» Posts Tagged ‘opportunities’

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In conjunction with General Electric and Cinelan, Vimeo has launched a new short documentary series entitled Focus Forward, and they’re opening the series up for submissions. There’s a $100k Grand Prize at stake — along with a premiere at next year’s Sundance — as well as an additional $100k in prizes. The details: More »

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You’re editing your first narrative or documentary feature. You’re working with an assembly or rough cut; the film is coming together, but you’re not sure how to best carry the project through post-production. In short, you need help. If this sounds like you, I highly recommend applying to IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs, which provide mentorship at NYC events in May, June, September, and December. Note this is open to U.S.-based IFP members (join here) only. More »

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YouTube’s crowdsourced, Ridley Scott-produced, Kevin Macdonald-directed Life in a Day was an excellent, globe-spanning, and touching film (watch it free in its entirety here). YouTube and Scott are not done, however: they’ve just announced a new contest calling for story-driven shorts, and the winner gets a $500k grant to make new work. More »

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It’s been a while since I’ve had an update on my feature Man Child, as I haven’t had any major news to share. Last week, however, the Tribeca Film Institute announced their 2012 All Access grantees, and I’m incredibly honored to be among them. In addition to sharing my own good news, I’d also like to raise awareness about a pair of Tribeca programs currently open for applications: the Tribeca New Media Fund and the Tribeca Film Fellow program. First, here are the details on All Access, and then I’ll share details on the other programs, as well as more about the current status of Man Child. More »

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The 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards are now open for entries. Divided into 13 categories, with each category winner receiving a $5k grant and one lucky winner receiving $25k, the submissions period runs until February 20, 2012. English (or English-subtitled) videos that premiered after July 31, 2010 are eligible. The launch trailer, and details: More »

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Film/video equipment manufacturer ikan is running a short film competition in which they’ll be giving out $17,000 worth of equipment to winners. The contest is open for any entries 3.5 minutes or less that haven’t already been published elsewhere, and asks that viewers follow the theme “Where is the Missing Piece?” $10k of equipment goes to first place, $5k to second, and $2k to third (to go along with the exposure winners receive). Oh, and I’m one of the judges. Deadline is September 6th, 2011; here are the details. More »

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IFP’s Independent Film Week is currently accepting applications for filmmakers, producers, and screenwriters for its 33rd annual forum, being held for the first time this year at Lincoln Center in New York City, September 18-22, 2011. They’re currently seeking entries for No Borders (for U.S. and international producers with partial financing on new narrative projects seeking additional partners) and Spotlight on Documentaries (for U.S. filmmakers with projects in production or post-production seeking financing partners, broadcast/distribution opportunities, and festival invitations). Deadline is Friday, May 20 — I highly recommend anyone with an eligible project apply, as am I: More »

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The Possible Futures Film Contest is now open for submissions of 1-5 minute shorts. I like the sound of this contest, as submitted films should “envision a new, positive, possible future for the world. One that is environmentally sustainable, socially just, peaceful and spiritually fulfilling.” The contest is put on by The Pachamama Alliance, located in the Ecuadorian Amazon (where, coincidentally, I shot a short doc several years ago). Here’s a video about the positive-themed contest, which runs until June 21st: More »

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I’d mentioned the 48-Hour Guerilla Film Competition in the past, but the competition has beefed up their prize package a bit and is now offering NoFilmSchool readers a limited number of free registrations (and an unlimited number of discount entries). The contest, which features a $5,000 grand prize, runs May 13-15. As you can guess from the name, entrants are given 48 hours to write, direct, shoot, and edit their entry to a given theme. If interested, here are some more details and the link for free entry: More »

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Every year the annual screenwriting challenge Script Frenzy asks participants to write 100 pages of script in 30 days. The grand prize? You win your own completed script. There are no awards other than the resulting feeling of accomplishment (and the movie that may get made as a result of your writing). I’m going to participate unofficially, as I have a just-completed hand-written first draft that I’m going to type up and revise twice in the month of April. Here are the official contest details: More »

