Visual Arts Brief Interview with Bob Giraldi

The SVA Visual Arts Briefs recently sat down with the Chair of the MPS Live Action Short Film to discuss the inaugural class of the new program. Check it out here:

http://intranet.adm.schoolofvisualarts.edu/vabriefs2/index.php/20101209/department-dossier-bob-giraldi

A New AD for the MPS Live Action/Short FIlm Program

A new ad for the MPS Live Action Short Film program is now running before all films at the Angelica theater in NYC- go check it out! Or just see it here.

Independent Film Week

Independent Film Week is coming up. Volunteering is a great way to get involved and meet interesting filmmakers: http://independentfilmweek.com/volunteer/

Call for Entries: Atlantic City International Film & Music Festival

Harrah's Entertainment and its Atlantic City properties will play host to the inaugural Atlantic City International Film & Music Festival, taking place September 8-12th throughout various venues in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ACIFMF offers attendees a jam-packed schedule of events, including film and music offerings, meetings, seminars, and entertaining nightlife, giving attending filmmakers and musicians plenty of opportunities to showcase their work and make valuable connections.

Deadline: July 12, 2010

For more information, visit: http://acifmf.com/

Get a Grant and Make a Film!

If you're in New York, mark you calendar for the Brooklyn Arts Council's Focus on Film and Media Grants Seminar.

Tuesday, June 22, 6–8pm

"Are you a Brooklyn-based independent artist working in film and media, learning the
ropes of researching and applying for grants? Hear straight from program officers at
two foundations supporting film and media in Brooklyn: Sean Elwood of Creative
Capital Foundation and Reva Goldberg of Cinereach."

The seminar is free. For more info, visit: http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/documents/1510

The Guggenheim and You Tube

It's a great time for short film and video! The Guggenheim recently announced its newest venture, YouTube Play: A Biennial of Creative Video.

They explain:

"YouTube Play hopes to attract innovative, original, and surprising videos from around the world, regardless of genre, technique, background, or budget. This global online initiative is not a search for what's "now," but a search for what's next."

Submissions must be less than 10 minutes long. A panel will select up to 20 videos to play in October at Guggenheim's New York Berlin, Bilbao and Venice Museums.

The deadline for submissions is July 31st. To enter your work, go to http://www.youtube.com/play

Call for Submissions: 3rd Annual International Narrative Short Film Festival

The University Art Gallery at California State University in Chico, CA seeks films that are narrative in structure, under 30 minutes. Films will be shown at a preview screening at the University Film Series on Tuesday, February 1, 2011. Works will be on view continuously at the University Art Gallery, Feb. 2 - 11. First, 2nd & 3rd Place non-cash prizes will be awarded & announced at the Feb. 1 screening.

Review & screening format: DVD (NTSC). Include name, address, telephone & email, film title & running time. Submissions without a return SASE become the property of the University Art Gallery.

Earlybird Deadline: August 15: $15

Regular Deadline: September 15: $20

Late Deadline: October 15: $25

Send to: Narrative Shorts, University Art Gallery, Department of Art & Art History, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA 95929-0820

For more information, contact: Jason Tannen, 530.898.5864 or jtannen@csuchico.edu

Call for Entries: 6th Annual Brooklyn Indie House

Brooklyn Indie House is an independent film festival held every Spring and Fall. The BIH was created to show the best Black and Latino indie films in the classic theater environment.

Every year they select up to 8 shorts and 4 features to participate in the Brooklyn Indie House. Each movie will have red carpet opening night and a total of 6(six) screenings at specially selected theaters in Brookyln, New York. At end of the season they count up the tickets sales and share the proceeds with the filmmakers.

