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Feature Film Co-Production Workshop

Calling all film producers!

EM Media's Talent Network, UK Film Council, Screen WM and UK Trade and Investment present

Feature Film Co-Production Workshop

A one day workshop explaining the nuts and bolts of international co-production

Date: Monday 22 February 2010
Venue: QUAD, Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AS
Time: 10:30am – 5pm
Cost: £25 (payable in advance). Register and pay via Eventbrite 

http://midlandscoproworkshop.eventbrite.com/

Why co-produce?
There are loads of advantages to international co-productions; for a start you can pool resources and share risk with your co-producers, potentially accessing film finance in the co-producing country.

How will the workshop help me?
There are many advantages to working internationally but to do so can add complexity to the production of a film. The workshop will demystify the co-production process and focus on the essential ‘need to know’ issues, offering practical help, advice and tips from respected industry experts with years of co-production experience.

Who is the workshop aimed at?
Film producers with at least one feature film production credit who want to refresh or extend their knowledge about international co-production and less experienced producers who want more information on the essentials of co-production and UK and international financing.

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Magic Light Producer Placement Programme

Magic Light Pictures are delivering this five month scheme to provide up and coming film producers with insight into the working operations and business realities of the film market. By gaining a greater understanding of commercial processes, they will develop the business acumen and market understanding to initiate, finance and sell successful British films.

Through placements, starting in April 2010, producers gain an appreciation of how production companies, film financiers, film lawyers, international sales companies, local distributors and local exhibitors work; and how the sectors interact. Producers will further consider issues relating to company growth; how new technologies are changing the industry; how project development can be influenced by market understanding; and the wider issues of film policy.

A series of evening master-classes and workshops with key industry figures will complement the placements, allowing the producers access to the knowledge and experience of individuals from all areas of the film industry.

Magic Light intend to place the successful producers with international sales agents and attend the Cannes International Film Festival 2010 and producers would need to be prepared to work away from home from Monday 10th May to Friday 21st May.

All applicants must be able to fulfil at least one of the following three criteria to be eligible to apply:

1. Experience in a significant role on the production side of feature film production for at least two years;
2. Experience in a significant role on the production side of documentary or television drama production for at least two years;
3. Experience in a significant role in a film related business or film related professional career for at least two years.

If you would like to find out more about this scheme, eligibility and how to apply, please visit: Magic Light Producer Placement Programme

Deadline for applications is midday, Friday 19 February 2010.

The Programme is funded by the Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of ‘A Bigger Future' - the UK's Film Skills Strategy.

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Nativity wins 2 'Film Of The Year' Awards

Nativity has won 2 'Film Of The Year' Awards in the Public Vote categories of the 2010 Richard Attenborough Awards in London.

http://www.filmoftheyear.co.uk/film-awards-winners

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Dawn of the Micro Major Film Producer

With independent film financing & distribution models changing fast, you need to stay on top of all the changes and harness the power of it all to create your very own "Micro Major". You've heard of the Major's (the studios), and the Mini-Majors (the 'independent' arms of the Studios), but right now what we are seeing is the dawn of the Micro Major where independent producers can take control of their projects like never before.

Screen International is teaming up with Stacey Parks of filmspecific.com and Thomas Mai of festivaldarlings.com on February 16 to present a special half day workshop at the Berlin Film Festival entitled 'Dawn of the Micro Major Film Producer'.

The event will inform attendees how to stay on top of the changes in financing and distribution models and teach producers how to take control of their projects in the new world.

Places are limited so you need to book your seat today to avoid disappointment. Plus you will benefit from the special 'early bird' rate which ends on 1st February.

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/533182764/Screen/3171221239

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8th FILM PALACE FEST

The 8th FILM PALACE FEST - International Short Film Festival, Balchik, Bulgaria, screams for your films! The deadline for submission of international films is March 25, 2010.

We accept individual and institutional entries. The festival is open to professionals and students. There are six competitive programmes; workshops; seminars; master stylees and market. There is NO ENTRY FEE.

http://inthepalace.com/en/entry-go

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HOTHOUSE - Call for Applicants

The London Film School has been selected by Skillset to run an emerging
talent programme, aimed at UK screenwriters, directors and producers.

