Looking towards CANNES 2014
We are currently confirming details of a series of initiatives aimed at New Zealand producers during Cannes 2014, focusing on building person-to-person and industry-to-industry connections and market knowledge. These sessions build on the popular producer roundtables convened by the NZFC at Cannes in 2012 and 2013. The 2014 initiatives will focus on strengthening creative, commercial and talent-based relationships between New Zealand filmmakers and potential international partners, with the goal of stimulating production opportunities, investment and market exposure for the New Zealand screen industry.
We are compiling a directory of New Zealand producers attending Cannes this year. If you are planning to be there, please email profdev@nzfilm.co.nz
And just a reminder that online registration for the 2014 Marché du Film held in Cannes from 14 - 23 May 2014 is open until 29 April. Once again, the Marche du Film will extend the Early Bird rate for the entire online registration period to New Zealand producers who register under the New Zealand Film Commission umbrella - so email profdev@nzfilm.co.nz for the special registration code.
The NZFC is keen to support committed New Zealand producers with a compelling slate and very strong market objectives via a contribution to their Cannes attendance costs. The deadline for Producer International Travel Assistance (PITA) applications for Cannes 2014 is 5pm, Monday 7 April. More information is available here or by contacting profdev@nzfilm.co.nz
If you are attending Cannes 2014, you may also wish to consider registering for the Producer Network or Producer Workshop:
Producers Network 2014
Launched in 2004, the Producers Network hosts 550 producers from around the world in a series of meetings and events. Created to stimulate international co-production and project financing, this event is specially designed for producers. Every day an individually tailored program will give you the opportunity to meet the various partners your projects require, be it a co-producer, distributor, sales agent or financier. N.B. The registration process is administered by the Marché du Film (not the NZFC) and closes as soon as all 550 places are taken.
For more information and how to register see the website.
Producers Workshop 2014
The Producers Workshop is a program specifically designed for producers who are starting on the international scene or who have little or no prior experience of the Marché du Film or the Festival de Cannes. From pitching techniques to the inner workings of international co-production, you will acquire the skills and practical tools necessary to succeed on the international film market. N.B. The registration process is administered by the Marché du Film (not the NZFC) and closes as soon as all 300 places are taken.
For more information and how to register see the website.
Please note that in both instances, registration will not immediately unlock NZFC travel support for participation. You will need to make a compelling case as part of a PITA application.
Recent Initiatives
Producer International Travel Assistance (PITA)
Travel assistance is available for producers with feature film projects in advanced development to attend key international markets to advance the packaging and financing of these projects.
Producer Tom Hern was supported with $5,000 to attend the premiere of his Escalator film, Everything We Loved at Palm Springs International Film Festival in the U.S. in January. The festival supported the writer/director, Max Currie, to attend. Tom Hern and Max Currie are pictured above.
Producer Sarah Cook was supported with $5,000 to attend International Film Festival Rotterdam with Escalator film, Fantail in January. Sarah was also supported by Curious Films to attend the Rotterdam Lab, a producer training structure that has run for a number of years within the larger CineMart structure. You can read more about Rotterdam here.
Trevor Haysom was supported with $5,000 to travel to the Berlin International Film Festival and London in February to advance his slate of projects.
Chelsea Winstanley was supported with $5,000 to travel to the Sundance Film Festival in January and Berlin International Film Festival in February to attend the premiere and screenings of What We do in the Shadows and to progress her next project with Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit.
Due to the increasing number of PITA applications the NZFC is receiving each year, we are making sure that no one receives further travel support unless full reporting requirements for previous travel support have been met. If producers have received PITA twice within the past two years without any significant progress or outcomes with their project/s, the NZFC is unlikely to be supporting them again without an extremely compelling reason.
NZFC Initiatives
Low Budget Workshops
Jason Stutter and Kevin Stevens (Centron Pictures) received $30,000 to undertake five workshops around the country (dates to be announced). These workshops aim to share ideas and methodology around low-budget filmmaking that has the ability to make a profit in the marketplace. Specifically, the workshops will focus on Jason and Kevin’s self-generated methodology for their past projects e.g. Edwin: My Life as a Koont and their current project, The Dead Room. Their commitment to making low-budget genre films that deliver returns and their desire to present this information to relevant practitioners make this an exciting opportunity in the low/micro-budget space. More information will be available on these workshops in due course.
