Subject: FTONEWS # 228 Date: Wednesday, 24 October 2007 6:36 PM From: ftonews <[email protected]> To: ftonews <[email protected]> Conversation: FTONEWS # 228 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FTONEWS #228: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FTO NEWS NSW Screen Arts Industry Acclaimed in 2007 AFI Award Nominations The Catalpa Rescue – ABC TV, Oct 25, 8.30pm Tropwest Event, Parramatta – Nov 7 Congratulations to ADG Winners Young Filmmakers Update Arista Lo-Budget Feature Films Workshop – Nov 10 + 11 Aurora Script Program Deadline – Nov 26 INDUSTRY NEWS Sydney Film Festival – Call for submissions for 2008 14th W.O.W Film Festival – Oct 25-26 SPAA Fringe – Sydney, Oct 26-27 SPAA Conference Updates – Gold Coast, Oct Nov 13-16 New Head of Arts, Entertainment & Comedy – ABC TV Production begins on 3rd Series of Blue Water High EVENTS/DEADLINES Children's Feature Film Development Initiative – Deadline Oct 29 Portable Symposium – LonelyGirl15 – Oct 31 Popcorn Taxi Updates – 30 Days Of Nights, Dexter & More Metro Screen: Industry Panel – The Film Festival Experience – Nov 6 Last Ozdox for 2007 – Screening + Party – Nov 8 7th Annual Bondi Short Film Festival – Entry Deadline Nov 9 3rd Asia-Australia Media Executive Leadership Program – Nov 18-23 AFTRS Graduate Certificate Courses – Applications Deadline Nov 30 AIDC February 2008 - Early Bird Registration + DOCUmart Deadline Dec 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NSW INDUSTRY ACCLAIMED IN 2007 AFI AWARD NOMINATIONS Film and television programs from New South Wales have been acclaimed in the 2007 AFI Award Nominations, announced today. Details on the FTO web site. Web: http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/content.asp?content=3&Id=477 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE CATALPA RESCUE – ABC TV, OCT 25 8.30PM FTO is proud to be an investor in the documentary, THE CATALPA RESCUE: FROM FREMANTLE TO FREEDOM, which screens tomorrow night on ABC TV at 8.30pm. It’s a story of the daring rescue of six Irish rebels from the notorious Fremantle prison in 1876, which caused an international sensation at the time. It’s also one of the great untold stories in Irish-Australian history. For more information: Web: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200710/programs/ZY8538A001D25102007T203000.htm The DVD of the documentary will be available in ABC shops from December 2007. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TROPWEST EVENT, PARRAMATTA – NOV 7 The FTO, Sony Tropfest and ICE (Information & Cultural Exchange) are partnering to present TROPWEST: a free event and info session open to Western Sydney filmmakers and film lovers of all ages and levels of experience who are interested in learning more about Sony Tropfest 2008 and the new Trop Jr short film festival for youth 15 and under. Entry guidelines for both festivals can be found at http://www.tropfest.com and http://www.tropjr.com and entries will be accepted online through to Thursday, January 10, 2008. Both festivals will take place on Sunday, February 17, 2008. Anyone can enter these festivals – and everyone is encouraged to give it a go. Whether you are an aspiring filmmaker, or a teacher or parent whose kids may be interested in participating, the FTO, Sony Tropfest and ICE invite you to join us and hear first hand from Sony Tropfest staff about the entry process, selection criteria and filmmaker activities. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and a selection of some favourite Sony Tropfest films will also be screened. “The FTO has been working hard to ensure that aspiring filmmakers from Western Sydney have access to professional development and training activities. Tropfest and Trop Jr are both great entry points to the film industry and I’m pleased that the FTO has been able to partner with Sony Tropfest and ICE to present TROPWEST, “ said Tania Chambers, FTO Chief Executive. What: TROPWEST When: Nov 7, 6pm Where: Roxy Hotel/Cinema, 69 George St, Parramatta Cost: FREE (PLUS Food & Drink!) For catering purposes please RSVP to ICE. PH: 02-9897-5744 or EMAIL: [email protected] Page 1 of 7 Program: 6-6.45pm ­ Registration, Food & Drink 6.45-7pm 3 Tropfest Shorts 7-7.45pm Presentations by FTO, ICE + Sony Tropfest 7.45-8.30pm Q&A Session 8.30-9pm Bar Open/Networking Speakers: ICE Director, Lena Nahlous. Web: http://www.ice.org.au/ Sony Tropfest Project Director, Morgwn Rimel. Web: http://www.tropfest.com and http://www.tropjr.com FTO Manager, Industry & Audience