CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Antidote Collaborative Film Project

The Maine Film Association (MFA), is pleased to announce a collaborative community film project to capture this point in history:
Antidote – Maine Stories from the 2020 Pandemic

Antidote will be a compilation of a variety of works that document the Maine experience during the COVID-19 crisis, created by Maine-based filmmakers– learn more and submit your short film to be included in the collection today!

We welcome short film submissions from Maine filmmakers of all skill levels, backgrounds, and specialties. Submissions can be of any genre, portraying some aspect of the pandemic. We encourage filmmakers across the state to share perspectives and stories that capture this unprecedented moment in world history, be they documentation of the challenges/heartache/boredom/personal joys or achievements resulting from the crisis and sheltering in place, fictional stories spawned from the creative mindspace that social isolation may provide, video diary entries, cat videos, or other entertaining musings that spring from this trying time.

Antidote will be shared with audiences far and wide via MFA news, virtual screenings, and social media. Other options for television broadcast and possible theatrical screenings in a post-pandemic world are being explored.

Check out the details, submission guidelines, and submission form at mainefilm.org!

Fem/Cine/Anarchy is a free admission, popup screening event in its 6th year celebrating

diverse

intersectional

edgy

female-driven

short narrative films

directed by female-identified persons.

 

Fem.Cine.Anarchy 2020 is offering $5 submissions to short films 15 minutes or less (any genre except doc) with fem protagonist and fem director with discount code FCASpecial (case sensitive) until 4/30.

 

After that, submission fees have been lowered overall: $10 for the regular deadline (July 17) and $15 for late deadline (August 7).

Submit on FilmFreeway!

PLEASE CONSIDER SUBMITTING FOR THE 2020 MOFF

FILM REQUIREMENTS:

Must be an outdoor film. Films can be from anywhere in the world. See length-requirements under categories below. Please use FilmFreeway to submit a 4K or HD (720p minimum) .mov or .mp4 file delivered via vimeo or dropbox or google drive. You must have legal rights and/or permission to use all music. No exceptions. Please read and understand all terms and conditions on the MOFF website or Film Freeway page before submitting.

CATEGORIES:

Feature (40 minutes or more)

Short Feature (12:00 to 39:59)

Short (0:00 to 11:59)

AWARDS:

Best Maine Film, Best Film From Away, Best Young Filmmaker, Inspiration Award, Conservation Award, Best Feature, Best Short Feature, Best Short

WHERE YOUR FILM WILL BE SHOWN IF IT IS ACCEPTED:

During the 2020 Maine Outdoor Film Festival in Portland, July 30 to August 2, 2020.

It will also potentially be shown during the MOFF Selects Tour which travels the northeast in late summer/early fall, with a schedule of 10 to 12 screenings.

PRIZES

Award-winners receive a plaque and a prize from a MOFF sponsor.

TO SUBMIT: 

Visit the MOFF page on Film Freeway

The news tells one story these days. But women’s lives tell another—of women rising up, showing their resilience and empowering others during this uniquely challenging moment.

That’s why Target and the Conferences for Women are returning to our storytelling tradition to celebrate stories of women supporting women and the greater community —and inviting your stories now.

So, please take a moment to share your story. It can be big or small. And, it can be about you or someone you know. The only criterion is that it be about having a positive impact.

We will be sharing select stories through our newsletters and social media. A few lucky entries will also win a $500 gift card to spend at Target and two complimentary tickets to our next Conference.

Visit maconferenceforwomen.org/storytellers to enter now!

The Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF), a BAFTA-Qualifying event, will be celebrating 10 years! The 2020 competition is looking for filmmakers who are pushing boundaries and telling bold, innovative stories in new ways.

ASFF is a landmark destination for talent discovery and independent filmmaking, sitting amongst the UK’s most prestigious film festivals.

Entries are now open for their 10^th anniversary. Open to Shorts, Features, VR & 360 films, they’re looking for innovative, cutting-edge and bold stories from around the world.

ASFF also accepts works across multiple genres including: Advertising, Animation, Artists’ Film, Comedy, Dance, Documentary, Drama, Experimental, Family Friendly, Fashion, Music Video and Thriller. VR and Feature Projects.

Submissions close 31 May 2020. They are still planning on delivering the 2020 festival: 4-8 November, York, UK.

ASFF Prizes Include:

• £1,000 awarded to the Best of Festival Winner
  Category winners are all nominated, but only one can take home the prestigious title.
• Best in Category Awards
  Each film in the Official Selection is eligible to win the best film in its category.
• BAFTA Eligibility
  ASFF is officially recognised by BAFTA, which means short films that are screened may be eligible for a BAFTA award in the future.
• HIJACK Visionary Filmmaker Award
  This award celebrates the achievement of directors with exception vision and offers a generous post-production package.
• People’s Choice Award

All festivalgoers are invited to vote for their favorite film. This award is chosen by audiences throughout the festival’s five day run.