HOTHOUSE provides an opportunity for nine individuals or teams who have
already had some success in an expressive medium - film, performance,
theatre, visual arts, broadcasting, new media, literature, etc - to
develop a signature film and make it ready for financing, production and
its audience.

Rather than working in isolation, participating filmmakers are given a
calendar of group seminars, individual meetings, delivery dates and
feedback, case studies and mentoring built on the specific challenges of
each proposed project.  Over 15 months, from idea through structuring
and revising, to scheduling, budgeting and packaging options,
participants will emerge with workable projects, tied to realistic
finance plans.

HOTHOUSE has been created by LFS senior lecturer and award-winning
screenwriter, Margaret Glover, in consultation with LFS Director and
producer, Ben Gibson, and an advisory group of producers Chris Collins
(My Summer of Love, Brick Lane) and Kate Ogborn (The Unloved, One for
the Road), producer and writer Peter Ettedgui (Kinky Boots, Unmade
Beds), and writer-director Udayan Prasad (My Son the Fanatic, Gabriel &
Me).

Neil Peplow, Skillset's Director of Film, comments, "Story telling is at
the very heart of our industry, and so it is essential that we nuture
and encourage new  talent into the industry.  Hothouse is an innovative
scheme that will identify and nurture the next generation of UK
screenwriters and equip them with the skills that will help them develop
long term careers."

Places will be limited to nine projects for the initial launch.

The programme will run from April 2010 and the first deadline for
applications is 1st Feb.  

For more information visit http://www.lfs.org.uk/hothouse/

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Borderlines/Producers’ Forum screen SHELL SHOCK

In association with The Producers’ Forum, Borderlines Film Festival will be screening James Price's debut feature film SHELL SHOCK. The film will be followed by a Q&A with the film's director chaired by our CEO Natasha Carlish.

Shell Shock (15)

Director: James Price

Starring: Robert Whitelock, Nina Fogg,

UK, 2009, 1 hour 15 minutes

Shot in Tokyo, London and ural Herefordshire, this debut is a compelling portrait of the impact of war on a young man, which anybody with serving family or friends should see.

Tom is a veteran of an unknown conflict, haunted by war-time memories. Adrift in a strange city he reaches out to a young Japanese girl but life’s not easy with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Beautifully filmed with a dreamy, poetic quality and a strong central performance that distinguishes it from many a first feature.

For further details or to see full listings please visit http://www.borderlinesfilmfestival.co.uk/shell_shock.shtml

Find out more about “Borderlines/Producers’ Forum screen S

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Initialize Films Berlin Co-Production Meetings

Over 20 international experts over 4 days during the 2010 Berlin Film Festival, hosted by leading media law firm Olswang + opportunities to meet potential co-producers at evening networking drinks.

Timetable

Day 1 - 12 February - Focus on Germany, UK, Scandinavia and Benelux

Day 2 - 13 February - Focus on France, Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe

Day 3 - 14 February - Focus on US

Day 4 - 15 February - Focus on Australia, Brazil and Canada

At the end of each day all delegates are invited to a networking drink.

Special offer of 50% discount to the first West Midlands producer to sign up on a 2 or 4 day pass (so £ 137.50 instead of £ 275 for a 2-day pass; £ 212.50 instead of £425 for a 4-day pass).

To register go to Initialize Films website: http://www.initialize-films.co.uk/

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Brooklyn Int'l Film Festival - 13th Edition

FINAL FILM SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Categories: Feature, Documentary, Short, Experimental, Animation

Awards: $50,000 in services, products, and cash.

Final Deadline: March 17, 2010
(Deadline is "Postmarked by" = Packages can be mailed until the day of the deadline)

Film Festival Dates: June 4-13, 2010

For more details visit  www.brooklynfilmfestival.org

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Great review for John Akomfrah's Mnemosyne from TimesOnline

Ken Russell gives John Akomfrah's Mnemosyne a glowing review.

Mnemosyne: a mind-blowing film that merges documentary and artistic essay in a way that astonishes, confounds and moves.

To read the full review by Ken Russell go to: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6988236.ece

Mnemosyne is showing at the Public, West Bromwich (0121-533 7161; www.thepublic.com), for free to March 7. http://www.thepublic.com/index.php/events/

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