Symposium âHow to Sell a Short Filmâ - Internationale Kurzfilmtage ...

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canonlyprogrammeabouthalfthefilmsthey'dliketo.TheratioofUStoforeignproductionsiscurrentlyaround55:45(inthepastitwasmorelike70:30).Thebiggestchallengeintermsofprogrammingisthelimitedprogrammingtime.Naturally,theideaistoselectthebestfilms,butontheotherhand,thefestivalwouldliketomakespaceforasmanyfilmsaspossible.EspeciallyEuropeanshortstendtobequitelongandaresometimesrejectedinfavourofmorefilmsofashorterduration.Submissions are made online via www.withoutabox.com, elaborately boxed DVDs are not anadvantage. The preselection begins in August, the final selection is made shortly before theprogrammingdeadline.Onceafilmischosen,everythinghastohappenveryquickly.Having ones short programmed before a feature can be an advantage for the filmmaker, asnumerous industry reps and studio executives from Hollywood are in the audience. Even iffeaturefilmsarethefocusofSundance,thefestivalworkshardatincludingshortfilmmakersinthe happenings of the festival and to allow them access to the industry and the importantevents. To the outside, the festival may make a somewhat glamourous and hollywoodishimpression, but the important part of Sundance takes place far away from the red carpets.Ultimately, the festival is about Robert Redford's original vision to offer a platform and anetwork to independent producers and filmmakers (Redford even hosts a brunch for thefilmmakersathisresidence).Also, Sundance is not just a festival, but an institution within the film industry: there arenumerous programmes and workshops for directors, producers, composers, actors etc. Theirorganisers are keen to make sure that they get to know the artists, and they also ask theprogrammersaboutfilmmakers,whoseworksareworthseeing.Intheend,Sundanceisanidealmeetingpointforanyonewithfeatureambitions,astheindustryrepresentativespresentareaboveallinterestedinpotentialfeaturefilmmakers.MaikeMiaHoehne,CuratorBerlinaleShorts,InternationalFilmFestivalBerlinhttp://www.berlinale.de/MaikeMiaHöhneisafilmmakerherselfandhasbeencuratingBerlinaleShortsfor3years.ShortfilmshavebeenthroughalongandeventfulhistoryattheBerlinfilmfestival.In2010,theBerlinalewillcelebrateits60 th birthday,andtheGoldenBearforshortfilmshasbeenawardedsince1953or1954.Then,foralongtime,the“Panorama”section(whichwasbornfromthegayandlesbianmovement)screenedalargenumberofshorts.Now,thetwosectionshavebeenunitedandwillscreenabout30filmsatthecomingfestival,withallofthemtakingpartinthecompetition. But short films can also be seen in other sections, for instance in the sections“Generation”,“Forum”,“ForumExpanded”(whichgoesbeyondthecinematheatresandshowsfilmsinexhibitionspaces).Sometimes,shortsarealsoscreenedbeforefeatures,especiallyinthe“Panorama”section,whichnownolongerhasitsownshortfilmsection.Thecommunicationbetweenthevariousprogrammegroupsofthefestivalworkswellandisverylively.Filmsarealsopassedfromonesectiontoanother–nofilmislost!Thepointisnotto
eagainstafilm,buttofindthebestscreeningcontextforit.Just like Sundance, the Berlinale is not primarily a short film festival, but the energy and theatmosphere of this A‐list festival rubs off on the short film programmes. In the short filmsection, one can try things out in a smaller framework. The short films also have to fulfilpremiererules(evenifexceptionsaremade).Thereare3to4screeningsofshortfilmseveryday,amountingtoabout1,200spectatorsperday.The Berlinale actively fosters short film makers, for instance at the European Film Market,where the German Short Film Agency has a large stall. There is a day of short films incollaborationwiththeTalentCampus,andorganisedmeetingsbetweenfilmmakersandbuyers.Aboutonethirdofthefilmsendupbeingsold.Numerousotherfilmsareshownworldwideatotherfestivals.Within the short film section there are no rules regarding the awarding of prizes. It is amisunderstanding that animated shorts have no place in this section. The programmingcommitteeisprimarilyinterestedintheexplorationofcinematicboundaries.Thefilm'sbudgetisnotrelevant;itsenergyandcreativityismoredecisive.Thefilmmakersdon'tevenneedtobeyoung. At the last festival, only 3 or 4 films came from film schools – the others wereindependentproductions.Concerning the premiere policy, it's up to the filmmakers to decide where their film shouldcommenceitscareer.QuestionfromSimon:anotherquestionaboutthemarket:whatistheadvantageforashortfilmtoparticipateatthemarketattheBerlinale?Answer:TogetherwithBekiProbst,theheadoftheEuropeanFilmMarket(whichisaglobalplatforminspiteofitsname),thefestivalislookingforwaystoimprovethepositionofshortfilmsatthemarket.Untilthen,thefestivalwillcontinueorganisingshortfilmmeetingplacesandindividualnetworkingopportunities.TheotherintitiativeistheTalentCampus,whosenewdirectorDieterKosslickishighlycommitted.Hilke Doering from the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen has cancelled due toillness.Instead,MárioMicaelo,Co‐Director&Programmer,CurtasViladoConde(Portugal)haskindlyofferedtojumpinatshortnotice.http://www.curtasmetragens.pt/CurtasViladoCondewasformedin1993,with2010seeingthe18 th editionofthefestival.TheoriginalrolemodelswerethefestivalsinClermont‐FerrandandOberhausen.Inthemeantime,Curtashasdevelopedintoafestivalwithanindependentprofile.Thefestival,whichtakesplaceinJuly,hasmeanwhilebecomeestablishedintheEuropeanshortfilmsceneandhasdeveloped
Page 1 and 2: Producers'Day,Friday,6November2009P
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Symposium âHow to Sell a Short Filmâ - Internationale Kurzfilmtage ...