FkN Newsletter
February 2011
FkN News
 |
 |
The first Nordisk Panorama Deadline has come and gone
Again this year, we're operating with two deadlines for Nordisk Panorama: 15 February for films completed in 2010 and 15 May for films completed in 2011. The first deadline has come and gone and around 250 shorts and documentaries have been submitted to this year's festival, taking place in Aarhus, Denmark, 23-28 September. We are happy to see so many 2010 films and are looking forward to the films from 2011. Keep them coming!
 |
|
Filmkontakt Nord and Hot Docs gain MEDIA Mundus grant
Filmkontakt Nord and Hot Docs have received a grant from MEDIA Mundus for the docXchange project. The grant was received in fierce competition. In 2011 MEDIA Mundus received applications for over 50 million Euro but only had 5 million Euro to distribute. The project was one of 34 projects chosen and announced by commissioner Androulla Vassiliou at the opening of the 61st Berlin International Film Festival. The MEDIA Mundus program aims to encourage international co-productions, boost worldwide distribution and make the industry more competitive.
docXchange is a two-step program comprised of fostering professional development and offering potential financing opportunities for your interactive documentary project. The first part of the program takes place in May 2011 with a three-day seminar/workshop at Hot Docs in Toronto, Canada. The second part takes place in September 2011 with a one-day financing forum at Nordisk Panorama in Aarhus, Denmark. The language of the program is English.
docXchange is open to applications from North American and European producers working on interactive documentary projects. A maximum of 24 projects will be selected for the seminar/workshop at Hot Docs. From the seminar/workshop participants, a maximum of 10 projects will be selected for the financing forum at Nordisk Panorama.
 |
|
FkN at Tempo Documentary Festival
FkN director Karin Johansson-Mex will be at Tempo Documentary Festival in Stockholm, Sweden, 9-11 March with Filmkontakt Nord's Nomadic Office. The Nomadic Office offers individual consultancy regarding Nordic and International financing of documentaries to filmmakers with new documentary projects. The Nomadic Office will take place on Thursday 10 March at Hotel Malmen, Stockholm.
On Thursday 10 March 18:00-19:00, Filmkontakt Nord is happy to offer a drink to old and new friends. Join Karin and Swedish member of the Board Ewa Cederstam at Skrapan, Götgatan 78.
To set up a meeting with Karin in Stockholm, please send her an email.
|
|
FkN at Tampere Short Film Festival
Karin Johansson-Mex is also bringing the Nomadic Office to Tampere Short Film Festival, where she will be present 11-13 March, hosting the Nomadic Office on Saturday 12 March at the Festival Centre. To set up a meeting with Karin in Tampere, please send her an email.
|
|
25.02.2011
FkN at BUFF and BUFF:ff
Jing Haase and Karin Johansson-Mex will be present at BUFF, the International Children and Young People's Film Festival in Malmö, Sweden, as well as at the connected financing forum BUFF:ff.
BUFF runs 15-19 March, and the financing forum 16-18 March.
BUFF:ff is now celebrating its 5 year anniversary and has gained a solid
setting with a strong development potential. In 2010 co-productions
worth 40 mill. € were presented at the forum.
This year, FkN’s Jing Haase has been on the BUFF:ff selection committee
and Karin Johansson-Mex is part of the BUFF:ff steering group.
|
|
25.02.2011
Katrine Kiilgaard new film consultant in Aarhus
FkN’s Head of Nordisk Panorama Industry, Katrine Kiilgaard, is the new documentary film consultant at Den Vestdanske Filmpulje (The West Danish Film Fund). She will be advising the Board of the Fund on support for documentaries.
New Nordic and International Initiatives
 |
|
New award sponsor in Grimstad
Zentropa International Norway and The Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad have teamed up with the common goal of promoting the art of the short film. Their vision is to encourage artistic and innovative collaboration between international and Norwegian film professionals.
Zentropa International Norway will award The Golden Chair and 50.000 NOK for an outstanding film achievement. The nominations for The Golden Chair for Best International Short Film 2011 will be announced at the Cannes Film Festival in May and awarded in Grimstad during the festival in June.
 |
|
In defense of the MEDIA programme
On the day of the 20th anniversary celebration of the MEDIA Programme, news that the programme might be threatened were circulating. The recent agreement ends in 2013 and there have been indications that it might not be extended further. This led to obvious concern among film organizations and institutions. The directors of the national film agencies (the EFADs) across Europe have written a joint statement defending the programme.
The European Film Academy, European Producers Club, FIAPF and UNIC, have also sent a joint letter to the European Commission’s President, José Manuel Barroso, expressing their concern for the abolition of the MEDIA program.
ARP (Civil Society of Writers-Directors-Producers) and BLOC (Film Organisations Liaison Office) have, respectively, launched a petition and written a letter to José Manuel Barroso in order to defend the programme.
The ARP petition has been signed by more than 300 filmmakers such as Aki Kaurismäki, Ken Loach and Mike Leigh. The petition can be found here.
|
|
Cross Media enthusiasm in the Nordic region
In the Nordic region there is an growing interest for cross media. More regions have new cross media initiatives. To mention a few:
In Aarhus, Denmark, the Cross Media Network initiative has now presented its new name, Shareplay, and launched a website.
Shareplay describes itself as an ambitious transmedia venture launched by the Central Denmark Region and the North Denmark Region. Its mission is to take part in the development of the future media sector.
In Sweden, Boost Hbg has committed itself to cross media development projects in the Scania region. This spring Boost Hbg presents workshops on development of scripts for cross media/transmedia projects. Read more about Boost Hbg and the workshops here.
And on a pan-national level, First Motion, a cross media cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, is also presenting new initiatives. Besides a new call for cross media projects, First Motion launches Baltic Universe, a distribution platform and collaboration tool for film- and cross media-producers and content owners who see digitisation as an opportunity. Read more here.
