Opportunities

Presidential Election Coverage in Indian Country

Tristan Ahtone, a journalist with PBS “Newshour” and member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, will spend the next six months covering the 2008 Presidential Election from an Indian Country perspective.  He will be covering many key issues affecting Natives, including past campaign promises to tribes, what Natives are looking for in candidates, and other issues facing tribes with the election of a new president.

He is looking for Native voices on many issues, including, but not limited to, environment, education, healthcare, and energy.  He is also seeking tribal members who have been contacted by the campaigns, know someone who works for a campaign, or are aware of anyone on their tribal council who has publicly endorsed a candidate.  

Tristan is currently working in Montana and South Dakota covering the upcoming Democratic primaries.  Anyone interested in participating in this unique opportunity to help represent Native voices in politics is welcome to contact him at (917) 622-4799, or via his e-mail tahtone@gmail.com. For information on Tristan’s work, visit his website at www.tristanahtone.com.

Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA)/Disney/ABC Summer Television & Film Workshop Writers’ Track

Disney•ABC Television Group, in partnership with The Walt Disney Studios, has developed a program for Native American writers, directors, and actors who aspire to work in the entertainment industry.  The workshop, held on the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) campus, was designed to assist novice and experienced Native American screenwriters, filmmakers, directors and actors.

This six-week intensive workshop develops scriptwriting skills for American Indians preparing for a career as a professional writer in television and film, and runs mid-June through July. For information on how to apply to this program, please contact Marcella Ernest at (505) 424-5796, or visit www.abctalentdevelopment.com.

The 18th Montreal First Peoples' Festival 2008: Montreal Native Film & Video Showcase

The 18th Montreal First Peoples Festival is calling on you to submit your audiovisual works for this years showcase, taking place June 12th to June 22nd.  As always, the showcase features works by native directors and films by non-native directors about aboriginal topics.

For more information:
tev@nativelynx.qc.ca
(514) 278-4040
www.nativelynx.qc.ca

Storytelling, Cinema and Indigenous Peoples: The Talking Stick Festival

Festival and Conference Dates: June 22 - 26, 2008

This hybrid film festival is a combination of speakers, group dialogue, live storytelling, and hands-on workshops.

The film festival will present films from both well-known and emerging artists focusing on themes that are important to both indigenous peoples and the future of all humanity.

For more information: www.seedgraduateinstitute.org/conferences/cinema/

Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Call for Entries – Deadline June 23, 2008

One of the most prominent Latino Film Festivals in the USA, LALIFF promotes the richness and diversity of Latin Cinema by showcasing films from the United States, Latin America, Central America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. LALIFF celebrates the work of existing and emerging Latino talent, creating a bridge between independent filmmakers and the film industry in Hollywood while serving as a catalyst for the promotion and distribution of films.

The festival takes place on September 12- 19, 2008. LALIFF presents feature films, documentaries, shorts and special screenings. It is a competitive festival with prizes and a venue where filmmakers come together with buyers and distributors. LALIFF also offers industry workshops, panels, labs, networking receptions, and educational programs.

For more information please visit the festival website at: www.latinofilm.org.  

P.O.V. Open Call for the 2009 Broadcast Season – Deadline June 27, 2008

Submit your film for consideration for the 2009 broadcast season.

P.O.V., public television's premier showcase for independent nonfiction film and video, is seeking programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual national PBS series. Each year, P.O.V. brings 12 to 16 new films to public television viewers.  Their summer series and year-round specials push the boundaries of nonfiction television with work from emerging and established filmmakers that reflect the range and diversity of American voices — viewpoints that enrich, enlarge, challenge and refine our experience of the world.

If your non-fiction film has a strong perspective, a dedication to quality, contemporary relevance and a passion for your topic, then the P.O.V. series is the best place for a national television broadcast. If you believe the entire country should see your film, P.O.V. is for you.

Council on Foundations’ 42nd Annual Film & Video Festival Call for Entries – Deadline June 27, 2008

The Council on Foundations and Grantmakers in Film + Electronic Media (GFEM) are seeking submissions of films and videos for the Council on Foundations' 42nd Annual Film & Video Festival to be held May 4-6 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia. The festival showcases films, videos, and television programs that have received support from foundations, corporate giving programs, and donor networks.

The Council must receive the submission form, completed online at www.fundfilm.org/call_for_entries/ call_sub_form.cfm by June 27, 2008, for each individual submission. To be eligible, projects must have received full or partial funding for either production or distribution from a private, community, operating, or corporate foundation, a corporate giving program, or a donor network.

