ArtsFest 2010 (10 – 12 September 2010)

ArtsFest is open for film submissions. ArtsFest is the UK’s largest free arts festival and takes place in the heart of the country, Birmingham.

Last year ArtsFest featured over 80 different shorts (and a few feature films) ranging from music videos to animated comedies to live action dramas.  The films were shown in one of Birmingham’s premier venues located in the centre of the city, The Crescent Theatre.  This is to be the venue again for the film strand in September 2010.

Films should be submitted on a playable DVD and sent to:

ArtsFest, Sam Groves, 129 Northfield Rd, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 1EA

Eligibility Guidelines

The film needs to have some connection to the West Midlands; this can come from a variety of avenues. For example, the filmmakers/actors etc may come from the region or have family that are/were based in the region. The filmmakers/actors etc may have studied in the region. The film may have been shot within the West Midlands. The film may have been shown in the West Midlands over the last 12 months. If you are unsure as to the strength of your connection to the West Midlands, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Sam Groves (contact details below).

The film can be of any length and of any genre.

Deadline:

Saturday 17^th July 2010

For more information contact:

Sam Groves, ArtsFest Film Strand Co-Ordinator

Sam.groves@hotmail.co.uk

07779 255 779

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=134364893257446&v=info&ref=ts

Social Boom Birmingham returns for its second event on Thursday 10^th June 2010, 6pm – 9pm at The Cross, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8HW.

This informal networking event is a fantastic opportunity to meet some like minded creative folk who all have a passion for celebrating their creative community.

If you fancy popping along, come and say hi to organiser Gail Owen who’ll be there to welcome people.

To find out more, email Gail at gail.owen@mytvonline.co.uk.

Or you can also get in touch with Creative Boom Birmingham by emailing birmingham@creativeboom.co.uk.

For those of you who have never been or know about our event, Filmrats is a multimedia evening of short films and live music, a hybrid of different creative artistry coming together to showcase their talents, enjoy music, film and to socialise. The night is held bi-monthly at The Sunflower Lounge, in the heart of Birmingham city centre.

We are always looking for filmmakers, musicians and other performance artists. If you want to showcase your talent then please get in contact! Entry is £2, so come along and remember to send in those short films on DVD format to:

Filmrats, Flat 3, 889 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6ND

Website: www.filmrats.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/filmrats

Facebook: www.facebook.com/filmrats

Email: filmrats@hotmail.co.uk

Please RSVP Here.

* We will be celebrating our 1st Birthday! So the first 20 people through the door will get free Birthday cup cakes and the first 10 people will also get brand new Filmrats badges!

Are you going to Cannes Film Festival this year? Are you looking for top tips and expert advice from producers who have been before? Then look no further!

The Producers’ Forum is delighted to announce its Guide to Cannes Film Festival Event. Get the low down from Cannes veterans, find out who you might know there, learn about how to make the most of your meetings and how to work the Croisette.

Panel: Dan Lawson, ScreenWM. Deborah Aston, Red Carpet Media. Pip Pipper, Blue Hippo
Date: Thursday 6th May 2010
Time: 14:30 – 17:00
Venue: Screen West Midlands
Cost: Free to Members. £25 non-member

RSVP: Spaces are limited. To register for this event please email Rebecca at info@producersforum.org.uk

Film Forum’s next meet up will be on Thursday 29th April @ The Victoria Pub from 7pm.

The idea of these meet ups is to give filmmakers a networking platform from which they can meet people involved in different aspects of filmmaking from directors to actors to editors in order to source equipment, make contacts and flourish.

The entire evening is very INFORMAL so therefore it is really up to you if you approach it as a casual drink or an opportunity to network and get projects off the ground.

Address: The Victoria Pub, 48 John Bright St, Birmingham, B1 1BN

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117517881598352

We have tables reserved in the backroom near the bar.

See you there.

This month’s monthly networking will follow on from the ‘Developing a TV Drama Series’ event which we have supported Screenwriters’ Forum in running.

This is a great opportunity for those who attended the event to continue discussion and for those who are unable to attend to find out what was discussed.

