Producers Forum

Presented by ONTARIO MEDIA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

IFF is a feature film co-financing event at the Toronto International Film Festival® that brings together selected international and Canadian producers developing English language projects to do business in a relaxed atmosphere of brokered meetings and networking opportunities with international sales agents, distributors, funders, agents, and executive producers. IFF 2007 brought producers together with representatives from William Morris Independent (USA), Kinowelt International (Germany), Miramax (USA), Endeavor Talent Agency (USA), Bavaria Films (Germany), the BBC (UK), CAA (USA), Echo Lake Entertainment (USA), Film 4 (UK), HBO Films (USA), Ingenious Media (UK), Maximum Films (Canada), Paramount Vantage (USA), Trust Film Sales (Denmark), Warner Independent (USA), The Film Department (USA), Love Streams agnès b. Productions (France), HDNet Films (USA), Fortissimo Films (Hong Kong/Netherlands), Cinetic Media (USA), 120db Films (USA), Aver Media (Canada), Backup Films (France), Cinema NX (UK).

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Canadian and International feature film producers are invited to apply to participate in the IFF. Registration is free but competitive, with final selection to participate based on company track record and the suitability of projects.

Eligible applicants must have at a minimum, one producer credit on a theatrically released feature, and 1-2 market oriented co-productions in development that require international financing partners.

NEW for 2008! IFF encourages Ontario and International emerging producers who do not have one theatrically released film but have suitable projects at a financing stage to apply for participation at selected IFF events. Registration is also free but competitive due to limited space.

To download the application form go to www.omdc.on.ca

Application deadline for Canadian producers: July 14, 2008
Application deadline for International producers: July 25, 2008

Please direct any inquires to:

Jan Nathanson_Producer, International Finance Forum_Ontario Media Development Corporation_Phone: (416) 645-8521_Email: jnathanson@omdc.on.ca.

Due to the continued growth and success of The Electric we are opening a second screen to the public. From the beginning of July, the all digital Screen 2 will focus on independent, world and classic films.

In addition to the new screen a state of the art recording studio and dubbing theatre has been built. Tours of Screen 2 and the new studio will be given on Wednesday July 9th along with a demonstration of our new £60k HD projector. All members of the Producers' Forum are invited to attend.

If you would like to attend this event please RSVP to Thomas Lawes at tom@theelectric.co.uk with approximate numbers.

Learn to strengthen the premise of your scripts and to pitch your ideas with confidence and authority.

At the heart of a successful script is a great concept. In this popular one-day workshop we will work with you to help you make the premise for your cinema or TV story as strong as it can possibly be.

The Day
With exercises and feedback we will ensure that you clarify the strengths of your idea, address any unnoticed weaknesses that could sabotage your story before you have even started and help you lay the foundations that will enable you to write a powerful next draft.

In the second half of the workshop, we will use that premise as the basis for developing an exciting, original and marketable pitch, to entice producers, directors and any other potential collaborators and investors.

You will work closely with us and with the other participants to refine your pitches and then 5 Forum members who wish to will have the opportunity to practise pitching to the rest of the group in a friendly and constructive setting. (No-one will be forced to pitch if they don't want to, however it is an opportunity we do urge you to take if you can).

You will come away from this workshop with a clearly thought-out premise, a professionally written pitch and prepared to pitch your ideas with confidence and authority.

Cost: Free to Members of the Producers' Forum

This is a collaborative event with the West Midlands Writers' Network.

To reserve your place please e-mail info@producersforum.org.uk or call Tom Norton or Laura Breakwell on 0121 236 9994. Please RSVP letting us know if you would like to pitch as pitching opportunities will be provided on a first-come first-served basis.

Broadcasters have been committed to recruiting their journalists from more ethnically diverse backgrounds for two decades. That commitment has been backed up with a range of schemes and support packages but the Broadcast Journalism Training Council described diversity as ‘journalism’s big problem'.

Much has been said and written on this issue but Bridging The Gap aims to go further, looking at what works and what doesn’t when it comes to getting young people into broadcast journalism, ensuring they succeed once they’re in, living with difference and allowing difference to be reflected in the output.

The 2008 conference will be held on Thursday 10th July '08 at Birmingham City University School of Jewellery. For all enquiries please contact Lauren Davies on 0121 204 9883 or email lauren.davies@bcu.ac.uk.

Delegate Fees:
Industry organisations / Education - £165.00 + VAT Not for profit / Charity - £99.00 + VAT

Workshop topics will examine what works when it comes to recruiting diverse talent, what influences young people’s career choices and how to deepen the pool from which talent can be drawn, how to support BME journalists once they’re in the job and how to help staff deal with difference.

Who should attend
Anyone connected with broadcast news, with educating and training journalists, working with young people, recruitment and careers advice will have something to contribute and something to learn from the day.

For updates on programme details please visit the mediaskills website and for further details of the day please click on the link below:

Click here to download a document with more information.