2008 Fox Writer’s Initiative Call for Submissions – Deadline July 3, 2008

The Fox Entertainment Group announces the 2008 edition of its Diversity Writer's Initiative. They are seeking submissions of original television pilot scripts in the multi-camera comedy, single-camera comedy, animated and drama formats. Writers selected this year will be invited to attend a six week session at Writer's Boot Camp and subsequent consultation with WBC mentors during which their scripts will be rewritten and improved. The goal is to achieve scripts at a level of professional execution that may be submitted to Fox programming executives.

The emphasis in their Writer's Initiative will now be to support the development of original television series ideas by diverse writers, or by non-diverse writers who are writing about inherently diverse themes and/or diverse lead characters. African-American, Latino, Native American and East and South Asian writers are particularly encouraged to apply. You must be at least 18 years old to submit.  For guidelines go to www.fox.com/diversity Click on “CREATIVE” then “FOX Writer's Initiative.”

Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program - Deadline July 7, 2008 and February 5, 2009

Each year, the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program awards more than $1.5 million in grants to support documentary films focused on contemporary social issues. Films supported have included My Country, My Country; Why We Fight; Born Into Brothels; Iraq in Fragments; The Inner Tour; The Devil Came on Horseback; and Everything's Cool.

If you believe that creative non-fiction filmmaking is vital to society, and you are an artist with passion for the work of storytelling, Sundance wants to hear about your project.  For the rest of the story, or to apply online, visit: www.sundance.org/documentary or www.sundance.org/DocSource

The Longest Walk 2 – February 2, 2008-July 11, 2008

On Feb. 11th, Longest Walk participants will embark on a 5 month journey taking two routes 8,000 miles from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. arriving on July 11th.  It is an extraordinary grassroots effort on a national level to bring attention to the environmental disharmony of Mother Earth, sacred site issues, and to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original longest walk.

You can support The Longest Walk in its fundraising and organizing efforts by visiting www.longestwalk.org to access the wish list and fill out a sponsor registration form.

2008 Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival Call for Entries – Deadline July 14, 2008

The 7th Annual Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival (WAFF) invites filmmakers to submit their work to one of North America's longest-running indigenous film and video festivals, happening this November 20-23, 2008. WAFF pays screening fees to artists and there is no submission fee for entries received on or before the mid-July deadline.

Visit the WAFF site at www.aboriginalfilmfest.org, or e-mail info@aboriginalfilmfest.org for more information.

ITVS Open Call – Deadline July 18, 2008

Open Call provides finishing funds for single public television programs on any subject, from any viewpoint and in any genre.  ITVS is looking for single programs of standard broadcast length (56:40 or 26:40) that can be completed within one year of contract.

There is no maximum or minimum cut-off for funding, but Open Call funds must be the last needed for completion of the project.  Visit www.itvs.org/producers/opencall_guidelines.html for guidelines. The online application will be available May 1, 2008.

PIC Media Fund Rolling Call – Next Deadline August 1, 2008

The Media Fund Rolling Call is a quarterly open call.  Members of the Pacific Islander filmmaking community are encouraged to submit proposals for public television projects at the research and development (R&D) stage and completion stage. R&D projects may be awarded up to $15,000 and completion projects may be awarded up to $50,000. The PIC staff is available to help filmmakers craft their proposals to increase the likelihood of being awarded funding.

For more information or to download an application, visit www.piccom.org or contact Shane Seggar at sseggar@piccom.org or (808) 591-0059.

33rd Annual American Indian Film Festival Call for Entries – Deadline August 5, 2008

The American Indian Film Institute is currently seeking film and video entries for the 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival. The film festival will take place November 7-15 in San Francisco, California. Entries should be by or about American Indian or Canada First Nations people and produced during year 2007-2008. Entry deadline is August 5, 2008.

The major categories for competition are: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Feature Film, Live Short Subject, Music Video, Animated Short Subject, Public Service and Industrial.  Please check the AIFI website – www.aifisf.com for American Indian Film Festival entry application and regulations form.  2008 Film Festival Sponsorship packets are available, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

CPB Program Challenge Fund – Deadline August 7, 2008

The Program Challenge Fund works to fund high-visibility, high-impact limited series, feature length documentaries and specials for national public television that offer a definitive take on a subject or break new ground in public service media.

There is no standard application process for the Program Challenge Fund, and producers should submit projects according to the general CPB Recommended Submission Guidelines.  CPB and PBS will dedicate funding to high-definition or standard-definition widescreen programs only, and recipients will be expected to deliver all digital content with the underlying rights. Producers should contact PBS.

For more information and guidelines, please visit the CPB website at www.cpb.org.  

IDFA Call for Entries – Deadline August 10, 2009

The 21st edition of the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, the largest festival for creative documentaries in the world, will take place in Amsterdam, November 20-30, 2008. Each year, IDFA selects and screens more than 250 documentaries, running the gamut from international audience favorites to artistic experiments along the fringes of the genre.

