Events & deadlines

- Opportunities

- Call for entries

- Coming up

Opportunities

Smoke and Mirrors magazine story opportunity *NEW*

Smoke and Mirrors magazine are on the hunt for Australian success stories in the TVC industry for their up and coming March 2009 edition.  In this edition, Director Bruce Hunt tells us about his career in TVCs; what he thinks about the industry and he brings us up-to-date with his latest project that features an abundance of special effects.

The magazine would like to know from companies that have created interesting or award-winning special effects this year for TVCs, as well as up and coming VFX companies who broke new ground in the TVC space over the last year.

Perhaps you provided some revolutionary new hardware, software or equipment that made it easier to pull off effects for TVCs, films or television products?

Contact: Joanne on (02) 8586 6171 or email her at jbradley@intermedia.com.au

Editing assistant wanted *NEW*

TOP to TOP Global Climate Expedition, in patronage of the UN Environment  program, is travelling to the highest peak in every continent, all using natural power. The expeditioners  sail, hike, and bike ride all around the world, with their two toddlers in tow, visiting schools,  giving presentations, and performing clean ups. Next stop, Everest!

 An Editing Assistant is required to go through all previous footage, and help cut together  a 40 minute documentary based around the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This will then be used as a marketing tool to create an on-going series From Australia to Everest.

The applicant will need to be committed to the project, and be ready to help in any aspect of production. They should be passionate about both the issue they are promoting, and film-making, and will be expected to go all out for the cause of the film. Experience with documentaries is not necessary, however it is preferred. Experience with outdoor adventure sailing and an interest in the environment is also a definite advantage.

 The work-flow is Final Cut Pro, but the chosen applicant should also be familiar with DVD studio pro, and any experience with Colour, SHAKE or Logic Pro would be an advantage. Mentality towards the project, as-well as a high quality of work is of most importance.

More information:  Contact Jacqui Hocking on 0421 846 751

Australian Cinematographer’s Society AFTRS Scholarship

The Australian Cinematographer’s Society Federal (ACS) are offering scholarships to an AFTRS course, with one place allocated for a Tasmanian ACS Member.

The course will be the choice of the successful applicant, with the ACS covering the cost of the course up to $1000. The cost of flights and accommodation will be the responsibility of the attendee.

Those who wish to express their interest are asked to forward a resumé and complete examples of work on chaptered DVD by 15 December. Please also provide supporting material (no show reels) to confirm the authorship of your submissions i.e. documentation of producer, film maker or supervisor. The ACS Tasmania Committee will assess the applications, with the successful applicant to be announced in due course.

In order to be eligible for the Scholarship applicants must be ACS members. Student membership is available for just $35 which ensures no further application fees for the life of the membership.

To express your interest email Paul & Karen Di Benedetto at: pkdib@bigpond.com

Australian Cinematographer’s Society Steadicam Master Class

The Australian Cinematographer’s Society Tasmania (ACS) will be running a Steadicam Master Class in January 2009. This two day workshop will cover both theory and practical exercises, including the history and uses of the steadicam, how to best operate the steadicam for various shots, as well as a mock shoot and evaluation, with a certificate presentation at the end.

To register your interest and to obtain a day by day curriculum layout, email Paul & Karen Di Benedetto at: pkdib@bigpond.com

Call for entries

International Student Short-Film Festival *NEW* 

Deadline: 9 January 2009

Applications are invited for the 19th issue of the International Student Short Film Festival, to be held in Cergy Pontoise, France.

Short films from around the globe will be gathered, showcasing the best of emerging international filmmakers. The goal of the festival is to let young directors and actors from around the world get in touch with the French audience and the professionals composing the jury.

In order to participate in the festival, applicants must be students whose films are less than 30 minutes and realised after 1 January, 2007.

Festival dates:  3 – 5 April 2009

More information: for application forms and further details, visit http://www.lefestivalducourt.org

Movie Extra Tropfest - Deadline Extended *NEW*

Deadline: 15 January 2009

Filmmakers across Australia are rolling out their video cameras with the Movie Extra Tropfest 2009 call for entries officially now open.  The 2009 Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) is ‘spring’ with the festival having been the spring board for launching many an aspiring Aussie filmmaker’s career.

16 films, selected from around 700 entries, will battle it out for the First Prize, however the opportunity to have your film screened in front of a live audience of over 150, 000 people, as well a live television broadcast on the Movie Extra channel, part of the Movie Network, is prize enough for some aspiring filmmakers.