Professional Development Awards
This award is to help cover the costs of a professional development opportunity either in New Zealand or overseas. Applicants who have a feature film credit/s can apply for up to $5,000 to help cover the costs of a significant professional development opportunity in their area of expertise.
Actor, Jennifer Ward-Lealand received $3,534 to attend the Ivana Chubbuck Masterclass in Sydney in January. Ivana Chubbuck is one of the foremost acting coaches working in the US and internationally and has attracted a considerable reputation for her excellent teaching. An experienced practitioner, Jennifer is also the President of NZ Actors’ Equity and one of the tutors of The Actors’ Program. She is in a unique position to bring the skills she learned from the masterclass back to the NZ teaching environment.
Writer/lead, Sophie Henderson received $3,658 to attend the International Film Festival Rotterdam with her Escalator film, Fantail in January. It was programmed as part of the Bright Future Program, the place to find fresh new filmmakers. This section presents idiosyncratic and adventurous new work by first or second-time feature filmmakers only. Sophie saw this environment as a platform to make important connections that would develop her career as a filmmaker and showcase her work as both a screenwriter and actor.
Editor, Simon Price received $5,000 to attend the International Film Festival Rotterdam in January with the Australian-Cambodian low-budget film he co-edited, Ruin. Over the last five years Simon has edited 10 feature films in five countries in five different languages. In 2013 he edited four feature films in three different countries and languages. Ruin won Best Editing at the Asia-Pacific Film Awards in Macau late last year, which meant that it was a great time for Simon to be looking to extend his filmmaking networks internationally and get into direct discussion with some of the new and exciting voices that are currently creating art-house cinema around the world.
Producer, Alex Clark received $5,000 to attend the Hong Kong FILMART in March. As an emerging feature producer, Alex, has a wide and varied slate and has produced two low-budget feature films independently of the NZFC. Alex felt he would benefit from attending a market in a region with which he is seeking to build partners and co-productions—without the pressure of necessarily requiring direct project outcomes through attendance—so is attending FILMART in a research and development capacity.
Documentary director/producer, Charlotte Purdy, received $2,395 to attend the Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC) in March. Specifically, this award will enable Charlotte to develop a greater understanding of theatrical documentary, creating co-productions and allowing her the chance to network.
Writer/director, Gerard Johnstone received $5,000 to attend the World Premiere and screenings of Escalator film, Housebound at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March. Gerard felt that it was important for him to view the film with an international audience and saw this environment as a platform to make important connections that would develop his career as a filmmaker and showcase his work as a director.
Producer, Luke Sharpe received $5,000 to attend the World Premiere and screenings of Escalator film, Housebound at SXSW in Austin, Texas in March. Ant Timpson is travelling with Gerard and Luke to guide and support them through this festival/market opportunity.
CEO Delegations
Jonathan Forbes received a CEO Delegation of $10,000 in January to contribute towards his expenses to attend the National Film and Television School in London to study Entrepreneurial Producing for the Creative Industries. He was offered a place on the highly competitive and prestigious course for 2014 based on his business plan that he plans to develop for a worldwide market. His attendance follows on from the NZFC supporting two emerging producers, Carthew Neal and David White, to participate in the same course in 2013. You can read more about Carthew's experience here.
International Travel Grants
Australian International Documentary Conference (AIDC)
AIDC: DocWeek opened up their competition to the Asia Pacific region this year with the introduction of the Asia Pacific New Documentary Award. Nominations were open to our best emerging documentary talent for DocWeek 2014, with one participant per country. The selected filmmakers will take part in an intense week-long specially designed workshop program, and have full access to the AIDC/DocWeek Conference Program & Market in addition to their film screening in competition. The NZFC nominated Vicky Pope and Jess Feast with their film, Gardening with Soul, to attend in March. DocWeek will cover the registration and accommodation for Vicky and Jess and the NZFC provided a travel grant of $2,420.
Berlinale Talents (previously Berlinale Talent Campus)
This six-day creative summit for up-and-coming filmmakers occurs alongside the Berlin International Film Festival in February. This year the following filmmakers were selected: Regan Hall (director/producer); Hiona Henare (director) and Max Currie (director/writer). Each received NZFC assistance of $3,500 to attend.