ScreenACT Newsletter

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

ACT Screen Investment Fund consultation

In the 2010-11 Budget, the ACT Government announced the establishment of the ACT Screen Investment Fund, an initiative aimed at supporting the growth and sustainability of the ACT screen industry which includes film, television and digital media.

The Fund will provide equity co-investment with the marketplace into eligible projects with clear commercial potential. The initiative is funded at $400,000 in 2010-11, $600,000 in 2011-12 and $800,000 in 2012-13.

Consistent with accepted industry standards, the fund's investment will be the "last money in". Therefore applicants are required to have confirmed finance partners, marketplace commitment or demonstrated marketplace interest in place before seeking production investment from the ACT Government. Any returns from this equity investment will be reinvested in the fund.

The ACT Government has prepared draft guidelines that will facilitate the management of the Fund. They include: the management structure; eligibility and selection criteria; guidelines for application and assessment; and monitoring and reporting. This information is presented in the two documents, the ACT Screen Investment Fund Guidelines and the ACT Screen Investment Fund Terms of Trade. Documents can be downloaded from the ACT Government's website here

The community is invited to comment on these guidelines. A consultation session will be held from

11:00 to 12:30 on 6 August 2010 at the Griffin Centre, Genge St, Canberra.

Written submissions are invited by COB 6 August 2010.

To register your intention to attend the consultation session, contact:

Chimwemwe Mpaso by COB 3 August 2010
Email: chimwemwe.mpaso@act.gov.au
Phone: (02) 6207 5843

Low Budget Feature Workshop

We have had a great response to the Stephen Cleary writing for low budget feature workshop and it will be going ahead as planned.

Following on from the success of ScreenACT's Project Pod, international script consultant Stephen Cleary will be back in town to run the first phase of a Low Budget Feature initiative. The two day workshop "Writing for a Low Budget Feature" is about actually writing low budget features as opposed to having a script that is high budget but you only have a low budget to make!

The workshop is scheduled for the weekend of 25^th and 26^th September and will be co-hosted by ScreenACT and the ACT Writers' Centre.

Please email monica.penders@screenact.com.au to register your interest. Application forms and final costing will be released shortly.

SPAA Chapter in ACT

We are starting up an ACT SPAA (Screen Producers Association of Australia) Chapter. There are associate producer memberships as well as full producer memberships. We have negotiated heavily discounted rates for membership end on 31 July. If you are a producer please join and help grow our voice on a national level, and encourage other producers you know to do the same. Georgina Jenkins will be heading up this chapter. It will basically be an informal quarterly gathering (with a business rather than arts focus) which will provide a forum to network, discuss issues which can then be fed back to the national body, and have the occasional interstate guest speaker.
Any queries, contact Georgina.

"The Dinner Party" on DVD in the UK

Canberra based feature, "The Dinner Party" has just been released to DVD in the UK through Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment.

The Australian release has been pushed back to October/November with a final date to be confirmed. "The Dinner Party" was awarded funding by ScreenACT.

Follow the build up to the Australian release of the film on Youtube, Facebook & Twitter.

Follow me on Twitter

Screening of ACT documentaries

Lara van Raay and Brendan Walsh will be screening their documentaries - the award winning film "Palestine, Beer & Oktoberfest Under Occupation" and "Moresby Modern" at the Dendy Theatre. Introduction and Q&A with the film makers will be hosted by ScreenACT's Monica Penders.

7pm - Thursday the 29th of July Dendy Canberra
Tickets - $10 at the box office

Screen Australia - Springboard

Screen Australia's Springboard provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for creative filmmaking teams to create a short film that speaks directly to their feature film screenplay, providing a strong showcase into the marketplace.

Springboard will target outstanding teams one step away from making their first professional feature film, and assist them with defining, writing and producing a short film that is a creatively and professionally relevant calling card to their feature project.