More information: Screening venues, entry forms and filmmaker guidelines are now available to download from www.tropfest.com

Hot Docs Festival 2009 *NEW*

Early-bird deadline: 15 December 2008
Late entry deadline: 16 January 2009

Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market, will present its 16th annual edition, in Toronto Canada in 2009. An outstanding selection of 170+ documentaries from Canada and around the world will be presented to Toronto audiences and international delegates.

Festival Dates: 30 April – 10 May 2009

More information: for eligibilty, fees and procedures, visit
http://www.hotdocs.ca/index.php/industry/festival/submission/

ABC TV Documentaries and National Geographic Television International Natural History Pitching Competition at AIDC 2009 *NEW*

Deadline: 16 January 2009

For the second consecutive year, ABC TV Documentaries and National Geographic Television International (NGTI) are offering a total of AUD $40,000 development funding to the winner or winners of a Natural History pitching competition to be held at the Australian International Documentary Conference  (AIDC) 2009.

The investors will consider any film or series from blue chip animal behaviour programmes to people and animal stories. The intention is to give the opportunity to film making teams to do at least some of the expensive preliminary shooting and/or research that will produce the impressive material necessary to get a wildlife project with global appeal into production.

Conference Dates: 18 - 20 February 2009

More information: for application forms and further information, visit http://www.aidc.com.au/market-place/natural-history-competition or phone Rachel Sinclair on (02) 8333 4182.

Fake Film festival *NEW*

Deadline: 16 January 2009

Returning to the Adelaide Film Festival in 2009, FAKE taps into the modern filmmakers repertoire by asking aspiring and established directors, editors, animators and digital media practitioners to put together films in three categories.

FAKE Features;  big ideas, but no budget for your masterpiece? Squeeze that epic into a glorious three minutes - trailer style
FAKE Ads; Sell a fake product and play with the formulas
FAKE Docos; Go behind the scenes where there are no scenes.

Festival Dates: 19 February – 1 March 2009

More information: for entry forms and further information, visit www.fakefilmfest.com.au or email fakefilmfest@gmail.com

32^nd Annual International Wildlife Film Festival

Deadline: 31 January 2009 (Late entry fee of 20% for all film entries received after deadline. *Final cut-off date is February 9, 2009). 

The International Wildlife Film Festival is the premier film venue that celebrates wildlife and natural history programming from a global perspective.

The IWFF provides a unique opportunity for the sharing of ideas and the development of proactive projects that impact what happens to our planet. It is also a unique opportunity to engage public audiences, to learn about trends in filmmaking - technology, cinematography and wildlife production as well as to participate in dynamic seminars and workshops that focus on wildlife, conservation and the natural world.

For more information: email: iwff@wildlifefilms.org to receive an information pack in the mail and for Entry Guidelines, Category Descriptions & Entry Fees, plus Festival Highlights visit: www.wildlifefilms.org/festivals/iwff/entry

The 56th Sydney Film Festival

Early bird deadline: 8 December 2008
Final deadline: 16 February 2009

The 56th Sydney Film Festival (SFF)is now open for submissions. The festival is recognised by International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as a specialised competitive film festival. Take the opportunity to become part of a world class festival and expose your film to a broad and diverse audience, reaching the public, the media and the global film industry.

The SFF accepts submissions from features, documentaries and short films of all lengths from anywhere in the world, subject to eligibility requirements. 

Festival Dates: 3-21 June 2009

For full details on eligibility and to fill in the online form visit: www.sff.org.au/submissions

More information: www.sydneyfilmfestival.org, email info@sydneyfilmfestival.org or phone 02 9318 0999

Munich International Short Film Festival

Deadline: 28 February 2009

Munich International is excited to announce the call for entries for next year's short film festival, which takes place directly prior to the ‘big’ Munich Filmfest. Running from Thursday, 18 June to Wednesday, 24 June, 2009, the festival will showcase the world's ‘best’ contemporary short films each night at the tradition-steeped Gloria Filmpalast in the heart of the Bavarian capitol.

Submissions are open to non-German language films of all genres (fiction, animation, documentary, experimental, music video or other) from any nation of the world. Films must not have been shown in Bavaria at a festival, in a theatre or on television before, and must not exceed a length of 15 minutes. All non-English films must have English subtitles. The festival only screens 35mm prints.

 Submissions are due by 28 February 2009, but organisers are asking for films as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the deadline.

More information: http://www.muc-intl.de

Dungog Film Festival 2009

Deadline: 31 March 2009

The Dungog Film Festival is a non-competitive, four day film festival open to Australian filmmakers, with a focus on Australian films. Feature film, documentary, short narrative, animation, film and video are all welcome entries, so submit your film for the chance to see it screened in front of an enthusiastic audience at the iconic James Theatre, the oldest still operating purpose-built cinema in Australia.