It’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet new contacts, share information and find out what’s happening at the forum and in the region.

This is a free event that is open to all (cash bar). Please rsvp on our eventbite site (http://pfnetworkingapril2010.eventbrite.com/) site so that we have an idea on numbers.

If you have any questions please contact Rebecca on info@producersforum.org.uk or 0121 265 7145



For those of you who have never been or know about our event, Filmrats is a multimedia evening of short films and live music, a hybrid of different creative artistry coming together to showcase their talents, enjoy music, film and to socialise.

The night is being held once a month on a Thursday evening at The Sunflower Lounge, in the heart of Birmingham. If you love music and film then Filmrats really is the best place to go!

We are always looking for more Singer/Songwriters, Bands, Poets, Comedians, Performance Artists and Short Films. If you want to showcase your talent then please get in contact!

Filmrats will also be screening the short films submitted to the 48-hour film challenge Film Dash.

Entry is £2, so come along and remember to send in those short films on DVD format to:

Filmrats, Flat 3, 889 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6ND

Email: filmrats@hotmail.co.uk

Myspace: www.myspace.com/filmrats

Twitter: www.twitter.com/filmrats

Facebook: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150098932520122

Fancy helping out at Flatpack? This year’s festival runs from 23-28 March in venues all over Birmingham, and the whole thing wouldn’t be possible without hordes of dedicated volunteers. (See a nice writeup from one of last year’s team here.) Responsibilities will include front-of-house, venue installation, technical support, marketing and bar work, and all volunteers will have the opportunity to make good use of their festival passes.

If you’d like to get involved, please drop us a line at info@7inch.org.uk with your contact details before 22nd February.

Also keep in mind that our briefing meetup will be on Weds 3rd March, from 6:30pm.

DATE OF EVENT: Feb 1st 2010 (UK) ONLINE – 28TH Feb 2010

DETAILS: Teams will pick a random theme & title which they must turn into a 70min B movie in 28 days!!

VENUE: ICA

FORMAT: You can return your film on DVD format,
please email for more details on ratio for screening & Sound.

ENTRY FEE: £30 per team (Entry Funds for Venue Hire)
For more info on format or questions please email: oddballtv@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://www.oddballchallenge.com

Further details on their Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=211607357663

LOCATION: The Electric Cinema, 47 Station Street, Birmingham, B5 4DY

Increasingly independent filmmakers are finding the best way to get their film made is under microbudget principles. The more entrepreneurial a producer can be in financing their film, the more likely it is they will get it made.

Numerous microbudget feature initiatives have been established during the last five years such as Microwave, Warp X, Slingshot Studios, Digital Departures and IFeatures. There are also many producers making microbudget films outside of these schemes. But what are the challenges? How do you make your film safely, legally and with high enough production values to ensure the films are successfully distributed?

Join us for a day all about microbudget filmmaking and find out some of the top tips from filmmakers who have been there and done it!

The day’s schedule is as follows:

Schedule:

09:30 – 10:00          Registration

10:00 – 11:30          Screening of Ruby Blue

11:30 – 11:45          Coffee break

11:45 – 13:15          Q&A with Elaine Wickham, Producer and Jan Dunn, Director. Chaired by Deborah Aston

13:15 – 14:00          Lunch (provided for people on all day course)

14:00 – 16:00          Microbudget Panel with Anita Lewton, Lincia Daniel & Simon Wood. Chaired by Natasha Carlish

Prices and payment:

Full member: both sessions £0
Associate member: morning session only £0
Associate member: both sessions £25+VAT
Non-member: morning session only £50+VAT
Non-member: afternoon session only £50+VAT
Non-member: both sessions £80+VAT

Payment to be made before admission is permitted.

You can’t afford to miss this day! We look forward to seeing you there.

To register or for more information please contact Rebecca: info@producersforum.org.uk or visit our website

Film Forum’s first meet up of 2010 will be on Tuesday 19th January @ The Victoria Pub on John Bright Street in Birmingham from 7pm.