Development, Wendy Nye. Sony Tropfest and ICE are supported by the FTO through the Industry & Audience Development Grants program. Web: http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/fund.asp?id=52 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AUSTRALIAN DIRECTORS GUILD ANNOUNCES 2007 ADG WINNERS The FTO congratulates NSW award nominees and recipients at the 2007 ADG Awards. Media Release from ADG: Web: http://www.asdafilm.org.au/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ YOUNG FILMMAKERS FUND UPDATE The following YFF shorts have recently been accepted into or screened at festivals, have been offered licensing agreements, or have received nominations and awards: ADRIFT – producer David Curzon, writer/director Simon Portus. Homebrewed Film Festival; In the Bin Festival, Best Male Lead; Quat Media Canada, distribution deal. ARRANGING LOVE – producer Janelle Landers, writer/director Shelia Jayadev. DC Meets Delhi Film Festival, Washington DC, US; Independent South Asian Film Festival, Seattle Washington, US; Brisbane International Film Festival, Best Short Film; River to River Indian Film Festival <http://www.rivertoriver.it/, Florence, Italy. CROSSBOW – producers Polly Staniford & Angie Fielder, writer/director David Michod. Panoramica Milan, Italy. SMALL BOXES – producer Kristina Ceyton, writer/director Rene Hernandez. Shorts On Screen, SBS TV. Congratulations from all at the FTO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LO-BUDGET FEATURE FILMS RECEIVE ARISTA TREATMENT IN NSW An Arista Script Writing and Development Workshop will be led on November 10 & 11 by Stephen Cleary, Director of internationally renowned script training team Arista Development UK. The workshop “Writing & Creatively Developing Lo-Budget Feature Films” will be held in Sydney to allow writers and filmmakers to enhance and focus their writing, producing and directing skills, and draw on the experience of international experts. Funded by the FTO, and supported by the AWG, the Arista workshop will assist participants to know more than just how to bring a low-budget film in on budget – the key is in knowing how to ensure the film is worth shooting in the first place. Full Press Release + Booking Form: Web: http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/content.asp?content=3&Id=475 Contact: Rebecca Freeman Australian Writers’ Guild Suite Email: [email protected] Ph: 02 9281 1554 ext 223 Web: http://www.awg.com.au ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AURORA SCRIPT PROGRAM DEADLINE – NOV 26 The FTO is inviting applications for the next Aurora scriptwriting program from any genre. Aurora has one round per year, which supports up to four projects through an intensive residential script workshop and development process. The program also assists producers with strategies for marketing their films. FTO aims to support filmmakers’ careers, as well as individual projects. Accordingly, in this round, preference will be given to teams with a director who has already made and released one feature film. Scripts need to be well developed and at least at second draft stage. A director and producer must be attached as well as the writer. Teams comprising of writer/directors with a producer attached, as well as co-writers with a director and producer attached will also be considered. One member of the team may reside outside New South Wales. THE BLACK BALLOON is the latest Aurora-developed film to be made, and will be released early next year. Aurora projects now in development include: PRIME MOVER, which will begin production next year, and ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, which is in final stages of financing. Films from the Aurora program include SOMERSAULT and LITTLE FISH. Some of the filmmakers whose projects have gone through the program include Fred Schepisi, Nadia Tass, Rowan Woods, Cate Shortland, David Caesar, Kriv Stenders, Jeremy Sims and Samantha Lang. Page 2 of 7 Aurora began in 2002 and is an internationally renowned development program. Aurora utilises the experience and ideas of local and international advisors to assist filmmakers to focus on script issues, and to explore achievable production finance strategies for their projects. Applications close on Monday 26 November 2007. For more information or to download application forms: Harriet McKern, Coordinator Aurora PH: 02-9264-6400 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/fund.asp?id=219 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR 2008 The festival is now calling