Festival Dates: 28 – 31 May 2009

Where: ‘The James’ Cinema, Hunter Valley NSW
To download an application form, visit http://www.dungogfilmfestival.org/downloads/09_entry_form.pdf
More information: www.dundogfilmfestival.org or phone 02 4992 2420

Coming up

National Screenwriters Conference 2009

Early Bird RSVP: 31 December 2008, Final RSVP: 3 February 2009

Presented by the Australian Writers Guild, the 2009 National Screenwriter’s Conference is a unique opportunity for you to network and be inspired by the best of Australian and International screenwriting talent. Picture This: from Idea to Audience is a forward looking, inspirational and challenging forum placing Australian screenwriters where they belong – at the heart of the industry!

Who: The Australian Writers Guild and the NSW Film and Television Office
When:  25 – 27 February 2009
Where:  Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, Barossa Valley NSW

The AWG is offering a substantial discount for all members, as well as a further price reduction for the booking of both workshops.

Numbers are strictly limited. Register now to secure your place at: www.awg.com.au/nsc

More information:  www.awg.com.au

AWG Screenwriters Fringe 09

The inaugural 2009 AWG Screenwriters Fringe, is packed with screenings, presentations and analysis of the craft of writing for film, television, animation and short film.

The AWG Screenwriters Fringe will bring together emerging and established local and international screenwriters for discussions that will be informative, provocative, challenging and inspirational.

Screening program will be announced in December 2008

Who: Australian Writer’s Guild
When:24-25 February 2009
Where: The Mercury Cinema, Adelaide
Cost: Tickets: $100 or $80 AWG, MRC and SAWC members

More information: phone; (08) 8410 0979 email; info@mrc.org.au; visit www.mrc.org.au

Tasmanian Creative Arts Summer School

In January 2009, the University of Tasmania will be offering 19 creative arts workshops that are open to participants 16 years and above. These workshops are open to members of the general public and can either be used as a pathway into tertiary study with UTAS, or to participate for interest sake alone. 

The creative arts workshops include: Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Theatre, Art History, Virtual Reality and Advanced Media Technology, Photography, Computer Imaging, Art in the Bush, Art in the City, Culinary Design, Shakespeare readings, Public Speaking and many more.

Who: University of Tasmania, Academy of the Arts
When:  14-23 January 2009
Where:  The School of Visual and Performing Arts workshops will be held at the Academy of the Arts, Inveresk, Launceston. The School of Architecture workshop will be held at The Architecture Building at Inveresk, Launceston.
Cost:  $650 or $926.50 per workshop

More information: A full copy of the program and enrolment information can be downloaded from the UTAS website: http://www.acadarts.utas.edu.au/?q=node/45  or contact Ellissa Nolan or Carol Searson by phone (03) 6324 4400 or email Ellissa.Nolan@utas.edu.au

Australian International Documentary Conference 2009

Registrations have now opened for the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC), the pre-eminent industry gathering for factual content creators, broadcasters and screen agencies.
The 2009 theme Who’s Watching? will swing the spotlight onto the role of the audience, with various sessions, master classes and discussion panels investigating the questions of who, how, when and where factual media content is consumed.  AIDC 2009 has two additional themed program strands: The Art and Craft of Documentary Making and Serious Gaming and Interactive Content.

AIDC's extensive market place will provide excellent opportunities through pitch competitions and other market place and networking initiatives.

Who: Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC)
When: 18 - 20 February 2009
Where: Adelaide Hilton Hotel, Victoria Square Adelaide
Cost: $695 (Early Bird Independent)

More information: To register for AIDC 2009,visit http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=663111

Or for further information visit www.aidc.com.au

Flickerfest 2009

Who: Flickerfest 18th International Australian Short Film Festival
Festival Dates: Bondi Pavilion 9th –18th January 2009, Touring Nationally January – March 2009

More information: www.flickerfest.com.au

Crossover Australia

Who: The South Australian Film Corporation, and the Adelaide Film Festival in association with the Australian International Documentary Conference
When: 15-19 February 2009
Where: McLarens on the Lake in the McLaren Vale wine region - 40 minutes from Adelaide.
Cost:  Participation for the 20 successful applicants FREE.

More information: Full details, guidelines and application forms are available at www.crossover.org.au or for more information for applicants, contact Kate Jarrett in Screen Industry Programs at the SA Film Corporation on (08) 8348 9307 or email crossover09@safilm.com.au

Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival 2009

Who: Adelaide Film Festival
Festival Dates: 19 February – 1 March 2009

More information: Visit www.adelaidefilmfestival.org or email info@adelaidefilmfestival.org or call 08 8271 109