The idea of these monthly meet ups is to get people from all aspects of filmmaking in the West Midlands together to chat and start building networks of friends and contacts.

The entire evening is very informal so therefore it is really up to you if you approach it as a casual drink or an opportunity to network and get projects off the ground.

Here’s the address: The Victoria Pub, 48 John Bright St, Birmingham, B1 1BN

Here’s The Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=261804082304

Look forward to meeting you all.

Tuesday 23^rd and Wednesday 24^th March 2010
The Bond, Birmingham

THE ENGINE ROOM PITCH is an intensive 2 day proposal development and pitching workshop to help you prepare your factual project for UK and international funding.

The workshop is a high-level project development opportunity and includes an introduction to MeetMarket and all Marketplace activities at Doc/Fest and to wider opportunities in international documentary funding and markets. Delivered by international marketplace specialist Christina Burnett, of Wide Eye Pictures, this is also a unique chance to pitch your project and get feedback from two UK commissioners as well as Charlie Philips, Doc/Fest Marketplace Producer. Commissioners from BBC, Channel 4, Britdoc and CBA-DFID Broadcast Media Scheme have taken part in previous workshops.

THE ENGINE ROOM PITCH is suitable for all levels of experience, from senior producers and directors to new entrants.  You can attend either as a pitcher with project, or as an observer.

Applicants must be West Midlands-based filmmakers. The cost of the workshop is £30 for all attendees.

To express interest, email Doc/Fest Marketplace Producer Charlie Phillips via charlie@sidf.co.uk with a one-page proposal for a factual/documentary project (single, series or cross-platform doc) and brief information about yourself.  Projects can be at any stage of development, for any platform, as long as it is a factual project.

See http://sheffdocfest.com/view/pitchworkshops for full information.

Filmrats is always looking for more Singer/Songwriters, Bands, Poets, Comedians, Performance Artists and short films. If you want to showcase your talent then please get in contact.

Filmrats is located at the Bristol Pear, Selly Oak. Entry is £1.50, so go along and remember there is still time to send in those short films on DVD format to: Filmrats,
 Flat 3,
 889 Bristol Road,
 Selly Oak, 
Birmingham,
 B29 6ND

If you have any questions or queries get in contact via their email: filmrats@hotmail.co.uk

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/filmrats

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/filmrats

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199247954198&index=1

See you all there.

Film Forum’s next meet up will be on Tuesday 10th November at the Victoria Pub on John Bright Street in Birmingham from 7pm.

The idea of these monthly meet ups is to get people from all aspects of filmmaking in the West Midlands together to chat and start building networks of friends and contacts. The entire evening is very informal so therefore it is really up to you if you approach it as a casual drink or an opportunity to network and get projects off the ground.

So, come along and say hello, tell us what you are up to and hopefully we’ll all benefit from some interaction.

Here’s the address: The Victoria Pub, 48 John Bright St, Birmingham, B1 1BN

Here’s the Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151732432083&index=1

See you there.

Saturday 7^th November 2009 (10am-5pm)

Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Suite

£50 (£40 concessions)

From the traditionally structured TV and film stories that attempt to appeal to wide audiences (which ITV controller Peter Fincham termed ‘3G’ – three generations watching together), to the 3D structures of games and online drama, this day-long course looks at new opportunities offered to writers by the rise of digital technologies.  Suitable for writers, film-makers and drama practitioners interested in looking at new ways of telling stories across screens of all sizes. Participants:

Graham Joyce is the author of fourteen novels and has won numerous awards for his writing, including five British Fantasy Awards and the 2003 World Fantasy Award. He has also written screenplays of his novels and has recently been hired by the creators of Doom 4 to help develop the storyline potential of the computer game.

Neil Mossey worked solely in television and radio before writing on Season 2 of the daily interactive web drama KateModern (storylining over 26 weeks, and scripting 74 webisodes). The series ended in July 2008 clocking up 66 million video views, the largest UK online production to date. As a comedy producer at the BBC he was responsible for developing new formats and drama in the Comedy Entertainment department with writers and performers. His freelance writer, script editor, and producer credits include My Parents Are Aliens (ITV1), Freefonix (BBC One), Blackout (Channel 4), SuperNormal (ITV1), The Worst Witch (ITV1), Hedz (BBC One), and The Morning After Show (Channel 4).