Today SP is the place to co-produce with Canadians. Taking place annually in Halifax, Canada, it has become a one-stop-shop featuring top producers from across the country, all major broadcasters, film commissions and distributors. In addition, SP features delegations from the US and UK along with annual spotlight countries. In 2008 SP will throw the spotlight on Argentina, Mexico and Brazil. This mix is rounded out by delegates from around the globe. SP maintains a unique and intimate sensibility accepting only 200 delegates. The size of the event ensures easy access to key industry players, promotes relationship building, and has helped garner SP a reputation as efficient and stress-free. SP ensures that the producers selected from those who apply and the invited industry delegates will both benefit from their SP participation.

For guidelines and to apply online visit our Delegates section.

The deadline for applications is July 9, 2008. Anyone successful in being invited to the event would be able to apply to SWM for support of up to £750 to attend.

Click here to download a document with more information.

Past, Present, Futuristic Photographer and filmmaker Pogus Caesar celebrates 20 years working in Television and Film with a screening of selected highlights from his award winning career, including work produced and directed for Central TV, BBC, Channel 4 and Carlton Television. Throughout the screening Caesar will be in conversation with Professor Roger Shannon, Professor of Film & Television at Edge Hill University.

Cost: free.

The Mandrake Root is a bawdy ‘Carry On’ of a movie, produced by regional-based company European Drama Network. Shot in full HD in Sardinia and adapted from the renaissance comedy La Mandragola by Niccolò Machiavelli, it is a hilarious tale of desire, deceit and cunning, played at a fast pace by a talented cast with impeccable comic timing. The European Drama Network is a production and distribution company producing films of classic, out of copyright plays and texts primarily for a global home cinema market. The Mandrake Root is the first feature length film produced by the European Drama Network.

This is an opportunity to see the film projected in full HD, to meet the filmmakers and find out more about this unique film production and distribution company. Cost: free.

For more info and to reserve a place contact Alice Trueman at alice@light-house.co.uk or call 01902 716055.

Screen WM is the first agency supporting the development of screen based media to offer this fantastic, interactive course with a formal qualification attached.

Designed and specifically tailored for those working in the broadcast and creative industries, and in direct response to industry demand for leadership and management training, the course looks at the peaks and pitfalls of managing a team, effective communication and all the necessary skills needed to get the job done. To make it easier for those working in the industry, this 4 day course is delivered in two 2-day chunks.

Along with all the fantastic new knowledge and skills you’ll gain, successful delegates will also receive a formal qualification from the Institute of Leadership and Management - “Level 2 Award in Team Leading”, a great addition to your CV.

When is it?

Module 1: Tuesday 1st-Wednesday 2nd July 2008
Module 2: Tuesday 15th Wednesday 16th July 2008

Please note this course is available to all members of the Screen Media Community regardless of the sector in which you work. Should you work in the TV sector – it may be possible for you to attend the course at a hugely subsidised rate.

To find out more and download an application form, please visit this section of the Screen WM website.

Whether you’re a new and emerging Filmmaker/Producer looking for career-launching networking opportunities, or a seasoned professional with years of experience looking for the next big thing or merely looking to diversify in new directions, the Screenwriters’ Festival 2008 is your one-stop shop for industry-wide access to the award-winning talent of today, and the award-winning talent of tomorrow!

The Screenwriters’ Festival is back for a third year and this time it promises to offer even greater opportunities for networking than ever before! Between the 1st and 3rd July 2008 over 500 delegates and speakers comprising: Writers, Directors, Producers and Commissioning Executives will be descending on the picturesque ‘Manor by the Lake’ in Cheltenham for three days of talks, presentations, interviews, screenings, discussion panels, workshops and the return of the ever-popular live pitching session. Screenwriters’ Festival is proud to boast that a good number of last year’s screenwriting delegates secured promising option agreements and follow-ups as a direct result of the encounters and connections formed during the Festival. This year we hope to facilitate even more opportunities!

As in previous years we’ll have a host of high-profile speakers on the programme, among them: Terry Pratchett (award-winning author of the ‘Discworld’ novels now being adapted for the screen by Sky), Jane Tranter (Controller of BBC Fiction), Laura Mackie (Director of ITV Drama), Christopher Hampton (‘Atonement’), Deborah Moggach (‘Pride and Prejudice’) and of course the irrepressible, academy award-winning Julian Fellowes (‘Gosford Park’ and ‘Young Victoria’) plus a great many more! Tickets are going fast, book early to avoid disappointment!

Please follow this link to our website – www.screenwritersfestival.com

To reserve your place, please call 0121 202 4804 or email Nigel at the NTI.

The Electric Cinema in Birmingham is the oldest working cinema in the UK. Built in 1909 the cinema has gone through many incarnations and name changes. Although Birmingham once had over 100 cinemas, amazingly The Electric remains as the only independent cinema left in the city today. The building is now home to luxury sofa seating, waiter service and a full bar.

Electric Cinema Birmingham Listing 04/07/2008

Priceless (12A)
Fri - Tues at 5.15pm
Sat & Sun at 3.15pm

Gone, Baby, Gone (15)
Fri - Tues at 8.15pm
Wed at 8.30pm

Wizard of Oz (U)
Sat & Sun at 3.45pm
Wed at 8.30pm

Mongol (15)
Fri & Sat at 6pm
Sun 8.45pm
Mon, Tues, Thurs at 6.15pm
Sun, Tues, Thurs at 8.45pm

Blade Runner: The Final Cut (15)
Fri, Sat, Mon at 8.45pm
Sun 6pm