Early Submission Deadline Friday May 28, 2010 - $10 Entry Fee

Official Submission Deadline Friday June 25, 2010 - $15 Entry Fee

Late Submission Deadline Friday July 16, 2010 - $25 Entry Fee

For more information, visit: http://blackandlatinofilm.com/blfc_brooklynindiehouse.html

Call for Submissions: Cinesonika

CINESONIKA: The First International Film and Video Festival of Innovative Sound Design

"The theme of this international film and video festival is to celebrate the soundtrack. Usually in cinema festivals there is a fixation on movie stars, or captivating imagery, or the literary qualities of screenplays, or the abstract concepts of film theory. Sound tends to be relatively unvalorized in moving-image making. The intent of the festival is to give attention to innovative work in the creation of film and video soundtracks, and to give due credit to the importance of audio in audiovisual media.

This first annual festival will showcase international works of film and video with fascinating soundtracks, idiosyncratic sound design, eclectic scoring and innovative approaches to the sound-image relationship."

Deadline: September 1, 2010

For more information, please visit http://www.cinesonika.com or e-mail info@cinesonika.com

Watch The Grey Coat!

The Grey Coat is Bob Giraldi's most recent short film about a hardworking Korean family being extorted by two local detectives. An unlikely hero emerges...

Calls for Submissions!

Extremely Shorts 13 Film Festival

Aurora Picture Show’s annual Extremely Shorts Festival features three-minute or shorter films and videos by artists, filmmakers, culture jammers, students, moms, security guards, and anyone with a camera and a vision.

Entrants may submit up to three titles. Each title must run three minutes or shorter including titles and credits. NO exceptions. All genres accepted and considered: experimental, animation, documentary, music video and narrative.

Early deadline: April 30, 2010
Late deadline: May 10, 2010

Kansas International Film Festival

The 10th Annual Kansas International Film Festival is accepting submissions for animated shorts, feature-length narratives and documentaries, with a special emphasis on documentaries that explore issues of social justice.

Late deadline: April 27, 2010

For more information, visit: http://www.kansasfilm.com/

For more information, visit: http://aurorapictureshow.org/files/408_es13_entry_form_and_guidelines.pdf

Angelus Student Film Festival

The Angelus Student Film Festival, which takes place in the Directors Guild of America building in Hollywood, CA, is now accepting dramas, comedies, documentaries and animated works that "explore the complexity of the human condition with creativity and compassion and "respect the dignity of the human person." Entrants must be undergraduate or graduate students in film schools or universities.

Past Angelus winners include Patricia Cardoso (REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES); Tony Bui (THREE SEASONS); 2010 Academy Award nominee in the Best Live Action Short category, Gregg Helvey (KAVI); and 2009 Academy Award nominee Reto Caffi (AUF DER STRECKE).

Early Deadline: May 1, 2010

For more information, visit: http://www.angelus.org/index.html

Focus on Film & Media Grants

Tomorrow, April 20th, from 6-8PM

UnionDocs hosts an "Introduction to the New York State Council on the Arts Grants and BAC Regrants" seminar. Independent filmmakers and leaders of organizations working in film or media are invited to this seminar, that focuses on researching and applying for grants.

"Don Palmer, Director of the Individual Artists Program at New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), presents information on production grants to film and media artists; Karen Helmerson, NYSCA’s Director of the Electronic Media and Film Program gives guidance to organizations on Exhibition Support including Film Festivals, Screenings and General Exhibition programs; and Ethany Uttech, BAC Regrant Coordinator, demystifies the application
and review process for artists and organizations applying for BAC regrants funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, NYSCA, and JPMorganChase."

Tuesay, April 20th
6-8PM
UnionDocs
322 Union Ave at Maujer St, Brooklyn, NY

RSVP Online Now
http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/forms/153

Call for Submissions: Electric Shadows

Electric Shadows is a multi-platform film and music venture designed to promote and produce film and music in Beijing.

Their goal is to host communal cinema events where people can come together to experience local and international film and video works.

Each month, they present a new program of shorts, placing the emphasis on alternative and avant garde works, as well as curating one off events promoting longer films and translating and subtitling all films screened into Chinese.

For more information, or to submit a film, please e-mail electricshadows.bj@gmail.com

Call for Submissions: Margaret Mead Film & Video Fest

The American Museum of Natural History’s Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival is the longest-running showcase for international documentaries in the United States. The Mead Fest considers documentary films and videos (including shorts, experimental films, essay films, animation, and new media) only. Productions must have been completed within the last three years.