Claire Ingham is a producer and film and television script developer. She works on projects at all stages of development – currently ranging from the adaptation treatment of Eoin Colfer’s bestselling novel The Wishlist to the final draft of Helen Cross’ original feature Stratford Road. Claire has previously worked for a number of film and television companies in development roles. She was Head of Drama Development at Impossible Pictures for four years where she headed a small team, commissioning and developing a range of TV and film projects for all the major broadcasters, including Jed Mercurio’s contemporary retelling of Frankenstein and Michael Chaplin’s family film Pickles.

For booking and further information, please visit www.scriptonline.net/screen.html

Or email catherine.edwards@scriptonline.net

The event is presented by Script, the regional development agency for dramatic writers in the West Midlands, offering advice, training and mentoring via industry-led partnerships.

In addition they are only going to be showing horror shorts, so if you have made a horror film and you would like it screened in front of an appreciative audience then send them in and they will play them! The night also has some great live bands performing, but they are always looking for more Singer/Songwriters, Bands, Poets, Comedians and Performance Artists, so if you want to showcase your talent then get in contact.

Filmrats is located at the Bristol Pear, Selly Oak. Entry is £1.50, so go along and remember to send in those horror shorts on DVD format to: Filmrats,
Flat 3,
889 Bristol Road,
Selly Oak,
Birmingham,
B29 6ND

If you have any questions or queries get in contact via their email: filmrats@hotmail.co.uk

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/filmrats

Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161850566421&index=1

Filmrats is sponsored by the good people at Hello Digital

Birmingham’s Flatpack Festival is set to arrive once again this coming March from the 23rd – 28th, this time seeking a helping hand behind the scenes!

The festival organisers are looking to appoint somebody in the role of ‘Festival Coordinator’, if you are thinking about applying be quick though as the deadline is 28th Sept 2009. Further information about how to apply on their blog.

Submissions Wanted! Flatpack Festival are also calling for short film submissions, so if you’re a filmmaker and you would like to send in a short film, simply fill out the form which is available here.

Dice Productions, that’s us (cheeky), have been asked to bring successful London comedy film night, Popcorn Comedy, up to Birmingham.

]]> http://www.filmforumwm.co.uk/2009/09/popcorn-comedy-film-night-5th-oct-the-electric-cinema/feed/ 0 http://www.filmforumwm.co.uk/2009/09/afwm-shorts-on-screens-30th-sept-the-victoria-pub/ http://www.filmforumwm.co.uk/2009/09/afwm-shorts-on-screens-30th-sept-the-victoria-pub/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:54:03 +0000 Film Forum WM http://www.filmforumwm.co.uk/?p=599

Shorts on Screens is the latest chance for Animation Forum WM membersto mingle, share an after-work drink and share their animation from 6.30pm on Wednesday 30th September at The Victoria, Birmingham.

Rather than submit animated shorts in advance for a sit-down screening, simply bring along a mobile phone, mp3 player or laptop pre-loaded with your best animated work, and share it with fellow animators over a drink.

Animated work can mean short films, commercial work, experiments, showreels; anything you think would be of interest to others AFWM members.

If you don’t have such snazzy mobile technology, simply bring along a USB stick or DVD and play it on one of the many laptops we’ll have setup around the room.

If you decide to do the latter, please ensure that you bring the animation as a rendered (compressed) video (e.g. avi, mov, flv , etc), not as an enormous uncompressed video file or with a rare and unusual codec, as these are unlikely to work.

Don’t have anything to show? Then feel free just to turn up and chew the fat with AFWM members, be they animators, scriptwriters, producers or voice-actors, you never know what might happen.

Entry is free and to attend simply RSVP using the Facebook Event page or todavid.luke.allen@bcu.ac.uk.

Shorts on Screens will take place in the upstairs room of The Victoria (where Shorts on Walls @ Flatpack was held last March) and can be found here.