Deadline is Monday 2 August 2010

Click here for more information

SPAA Fringe

SPAA Fringe, hosted by SPAA is a two day event that educates, connects and inspires filmmakers. Here, you will have the opportunity to pitch your project from SBS, ABC, Foxtel, distributors and established producers.
This event is comprised of workshops, roundtables, one-on-ones, panel discussions screenings and social networking events. It also offers a unique opportunity to spend quality time with established film makers, TV executives and other industry professionals. This event will be held on 22nd and 23rd October at the Power House Museum, Sydney. For more information, and to register click here.

Metro Screen/SPAA Fringe Pitching Comp

The Metro Screen Pitching competition winner will go onto pitch at SPAA Fringe and have the chance to pitch at the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition at SPAA Conference and win a return flight to Cannes [or an international screen market of your choice], $1500 spending money and recognition from the screen industry? Intensive Pitch Workshop will be held 31st July, submit by 9thAugust, competition held 28th September. ACT residents are welcome to attend the workshop and the pitching competition.

Canberra Short Film Festival

Entries will be closing 30th July. To submit a short film, click here. Canberra Short Film Festival, run over three nights, 30th September, until 2nd October is sponsored by SilverSun Pictures. For more information, click here.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Low Budget Feature Workshop

Following on from the success of ScreenACT's Project Pod, international script consultant Stephen Cleary will be back in town to run the first phase of a Low Budget Feature initiative- The two day workshop "Writing for a Low Budget Feature" is about actually writing low budget features as opposed to having a script that is high budget but you only have a low budget to make! The workshop is scheduled for the weekend of 25^th and 26^th September and will be co-hosted by ScreenACT and the ACT Writers' Centre. Please email monica.penders@screenact.com.au to register your interest as we have to have a minimum of 15 to run the course. Application forms and final costing will be released shortly.

SPAA Chapter in ACT

We are starting up an ACT SPAA (Screen Producers Association of Australia) Chapter. There are associate producer memberships as well as full producer memberships. We have negotiated heavily discounted rates for membership end on 31 July. If you are a producer please join and help grow our voice on a national level, and encourage other producers you know to do the same. Georgina Jenkins will be heading up this chapter. It will basically be an informal quarterly gathering (with a business rather than arts focus) which will provide a forum to network, discuss issues which can then be fed back to the national body, and have the occasional interstate guest speaker.
Any queries, contact Georgina.

Red Camera workshop

Red Pictures is interested in running a RED Camera workshop in Canberra. Are you interested?

Contact Red Jeffreys for more information.

Screening of ACT documentaries

Lara van Raay and Brendan Walsh will be screening their documentaries - the award winning film "Palestine, Beer & Oktoberfest Under Occupation" and "Moresby Modern" at the Dendy Theatre. Introduction and Q&A with the film makers will be hosted by ScreenACT's Monica Penders.

7pm - Thursday the 29th of July Dendy Canberra
Tickets - $10 at the box office

Screen Australia - Springboard

Screen Australia's Springboard provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for creative filmmaking teams to create a short film that speaks directly to their feature film screenplay, providing a strong showcase into the marketplace.

Springboard will target outstanding teams one step away from making their first professional feature film, and assist them with defining, writing and producing a short film that is a creatively and professionally relevant calling card to their feature project.

Deadline is Monday 2 August 2010

Click here for more information

SPAA Fringe

SPAA Fringe, hosted by SPAA is a two day event that educates, connects and inspires filmmakers. Here, you will have the opportunity to pitch your project from SBS, ABC, Foxtel, distributors and established producers.

This event is comprised of workshops, roundtables, one-on-ones, panel discussions screenings and social networking events. It also offers a unique opportunity to spend quality time with established film makers, TV executives and other industry professionals. This event will be held on 22nd and 23rd October at the Power House Museum, Sydney. For more information, and to register click here.