Website: www.idfa.nl/industry/services/film-entry.aspx

Deadline: August 10 (for films finished after April 1).

Grants for Art Projects Applications – Deadline August 11

NEA application guidelines for the Grants for Arts Projects are now available. Organizations may apply under the following categories: Access to Artistic Excellence (Deadline: August 11, 2008). Learn more at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/.

American Indian Film Festival Seeking Entries – Deadline August 15, 2008

The 6th Annual American Indian Film Festival at Bellevue Community College is seeking film submissions for their upcoming festival in November 2008.  This year's theme focuses on Indigenous Women Filmmakers.  Films must be directed or co-directed by a woman of Indigenous descent.  Categories include feature length (60 mins or longer), narrative, documentary, and short films (59 mins or shorter).

There is no entry fee. If your film is accepted, BCC covers accommodations, as well as a small honorarium.  Travel support is negotiable. For application and guidelines, contact Programmer Sara C. Sutler-Cohen, at ssutler@bcc.ctc.edu or (425) 564-5722.

America’s Media Makers: Development Grants – Deadline August 27, 2008

"Grants for America's Media Makers" support media projects that explore significant events, figures, or developments in the humanities and offer creative and new approaches to humanities content.  These grants cover a wide range of activities including, but not limited to, meetings and individual consultations with scholars, preliminary interviews, designs for interactivity and digital distribution, and the creation of partnerships for outreach activities and public engagement with the humanities.
 
Development grants should be used to refine humanities ideas, a script, or a design document for digital media components or projects.  Production grants support the preparation of a program for distribution. 

Any U.S. nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is eligible to apply, as are state and local governmental agencies. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Independent producers who wish to apply for NEH funding are advised to seek an eligible organization to sponsor the project and submit the application to NEH.

Read the full guidelines and download a grant application from www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/AmMediaMakers_development.html.

Urban Film Series - 2008 Call for Films, Participants, Volunteers, Sponsors, and Press

Next Generation Awareness Foundation (NGAF) seeks notable films and participants for its 2008 Urban Film Series programs. Urban Film Series is comprised of several highly-acclaimed film-related programs that enhance awareness and provide exposure of the arts, independent cinema, media, and the motion picture industry to underserved communities across America. Be a part of NGAF's historic programs. Be a volunteer, speaker, vendor affiliate, sponsor, poet or author. Submit your film or your proposal to bring one of the Series to your area. Deadlines range from February 25, 2008 - September 1, 2008 go to www.urbanfilmseries.com/callforfilms.php for a complete listing.

ITVS Development Diversity Fund – Deadline September 26, 2008

ITVS seeks talented minority producers to develop single programs for public television. They want to support minority artists in the research and development phase of their project to tell their stories, inspire multicultural dialogue, and reach audiences often overlooked by conventional programming.

Visit www.itvs.org/producers/ddf_guidelines.html for details.

Citizens Media Summit at APME Conference – October 2, 2008

Ready to start your own community news site? Want to get citizen journalists to write for you? Hear from iBrattleboro to Baristanet, Bakersfield to Backfence. The Citizens Media Summit is a day-long workshop on citizen journalism in conjunction the Associated Press Managing Editors conference.  Register now at  www.j-newvoices.org/index.php/site/story/citizens_media_summit_iii_agenda.

Coming Up: Citizen Media@ONA. A day-long workshop at the ONA Conference, Sheraton Centre, Toronto.  Register at www.j-lab.org/ona07.shtml.

INDIANER INUIT: The North American Native Film Festival Call for Submissions - Deadline October 31, 2008

INDIANER INUIT: Das Nordamerika Film Festival is a unique European festival offering a platform for North American Natives and First Nations Peoples to present works depicting their culture, their past and their present in fascinating films full of humor and rich content, as screenwriters, directors and actors.

To submit a film, simply send two DVD or VHS copies (feature films, live short subjects, long or short documentary films, music videos, and animated films), no form necessary, before October 31, 2008.  The address for submission, along with more information about the festival, can be found at www.nordamerika-filmfestival.com/en/filmfestival.html.  Please e-mail gl@mace25.com with any questions you may have.

MadCat Women's Film Festival Call For Submissions - Early Bird Deadline November 3, 2008

Every year, MadCat seeks to find and exhibit provocative and visionary works by women directors that are original in their use of the medium, and that challenge the use of sound and image while exploring notions of visual story telling. MadCat accepts films and video of all lengths and genres: experimental, narrative, documentary, animation, collage and whatever else you can think of. MadCat also accepts pieces produced in any year. The only parameter is that the films and videos are directed by or co-directed by women.

MadCat will open its call for submissions this September. Filmmakers must include an entry form for each film submitted. These forms will be available in September at madcatfilmfestival.org/submissions.html.