Deadline: May 3, 2010

For more information on submission requirements and other details, please check out the guidelines and Mead FAQs at http://www.amnh.org/mead.

Scene: Brooklyn

Check out new shorts, animation and documentaries by Brooklyn-based filmmakers during the Brooklyn Arts Council's Scene: Brooklyn flagship event this May. For tickets and more information, visit: http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/documents/44

Call for Submissions: Strawberry Shorts

The Strawberry Shorts Film Festival 2010 is seeking short film submissions by local, national and international filmmakers. Submissions should be less than 20 minutes. There is no fee to submit a film. The film festival will take place in July, exact dates still TBD.

Deadline: May 14th

For more information, visit: http://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk/film.php or e-mail cabaret@simonmullen.com

Because the internet is where it's at...

Submit your short film to BIGSTAR.tv's online film festival!

Hosted by the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, this is an international online film festival. Finalists will have their films judged by celebrity judges.

There is no limit on how many films you can submit, but each submission does require a $25 fee. Films must be 5 minutes or less. One film will win a $50,000 cash prize.

Deadline: Dec. 31, 2010

For more information, visit: http://www.bigstar.tv/bigstar-online-film-festival

Extended Deadline: Storyline Transport Call for Submissions

Storyline Transport: Shadow and Light Festival is seeking video submissions for a mobile festival occurring in Chicago in late August 2010.

The mobile festival will visit multiple locations over the course of three days, aiming to engage arts oriented audiences as well communities in Chicago for whom access to the arts is limited. Through the use of converted trucks and vans we will transport a shadow and light themed video screening, three artists run workshops, and a public-collaborative mobile installation to multiple locations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Submissions should address the festival's theme of shadow and light, but creative interpretations of this theme are encouraged. Any genre of video work is acceptable including fictional narrative, animation, documentary and video art.

Deadline: April 20, 2010

For more information visit: www.shadowandlightfestival.blogspot.com

Call for Sumissions: Extremely Shorts Film Fest

Aurora Picture Show’s annual Extremely Shorts Festival features three-minute or shorter films and videos by artists, filmmakers, culture jammers, students, moms, security guards, and anyone with a camera and a vision.

Entrants may submit up to three titles. Each title must run three minutes or shorter including titles and credits. NO exceptions. All genres accepted and considered: experimental, animation, documentary, music video and narrative.

Early deadline: postmarked by April 30, 2010

Late deadline: postmarked by May 10, 2010

For more information please visit
http://aurorapictureshow.org/pages/extremely_shorts_film_festival_154.asp

Call for Entries: Woodstock Film Fest

WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL CALL FOR ENTRIES

The 11th annual WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL (Sept 29-Oct 3, 2010) is currently accepting submissions in all categories. Entry fee range from $10 - $50.

The Woodstock Film Festival is a uniquely intimate, casual and friendly event, where highly respected industry "movers and shakers" mingle freely with emerging filmmakers, providing excellent networking opportunities in a fun and stimulating environment. Honoring quality, the Maverick Awards are presented for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Student Film, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Animation. Cash, prizes and/or services valued at $50,000 are given out. Audience Awards are presented for Best Feature and Best Documentary.To see 2009 details and jurors, visit: http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/awards2009.htm
Early deadline: May 21.
Final deadline: June 21.

For more details, visit: http://woodstockfilmfestival.com/entryform/index.htm or e-mail office@woodstockfilmfestival.com

Call for entries: JT3 Artist Awards

Young filmmakers from Brooklyn, NY and Washington, D.C. are encouraged to apply for the 2010 JT3 Artist Award.

They seek aspiring screenwriter/directors who demonstrate talent, passion, work ethic and a
deep-seated need to make art, but have room to grow and need this grant to help make
that growth possible. At least one $2,000 JT3 Artist Award will be awarded, and the
winning films screened at the annual JT3 Art Celebration of Young Filmmakers.

To apply, go to: http://www.jt3art.org/foundation.php

Deadline: May 7, 2010

For questions or additional information, please e-mail JT3AwardInfo@jt3art.org.