Metro Screen/SPAA Fringe Pitching Comp

The Metro Screen Pitching competition winner will go onto pitch at SPAA Fringe and have the chance to pitch at the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition at SPAA Conference and win a return flight to Cannes [or an international screen market of your choice], $1500 spending money and recognition from the screen industry? Intensive Pitch Workshop will be held 31st July, submit by 9thAugust, competition held 28th September. ACT residents are welcome to attend the workshop and the pitching competition.

Screen Australia- Producing Internships

Screen Australia has invited applications from producers for three internship roles with three outstanding independent film production companies in New York. The Screen Australia New York Producer Internships are open for producers at two levels of experience- two are designed for producers that have already produced a feature film, while the other is designed for producers who have created multiple shorts and have a proven capacity for creative excellence.

Applications close 30th July, 2010. For eligibility requirements click here , for this article and more information, click here.

Australia's children content focus at MIPCOM 2010

Screen Australia will select ten Australian producers attending MIPCOM to meet with distributors, broadcasters and co-producers to develop their projects. Participants will be carefully matched with international executives. This event will be held at Screen Australia on 5th October. Calls for expression of interest will be posted on the Screen Australia website soon.

For more information, click here.

Canberra Short Film Festival

Entries will be closing 30th July. To submit a short film, click here. Canberra Short Film Festival, run over three nights, 30th September, until 2nd October is sponsored by SilverSun Pictures. For more information, click here.

Canberra International Film Festival

CIFF is a 12 day film festival showcasing a large selection of feature films and documentaries from around the world, and also the best Australian new releases and retrospectives. The festival also includes various additional events such as Q&A, panel discussions and also workshops hosted by filmmakers. The Canberra International Film Festival, running from 27^th October until 7^th November at Dendy Cinema Canberra, plus events and screenings at Arc Cinema. For information, and more, click here.

Tropfest 2011

Dates for Tropfest 2011 have been announced. It is now officially scheduled for 20th February, this means entries will close 6th January. Entry guidelines will be available on the Tropfest page

within the next few months.

Flickerfest 2011

Entries are now open for Flickerfest 2011! Flickerfest has five competition categories- these being International, Australian, Documentary, GreenFlicks (environmental focus or theme) and FlickerUp (open for primary and secondary students in Australia)

Films must be under 35 minutes, and have been completed within the past two years of submission. Australian deadlines must be received by the 3rd of September, 2010. Flickerfest will be held in Bondi Pavillion 7th until 16th January, 2011. For more information, click here.

Melbourne International Film Festival

Melbourne International Film Festival will be kicking off on 22nd July, and closing 8th August. Online ticket sales are now available for Opening Night and Closing Night, tickets, and passports. MIFF Forum Box Office and Call Centre opens 19th July. For more information, visit this link.

The Other Film Festival

The Other Film Festival (or OFF) is held in Melbourne and it focuses on compiling films that explore the diversity of disabilities (including mental illness and deafness). The OFF will take the audience through a wide range of emotions, because of its raw, revealing and risky nature. The OFF is held at the Melbourne Museum, running from 25th until 29th August. For more information, click here.

Australia's Silent Film Festival

Australia's Silent Film Festival will be held in Sydney on 16th, 18th, 23rd and the 25th September. A vast array of movies will be shown with big names, such as Buster Keaton, Chaplin and Laurel and Hardey. For this information, and more click here.

Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival

Since 2006, the Rise Fly Fishing Film Festival has been screened to over 16000 fly fishers around the world. The 2010 Film Festival will be hosted by Nick Reygaert and Silvio Caldelari and held in Canberra on 29th July, at the National Gallery. To book, click here.

For more information, click here.

Unproduced Screenplay Competition

AWG and the 2011 Adelaide Film Festival are calling for entries into the INSITE Competition for Unproduced Feature Screenplays. The 2011 winning screen play will receive a rehearsed public reading during the Adelaide Film Festival, travel to Adelaide to participate in rehearsals as well as a cash prize of $2,500. For more information, click here. Entry is open to financial members of AWG, and close on 27th August.