Early Bird Deadline: November 3, 2008
Late Bird Deadline: January 12, 2009

Indie Film Financing and Distribution Tutorial

Studio Daily is offering free tutorials about different avenues for funding and the various distribution deals for independent films.  Visit www.studiodaily.com/main/work/8977.html for information and more tutorials on dealing with the financial and technical pressures of indie films.

Watch & Review Rough Cuts

NBPC would like to let you know that the rough cuts are up for their latest collaboration with the WGBH Sandbox.   Please log on to lab.wgbh.org/open-call/eviction/rough-cut and give these hard working filmmakers some constructive criticism.  Filmmakers selected for this round are: Javan Cornelius, Lisa Russell, Alfred Santana, Jon Goldman, and Sarah Gonser.

“In the Life” Call for Documentaries

In the Life Media, Inc is now seeking documentaries about the LGBTQ experience for their 2008 and 2009 season. They will consider non-fiction films of all lengths created by independent producers or entities in the past five years for acquisition.  Preference will be given to broadcast premieres.  

For submission guidelines and more information go to www.inthelifetv.org/

Join the LPB Directory of Artists

Log on to www.lpbp.org/directory.php to join the Latino Public Broadcasting Directory of Artists.  The Directory of Artists serves as a forum for producers, directors, cinematographers, editors, writers and composers to connect with other artists in their community.  With your help, it can become a useful tool for filmmakers to post their information and find other artists within their community.

High Country News Call for Writers

High Country News, a nonprofit news magazine that focuses on environmental, cultural, and social issues in the Western U.S., is looking for new voices for their pages and Web site, hcn.org.  HCN will consider well-researched stories on any natural resource or environmental topic, as long as it concerns the West. “Resources” include people, politics, culture and aesthetic values.

Submissions are divided into several categories: “Book Reviews,” (350 words); “Roundups,” topical stories of about 800 words; “Uncommon Westerners,” profiles of about 650 words; features are generally up to 4,000 words and essays are under 1,000 words.  New writers should begin by sending a query for a Roundup, profile or book review, rather than for a full-length feature. E-mail queries are preferred; send to editor@hcn.org and include “Story Query” in the subject line.

For more information contact Jodi Peterson, Associate Editor, at jodi@hcn.org.

Wajju Seeks Documentary Submissions

Wajju (www.wajju.com) is a documentary hosting website created as a result of the current digital media age. Multimedia and social networking are prevalent forces in society allowing people to spread their influence and messages using all forms of online services.

Wajju would like to place a positive spin on this digital revolution by using the internet and video to circulate social and cultural awareness, by collecting videos from those involved in grassroots movements, hosting them online, and inspiring a greater number of people to get out, get active, create videos of their own and reach even more people. You can help get this movement started, by donating your own videos and getting the word out.

TWN Wednesday Night Walk-in Producers Seminars

New York City-based Third World Newsreel, an alternative media arts organization, is hosting a series of Wednesday night seminars to aid filmmakers in fundraising, sound and camera work.  All classes are $20/$10 (low income) unless otherwise noted. Register now by e-mailing workshop@twn.org or visit http://twn.org/twnpages/edtraining/workcal.aspx for more information.   Email questions to Roselly Torres Rojas at distribution@twn.org.

IsumaTV Website Call for Submissions

Win a $1000 prize in IsumaTV's 'Best New Video of the Month' contest.

IsumaTV is seeking innovative Indigenous filmmakers to submit their films and videos to the site. If you, or someone you know, would like to submit your film, they accept features and shorts of all genres, as well as music videos, interviews and testimonies.

Uploading your film is free for you and your audience, while offering viewers the option to connect to your distributor. To submit your film, go to www.isuma.tv and click on 'Submit Your Film'.

Please continue to support this word of mouth campaign--tell a friend!  At the beginning of each month, visit the website to see the 'Best Video of the Month'!

Native Arts at NEFA / Native Artist Exchange - National Travel Fund

The Native Artist Exchange provides support for Native artists residing in any of the 50 United States to travel to different regions of the country so that they may exchange artistic knowledge and skills. This fund is designed to encourage and assist American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian artists, and provides an opportunity for Native artists to teach, learn, and collaborate in traditional or contemporary Native art forms through travel from one region to another across the nation.

Travel grants will be awarded up to $1500 based on review of detailed requests and budgets appropriate to the scope of travel.  Applicants may receive one travel grant per fiscal year.  Requests must be received by NEFA no later than two calendar months prior to the departure date of the proposed trip.

For more information about the National Travel Fund, email dspears@nefa.org or call NEFA at (617) 951-0010 ext. 525.  Application guidelines can be found at www.nefa.org/grantprog/nativearts/nativeartistexchange.html.

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