Call for Submissions: Sundeis

Sundeis, Brandeis University's annual film festival, is welcoming submissions from students all over the world.

"Now in its 7th year, the 2010 SunDeis Film Festival will feature screenings of quality, thought-provoking student films. Professional filmmakers, including some Brandeis alumni, will participate in a panel discussion. On May 1st, there will be an award ceremony to recognize the best of the best. Please join us for the most anticipated SunDeis Festival to date!"

Deadline: April 8, 2010

For more information, visit: http://www.sundeis.org/index.php

Call for Submissions: PixelPops! Film Festival

The 2010 theme for the PixelPops! Film Festival is URBAN REALITIES.

"The selected short films (5 minutes or less) will address issues faced by urban communities in America and aim to include the broadest number of interpretations on the theme. Films that highlight both the challenges and joys of urban life will be shown. In doing so, a balanced portrait of New York metropolitan area will highlight difficulties, and advantages of urban living and of those cities' inhabitants.

The films will be projected onto vacant buildings, idle billboards, crumbling structures such as stanchions, bridges, piers, etc."

PixelPops! 2010 will be held in October in a variety of outdoor locations across the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. This year's curatorial team is: Jeanne Brasile, Hiroshi Kumagai, Polina Zaitseva and Jade Lien.

Deadline: July 31, 2010

For more information, visit http://www.poppingpixels.org/

Call for Entries

The Munich International Short Film Festival focuses on exploring and introducing
extraordinary short films from countries all over the world with the hope of
assisting up-and-coming filmmakers on the path to making quality, feature-length
films. From June 17 - 23, the 5th edition of the MUNICH INTERNATIONAL short film
festival will showcase the world's contemporary short films at the historical Gloria
Filmpalast in the heart of the Bavarian capitol.

Deadline: March 14

For more information, please visit http://www.muc-intl.de/

Brooklyn Filmmakers Meet-Up

The Brooklyn Arts Council and the Independent Film Project are co-hosting a Meet Up event for Brooklyn Filmmakers.

"Calling all Brooklyn filmmakers for our first Meet Up event of 2010. Meet and mingle
with local filmmakers at BAC Gallery, drink free beer from Kelso Brewery, and learn
about the programs and support available for filmmakers through IFP and Brooklyn
Arts Council."

March 4th, 6-8pm BAC Gallery, 111 Front Street, Suite 218, Dumbo

Call for Submissions-- Screenplays!

The Great American Screenplay Competition is now accepting entries for feature (60+ pages) and short (59 - pages) screenplays. They accept all genres of screenplay including, but not limited to film, television, spec scripts, narrative, experimental, documentary, fantasy, noir, musical, western, sports, sci-fi, animation, horror, action, adventure, comedy, drama, mystery, thriller, biography, PSA, news, viral, crime, parody, children's, etc.

Twenty (20) Semi-Finalists will be chosen in each category. From that pool, ten (10) Finalists will be picked in each category. One (1) Winner will be announced for the contest.

Semi-Finalists receive website recognition and two (2) ACEFEST All-Access Passes. Finalists receive website recognition, program booklet recognition, international press release inclusion and four (4) ACEFEST All-Access Passes. Winner receives prominent website recognition, their own industry inquiry form on acefest.com, significant program booklet recognition w/ logline & contact info, international press release feature and one (1) featured "congratulations" eBlast to 55,000+ filmmakers, writers, producers, ticket buyers and industry professionals.

Deadlines
Accepting Entries Jan 11 - Jun 16, 2010

Regular: Apr 21
Late: Jun 2
Withoutabox (WAB) Ext: Jun 16

For more information, contact screenplays@acefest.com

Future of Film Criticism

I just found this interesting article about the future of film criticism in the The Chronicle of Higher Ed.

Oscar predictions

The LA Times has some predictions for what is going to win Best Live Action Short Film at this year's Oscars. They're going with Kavi, which they describe as a "mini- Slumdog Millionaire." Personally, I enjoyed The New Tenants, a dark comedy shot right here in New York City over the course of five days. What's your prediction?

