original long-form episodic projects, Film Independent’s Episodic Lab will accept a diverse group of 6–8 writers or writing teams and provide them with critical support and mentorship. Through personalized feedback from experienced show runners, creative producers and executives, Fellows will gain the tools to revise and refine their pilots and navigate a changing industry landscape.

The Episodic Lab helps to further the careers of its Fellows by introducing them to industry veterans who can offer guidance on both the craft and business of writing episodic content. Each Fellow will be paired with a Creative Advisor with whom they’ll work one-on-one and in group sessions to develop their project during the month of July. Additionally, guest speakers will screen and discuss their own work to offer insights into the creative process and industry best practices. A final networking and pitch event will offer Fellows the opportunity to introduce themselves and their work to studio and network executives.

Alfred P. Sloan Episodic Lab Grant

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation will award one participant of the Film Independent Episodic Lab a $10,000 development grant.

For more information about the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, please visit www.sloan.org or follow the Foundation at @SloanPublic on Twitter and Facebook.

Who Can Apply?

The Episodic Lab is open to any emerging writer applying with a completed draft of a half hour or hour-long television pilot they wish to workshop during the program. Each applicant must be the author of the script he or she submits. The submitted pilot cannot have been pitched at any point to a studio or network.

Writing partners are welcome to apply as teams and need only to submit a single application. International applicants are also welcome to apply. At this time, documentary and short-form digital series are not eligible to apply.

How to Apply

• A cover letter introducing yourself and your interest in the Episodic Lab

• One complete, original pilot

• A series logline and pilot synopsis

• A series description describing the story engine and series arc of the show

• Project status and history, including any industry exposure

• A series proposal document that includes brief descriptions of the world of the series and its premise and genre, as well as breakdowns for the show’s primary characters and their first season arcs

The deadline is  February 11, 2022.

For more information, please visit: https://www.filmindependent.org/programs/artist-development/episodic-lab/

The Micro Minute Film Festival (MMFF) focuses on showcasing one-minute films.  All genres are accepted, but the time limit is set. Screenplays should be one-page or equivalent to one-minute if they were to be filmed.

The Festival was created to offer filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their micro minute films, with the audience and support of fellow filmmakers. Networking and potential for future collaboration is pivotal to the Festival's goals.

The films are concluded with a Q&A, so filmmakers can take pride in their work and meet like-minded filmmakers.

Submission Rules:

• MMFF competition categories are open to the United States and International entries.

• Films in the minute category and trailer category can not exceed one minute, or 60 seconds, including opening and closing credits.

• Films in the two minute category can not exceed two minutes, or 120 seconds, including opening and closing credits.

• Screenplays should be one page or equivalent to one minute of film if they were shot.

• Films must submit preview screeners via online with or without a password.

• Foreign language entries must have English subtitles.

• Entries must have been completed in the past two years.

• Applicants may submit as many entries as they wish, as long as each entry has a separate entry form and fee.

The deadline is on February 23, 2022

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

The One World Media Awards 2022 celebrate 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 look to champion stories that demonstrate originality, creativity, and the potential to catalyze change. All entries should highlight underreported stories or issues, or explore new angles on familiar topics. The awards will be announced on 16 June 2022.

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, the Middle East, Russia or the Post-Soviet States.

• Entries must have had their first screening, broadcast, theatrical release, launch or publication between 12 February 2021 and 10 February 2022.

• 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 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 Feature Documentary Award:

This award is for  feature-length documentary films (more than 40 minutes)  that deal with stories, topics or issues in, about or related to the global south.

Deadline for submission: February 10, 2022

For more information, please visit: Awards – One World Media