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Founded in 2005, this year’s 48 Hour Guerilla Film Competition will take place May 13-15. From the moment the challenge is announced, competitors have 48 hours to write, direct, shoot, and edit a short film. Every entrant is screened and the winner walks away with $5k; of course, the money is only part of the appeal, as the experience of making the film is the primary goal. Add it to your calendar if you’re interested: More »

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Every September, fifty lucky college and graduate students get to attend the Telluride Film Festival as part of its Student Symposium program. I was fortunate enough to attend in 2002, when in the span of five days we saw dozens of films and had intimate discussions with Ken Burns, Michael Moore, David Cronenberg, Fernando Meirelles, D.A. Pennebaker, Chris Hegedus, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall. It was a transformative experience for me, and I’m sure most of my classmates would say the same. Applications for this year’s program, which runs September 1-5, are due April 18. The Student Symposium includes access to: More »

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If you’re a first-time feature director — documentary or narrative — I highly recommend you submit your project to IFP’s Independent Filmmaker Labs, which is “the only free program in the U.S. supporting first-time feature directors when they need it most – at the crucial rough cut/post-production stage.” The deadline for documentaries is tomorrow (March 11) — sorry for the late notice! — but the narrative deadline isn’t until April 8, so that should give narrative filmmakers sufficient time to put together an application. More details here: More »

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Creative Capital, according to their web site, is “the only national grantmaking and artist service organization for individual artists with an open application process.” Their 2011 grant cycle — which will hand out 20+ grants of $10,000 — just opened on February 1st, and runs until March 1st. If you’re a U.S. citizen (or permanent legal resident) 25 or older, check out the 2011 grant guidelines [PDF link]. Here are the details: More »

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Openfilm’s second “Get it Made” competition (first one was here) is offering a $50k/$450k cash/financing prize to one lucky winner. If you’ve got a live-action or animated film (40 minutes or less) that you think has potential to be adapted into a feature film, you’ve still got a couple days to submit: contest ends January December 31. More »

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The Economist has teamed with PBS NewsHour to create The Economist Film Project, an open call for feature-length documentaries (40-90 minutes) and shorts (6-40 minutes) shot in the past five years. They’re planning on featuring three docs every month (focusing on, but not limited to, stories pertaining to current events), offering exposure and distribution in lieu of prize money or other rewards. Here’s their call for entries: More »

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Not-for-profit film production company/foundation Cinereach awards $500,000 to feature films every year, and their Winter grant cycle comes to a close December 1st. In the past four years Cinereach has disbursed $4 million to more than 80 projects “at the intersection of engaging storytelling, visual artistry and vital subject matter.” If you’ve got a project that fits the bill, here’s how to apply. More »

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Amazon has launched Amazon Studios, a new online film studio with a crowdsourced development process. Amazon has $2.7 million committed to film projects through their first-look deal with Warner Bros.; they will be awarding $140k in prizes for submissions this December. However, rather than just running a standard contest, they have some very interesting ideas for how to “develop” these projects, and they’re more than a bit controversial. More »

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I wasn’t going to post this, because I doubt that TV dinner company Hungry-Man is of much interest to filmmakers (or anyone who cares about arterial health). But Filmaka’s current pitch contest, for 2-minute short stories incorporating Hungry-Man’s “Hungry Heroes,” includes a $30,000 production budget and a $10,000 cash prize. Hard to believe, but Filmaka’s jury also includes such filmmaking heavyweights as Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders, Neil LaBute, and Paul Schrader.1 Here are the details for the contest, which is accepting submissions until November 22: More »

  1. I hope for their sake that these distinguished jurors are judging contests at Filmaka other than this particular campaign… []
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Time Warner Cable and IFC have been running a short film contest, which wraps up on Halloween (yes, in a few days — I’m a bit late with this). Four grand prize winners will be given tickets for two (including airfare) to this year’s Sundance Film Festival in late January, a $500 travel stipend, and “a Sponsor-selected video camera.” The contest closes at midnight on October 31st, so either get shooting or search your hard drives for shorts between 2-5 minutes; no particular subject or theme required. Here’s the official video: More »