Call for Submissions: Young Directors Awards

The Commercial Film Producers of Europe (CFP-E) and Shots magazine announce the opening of submissions for the 12th annual Young Director Award (YDA).

Divided into two sections (European and non-European), the YDA includes 5 categories:
Broadcast commercials
Web films
Branded short films
Film school commercials
Test commercials

You can enter your film online at: www.youngdirectoraward.com

Entry Deadline: April 15th, 2010

For additional information, visit their website, or e-mail Hannes Jakobsen at hannes@youngdirectoraward.dk

Call for Submissions: Torpedo Factory Art Center

Female Shorts: Film and Video Showcase
Torpedo Factory Art Center/ Target Gallery
(Alexandria VA)

Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase celebrates cinematic works of women in the arts. This showcase is dedicated and focused to seeking out and promoting cinema created by and for women. The showcase is part of the Virginia Commission for the Arts 2010 statewide celebration, Minds Wide Open, which celebrates women in the arts.

Female Shorts: Film & Video Showcase (FS) aims to promote and support the vibrant artistry of independent cinema from female filmmakers of all genres. FS seeks films that are engaging and innovative, reflecting a distinctive vision and independent spirit. Films that feature subjects related to the arts, that illuminate the artistic process, or that emphasize the art of film are encouraged.

Film Types: All MUST be Short: TRT under 60 minutes
--Documentary: Narrative that takes a factual and accurate approach to its subject.
--Narrative: Dramatic shorts whos approach encompasses comedy, suspense/thriller, family etc.
--Experimental/Mixed Media/Music Video: An approach that is neither fiction nor nonfiction.
--Animated(All genres): drawn, digital, and claymation – are acceptable.

Entry Fees and Deadlines
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: March 19, 2010: $20.00
REGULAR DEADLINE: March 26, 2010: $25.00
LATE DEADLINE: April 2, 2010: $30.00

For more details, visit http://www.torpedofactory.org/galleries/target_femaleshorts.htm

Call for Submissions: Aesthetica

Call for Entries: Aesthetica International Short Film Competition

Aesthetica Magazine

The Aesthetica Short Film Competition is now open for entries. Leading the search for filmmakers who are driving the genre of short film forward through inspirational and innovative works the competition provides an opportunity for both new and experienced filmmakers to have their work broadcast to an international audience. All genres of film are being accepted: drama, artists’ film, documentary, music video, animation, satire and comedy.

This award offers winners and runners-up a fantastic international prize package, including:

• Screenings of your film at: The National Media Museum (Bradford, UK), Rushes Soho Shorts Film Festival (London, UK), Glasgow Film Festival (Scotland), Kerry Film Festival (Ireland), Project Space (Leeds, UK) and on the Aesthetica website.
• £500 (apx$800 first prize, £250 (apx $400) runner-up.
• 12 months membership with Shooting People.
• Collection of film books from Wallflower Press.
• Winner and runners-up to be included on a DVD that will go to Aesthetica's readers.

Films should be up to 25 minutes long.

Deadline: 30 April

For more information, visit: http://www.aestheticamagazine.com/film_submissions.htm

Pzza Chronicles: The New Independent Movement

Join us on the evening of February 22nd at Tonda in the East Village for a panel discussion about the current state of independent film and the new independent film movement. Panelists will include Susan Korda, producer of William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, and Chris Walters, a Director of Photography. Bob Giraldi will moderate.

Starts at 6:30 pm and Tonda has generously offered to provide drinks and free appetizers.

RSVP to mpsfilm@sva.edu

Opportunities-- Internship

The French American Cultural Exchange (FACE) is seeking a Film Program Intern from February through July 2010, to assist with the The Tournées Festival.

Qualifications:
- Detail-oriented and ability to multi-task
- Strong communications skills (the work requires substantial communication, written and otherwise, with university professors)
- Computer proficiency, knowledge of Approach for Mac a plus.
- Interest in French and Francophone cinema.
- French language a plus.

For details, visit http://www.facecouncil.org/