• Editorial coverage in Aesthetica Magazine

ASFF supports its alumni before, during and after the festival. Official Selection filmmakers receive extensive coverage across all our print and digital platforms.

LEF has offices within two regional areas: New England and California. Through the LEF Moving Image Fund, the New England office supports the creation of new work by documentary filmmakers living in the region, through an application process. LEF California identifies and funds projects proactively. LEF Foundation was incorporated in California in 1985 and endowed by a gift made by its president, Marion E. Greene, and her family.  LEF has compiled a significant list of resources, shared below with permission.

• The Perspective Fund provides grant support to independently-produced documentary films that highlight social justice and human rights issues, and that align with their priority areas. Currently, grant proposals for funding are accepted by invitation only, but filmmakers are welcome to complete Perspective’s inquiry form. Deadline: Rolling
• The ITVS Open Call application will open in July, Open Call gives independent producers up to $350,000 to complete production for a standalone broadcast length documentary to air on public television. Open Call is not a grant. You will receive funding in the form of a production agreement that assigns ITVS certain rights over your project during the term of the contract. Deadline: Reopens July 2020
• Save the Date for IDA’s 2020 grant deadlines! The IDA Entreprise Documentary Fund‘s production grant opportunity reopens in August. The Pare Lorentz Documentary Fundopens in February with a deadline of April 5, 2020.
• SFF Documentary Film Fund awards grants once a year to documentary feature projects and are open to filmmakers internationally. Regular deadline is April 6. Final deadline is April 30. Learn more.
• CAAM Documentary Fund. With support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CAAM provides production funding to independent producers who make engaging Asian American works for public television. Documentaries are eligible for production or post-production funding and must be intended for public television broadcast. Awards typically range between $10,000 and $50,000. Currently holding open call through Friday, March 27th. Learn more.
• The New England Foundation for the Arts has a new grant opportunity! New Work New England provides grants of $7,500-$15,000 to New England-based artists in dance, film, interdisciplinary work, music, musical theater, opera, poetry, storytelling and theater to support the creation and production of new work that has the potential to engage multiple New England communities. Deadline to apply: June 24, 2020. Learn more

A number of arts, civic, and industry groups have provided lists of community resources.  Rather than duplicating efforts, this post aggregates information from organizations who have posted resource pages, in addition to information WIFVNE has received from sister WIF chapters.  The post will be updated as WIFVNE receives relevant information.  (Contests, festivals, or timely news items may receive separate blog posts.)

On ArtSake, the Mass Cultural Council is publishing periodic arts news round-ups like this and this, as well as funding opportunities and other resources.

We support innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel, gatherings, & career development services. Read their list of resources for artists and arts professionals affected by COVID-19.

The Dramatists Guild Foundation provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters who are experiencing financial hardships and are in need of funds. You can apply for emergency grant funds here.

Field of Vision and Topic Studios have created a $250,000 fund to provide grants for freelancers working in the Documentary field. The fund will distribute unrestricted grants of up to $2000 to support personal financial needs during the COVID19 pandemic to freelancers who have experienced hardship from loss of income or opportunity as a result of the pandemic.  The fund will reopen on May 6th.

GrubStreet is one of the nation’s leading creative writing centers. We believe that narrative transforms lives, builds bridges, and produces empathy. By rigorously developing voices of every type and talent and by removing barriers to entry, GrubStreet fosters the creation of meaningful stories and ensures that excellent writing remains vital and relevant.

So many of us need help and support during this uncertain time. And we’re hearing from others who want to know how to help. The spirit of togetherness we’re seeing from our community is inspiring. We’re sharing a few resources for writers and artists here. And we’re also sharing opportunities (for those who can) to support writers, the writing ecosystem, and the arts in Boston. We’ll be updating this list as we learn of new resources and opportunities.

Culture elevates.  In all its forms, culture is essential to the health and vitality of the Commonwealth.  The Mass Cultural Council has announced funding opportunities:  COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals (through April 22), and the Gaming Mitigation Program (through April 17).

MPC represents the robust and diverse network of film, television and digital media professionals and businesses throughout the state of Massachuetts. They’ve updated the resources and relief efforts post on MPC’s website with info from government agencies and others that may be useful for industry members. MPC will continue to update their page as new policies and initiatives become available. Review information from their sources as policies can and will change.

NewEnglandFilm.com has created the following list of COVID-19 funding and emergency funding and other resources to help New England-based filmmakers and artists. In addition to nationwide grants and government relief, many individual states have established its own relief packages for filmmakers and other artists.

Patreon has created a fund for creatives who have been impacted by COVID-19. If you or your business has been affected, you can apply to be a grant recipient here.

LEF has offices within two regional areas: New England and California. Through the LEF Moving Image Fund, the New England office supports the creation of new work by documentary filmmakers living in the region, through an application process. LEF California identifies and funds projects proactively. LEF Foundation was incorporated in California in 1985 and endowed by a gift made by its president, Marion E. Greene, and her family.  LEF has compiled a significant list of resources, shared below with permission.

