At the Tribeca Film Festival panel I was a part of yesterday, I strongly encouraged those filmmakers who were in the audience to ensure that they exploit available industry resources like film production/financing markets, filmmaker labs and the like, wherever they exist in the world.
We write about a lot of these markets and labs here on S&A, so if you’ve been paying attention, you’d know about them. Not that they are guarantees of success, or that they’ll speed up your path to success (although both have been the case for many), but they provide you with opportunities to place your work (regardless of what stage it’s in, because the requirements of each event varies) in front of people who can genuinely help you move it along, whether in terms of writing/script/story, financing, production, post-production, distribution, etc.
Of course you have to get accepted into one of these initiatives first; but even before that happens, you have to apply!
I’ll continue to highlight as many of these as I’m aware of, like this one, from the IFP.
The organization is currently seeking completed screenplays and documentary work-in-progress for their annual Independent Film Week, a forum that takes place here in NYC, set up for the purpose of discovering new projects in development and new voices on the independent film scene.
Every year, Independent Film Week introduces some 160+ new projects to the industry, months and even years before they hit the festival circuit and beyond.
Recent notable alumni you might recognize include Beasts of the Southern Wild, Blue Caprice, and many, many more.
You just might be among the next class of filmmakers whose projects are launched, or given a much needed boost in awareness, during IFW, so take advantage.
Full details below; deadlines are imminent:
Discovering and Supporting Tomorrow’s Great Storytellers Today
September 15 – 19, 2013
New York, NY
Formerly known as IFFM and IFP Market, Project Forum has had a prolific history in the independent community supporting both emerging and established independent filmmakers at critical stages in their development processes. The organization championed the early work of pioneering independent filmmakers Charles Burnett, Todd Haynes, Mira Nair, Michael Moore, Joel and Ethan Cohen, Kevin Smith, Todd Solondz, and Wayne Wang. Recently, it has also played a vital role in launching the first films of many of today’s rising stars on the independent scene including Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Debra Granik, (Down to the Bone) Miranda July (Me, You and Everyone We Know), and Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden (Half Nelson).
2013 Deadlines
Emerging Storytellers: May 3, 2013
No Borders International Co-Production Market: May 3, 2013 (U.S. producers) / May 24, 2013 (International Partner submissions)
Independent Filmmaker Labs: March 8, 2013 (Documentary); June 5, 2013 (Narrative)
Spotlight on Documentaries: May 3 (early) / May 25 (final)
Independent Film Week is:
Project Forum: The oldest forum in the U.S. for the discovery of new projects in development and new voices on the independent film scene. Project Forum consists of Emerging Storytellers (screenplays from emerging writer/directors), No Borders International Co-Production Market (screenplays represented by established producers with some financing in place), Trans Atlantic Partners (showcase of new projects from experienced producers from Europe, Canada, and the US),Independent Filmmaker Labs (documentary and narrative features in post-production), and Spotlight on Documentaries (documentary feature works-in-progress) programs. Applications live March 15.
Filmmaker Conference: Our annual exploration into the art and business of 21st century storytelling. Keynotes and highlights from last year’s conference included producer Christine Vachon and Focus Features’ James Schamus, ARTE’s Michel Reilhac, pitch workshops, a case study of “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, andMeet the Decision Makers – real meetings for Conference passholders with top distributors, agents & managers, and filmmakers’ grants and fellowships. Stay tuned for details on the 2013 conference in July.
Festival Forum: The leading gathering of international and U.S. film festival programmers, The Festival Forum is a professional association that advocates for the needs and interests of film festival organizers. The Forum also provides a collaborative platform for members to develop curatorial and operational efficiencies, professional standards and best practices, and leverage their collective interests to the international film community. Founded in 2010, the Festival Forum includes over 100 U.S. & International festival programmers and executives, including representatives from Berlin, Cannes, Full Frame, Hot Docs, New York Film Festival, New Directors, Rotterdam, Slamdance, Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca.
Sneak Preview Screening Series: Where IFP alumni filmmakers introduce new works to industry, fellow filmmakers, and the movie-going public.