This is a select list of New England filmmaker/artist support opportunities and local online film resources that have been organized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. LEF New England will continue to research and compile this list in the coming months, with a focus on how the pandemic is affecting New England-based filmmakers and organizations.

General Resources

• Here are resources from the arts councils in ME, MA, NH, RI, CT, and VT.
• The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) has put together this list of artist resources during COVID-19.
• See MASSCreative’s call for state lawmakers to include nonprofit arts, culture, and creative sector in COVID-19 disaster response.
• Check out Boston-based community art non-profit Brain Arts Org’s blog for these reflections and list of local arts resources.
• Art House Convergence has put together COVID-19 Preparedness Resources for independent movie theaters.
• The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts on Massachusetts has shared a list of legal resources for artists + arts/culture workers and organizations, and has assembled an emergency response panel of large law firms able to advise artists and arts organizations on contracts, insurance, and labor and employment issues that are particularly relevant and concerning during this unprecedented time. The VLA is also waiving service fees for artists and organizations suffering financial hardship due to the coronavirus. 
• COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources– “This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. This includes, but is not limited to, actors, designers, producers, technicians, stage managers, musicians, composers, choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, craft artists, teaching artists, dancers, writers & playwrights, photographers, etc.”
• PRX Podcast Garage has compiled this Podcaster Toolbox– a crowd-sourced guide for independent, DIY, and/or early-stage podcasters working from home.

New England-based Relief Funding / Loans / Opportunities

• Boston Artist Relief Fund– “The Boston Artist Relief Fund will award grants of $500 and $1,000 to individual artists who live in Boston whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). With events of all types being canceled to reduce the spread of COVID-19, people who make income partially or fully through gigs and freelance work are losing critical opportunities to support their well-being in our city. The Boston Artist Relief Fund will be open on a rolling basis and will replace the Opportunity Fund through June 30, 2020. The Opportunity Fund will reopen for applications after July 1. Opportunity Fund applications that were already received in this application cycle will still be considered for funding.”
• The Artist Relief Fund by the Cambridge Community Foundation is offering COVID-19 relief grants to individual artists and arts organizations in the City of Cambridge.
• Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program will provide short-term loans to businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 100 employees.
• Call for Collaborators. Local pop-up community art space, Space Us, is working on a series of projects and are looking to commission drawings, poems, projects, and more by artists, designers, and other creatives who have been impacted by COVID-19. If you rely on your creative work for the majority or entirety of your income & this sounds interesting to you, please fill out this form!

American Documentary, the nonprofit organization behind @POVdocs, re-opens Artist Emergency Fund for the independent documentary community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how you can receive up to $500 in a rapid response grant to assist with basic needs, including food, immediate health care, and insurance premiums. Apply Now! #AmDocAEFund www.amdoc.org/aefund

POV (a cinema term for “point of view”) is American television’s longest-running showcase for independent nonfiction films. POV premieres 14–16 of the best, boldest, and most innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented over 400 films to public television audiences across the country. POV films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.

The Vilcek Foundation currently seeks young foreign-born applicants for the 2021 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Filmmaking – from now until June 10, 2020 at 5pm EST. The Vilcek Foundation is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to raising awareness of immigrant contributions to the arts and sciences in the United States.

Immigrant directors, editors, screenwriters, producers and cinematographers working across a variety of genres including narrative, documentary, experimental or animation, are invited to apply. Applicants should have been born outside of the United States; be 38 years of age or younger in 2021; and completed at least one short film that has received a prize or been selected for film festivals, or alternatively, one feature-length film. Three winners will each receive a $50,000 unrestricted cash prize and will be honored at an awards ceremony in New York City in April 2021.

The online application can be found on www.vilcek.org.

Find out more about this opportunity on social media:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

TAPE Synopsis:  Based on true events, TAPE, follows Rosa (Annarosa Mudd), an actress who, in order to inspire her own courage, pierces her tongue, cuts her wrists, and shaves her head, as a ritualistic homage to Shakespeare’s Lavinia from Titus Andronicus, and secretly places hidden cameras on her body as well as in a dark studio. Rosa begins to stalk another actress, Pearl (Isabelle Fuhrman), who she identifies as the next “protege” of a successful producer, Lux (Tarek Bishara). But as Pearl and Lux enter the targeted studio, and Rosa collects and edits footage, she, and we, must all sit through an endless day of Lux’s screen test process, and the grey areas of pressure that women experience when being coerced by a powerful man. As Rosa peers into her own past experiences playing out before her eyes, she is forced to question ​​whether her revenge-fueled goal of revealing what goes on behind these closed doors is worth what it takes to do so.

Check out the review in the Washington Post here.

Watch TAPE 7PM ET until April 9.

Schedule of nightly conversations (including crew from TAPE) can be found here:  https://www.tapevirtualpremiere.com/