Extended Application Deadline: March 14th, 2013
The Interchange programme was created with the goal of building cooperation between film professionals from Europe and the Arab world through professional training centred on the in-depth development of a number of feature-length fiction film projects every year. It is open to 10 teams of writer/director & producer – usually about half of the participants are Arab and half are European –, as well as to 3 Arab film professionals interested in story editing training.
The four main concerns around which the course is built are project development (including script and comprehensive production development), co-production strategies between the European and Arab world, pitching & networking (at the Dubai Film Connection). The project-based training is designed to match the needs of experienced professionals who want to develop their skills through concrete work on their projects - under the expert guidance of international tutors – and who are ready to share their ideas with colleagues and engage themselves in discussions in order to improve and increase their knowledge.
Through 2 workshops – 1 in Turin and 1 in Dubai – and 2 midway on-line tutoring sessions, participants develop the projects and prepare for the conclusion of the programme: a final pitch at Dubai Film Connection, the largest co-production market between Europe and the Arab world with industry attendees from both areas, adding further value to the previous stages of the training.
More specifically, we aim at bridging the two regions by training and supporting film professionals from all over Europe and from the following Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. We will select 10 teams of writer/director & producer + 3 Arab trainee script consultants, and bring them together for 2 residential workshops, one in Turin at the end of May/beginning of June and one in Dubai in December. The trainee script consultants will be trained as story editors working each on 3 or 4 out of the 10 selected projects.
Interchange is run by TorinoFilmLab, the Dubai International Film Festival and EAVE and it is supported by MEDIA Mundus.
Who can apply?
Teams of writer/director and producer applying with a fiction feature film project: writers and producers must come from either Europe or one of the following Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
All producer applicants should have a demonstrable track record of producing in their own country, as well as, possibly, internationally. This could include the production of feature films, documentaries, music videos, and advertising.
European applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear connection to or involvement with the countries indicated above, and the projects they submit should come from or be related to those countries.
Arab film professionals interested in story editing training: film professionals applying as story editor trainees must come from one of the above listed Arab countries and have a good knowledge of Arabic.
The working language of all Interchange workshops and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate.
Workshops & on-line sessions
Participants’ activities take place across 6 months as follows:
May: 1st four-day residential workshop in Torino: assessment of projects’ status, development and pitching workshop with group sessions, lectures and case-studies
August - September: 1st on-line/Skype/e-mail development session: feedback & consulting, task-setting
October - November: 2nd on-line/Skype/e-mail development session: feedback & consulting, task-setting, preparation of Book of Projects (catalogue for the final pitching event)
December: 2nd five-day residential workshop in Dubai: final script assessment, project advice, pitching training, producers’ coaching, case studies + Pitching event and one-to-one meetings at Dubai Film Connection with film industry professionals from EU and Arab regions.
The training of writers/filmmakers, producers, and story editor trainees is carried out simultaneously in both residential workshops and, as mentioned above, the curriculum is designed around project development and co-production strategies, as well as pitching training in the final session.
Participants will continue working on-line between the two residential workshops and will receive feedback on project development through a schedule of Skype/e-mail consultations.
A Head Producer will supervise all 10 teams. Each team’s project will also be analyzed in depth by one of the 3 professional tutors overseeing and guiding as many working groups.
Participation fees & scholarships
There is no entry fee.
TorinoFilmLab covers participants' accommodation expenses (hotel and meals) during the workshops. Participants must pay all travel costs.
Deadline for applications: March 14th, 2013
How to apply?
Teams of writers/director and producer applying with a project need to send:
-full Curriculum Vitae (all applicants)
-synopsis (1 page maximum/only for writers)
-treatment (10 page maximum/only for writers)
-letter of motivation for doing Interchange (1 page maximum/all applicants). For European projects, the producer should also explain in which way the project is related to the Arab countries which are part of the Interchange Programme.
-development/production timetable (for producers)
-detailed budget, incl. development budget (for producers)
-financing plan (Euro currency): please include detailed info about the funds in the country of origin, region of interest and their relevant deadline, and mark any funds already obtained (for producers)
-one previous short film or extract of previous materials, (not mandatory/only for writer-directors): the video must be uploaded by following the link: http://tfl.museotv.com and signing up. Only 1 video per applicant; showreels will not be accepted;
Film professionals applying as trainee script consultants need to send:
-full Curriculum Vitae
-letter of motivation for doing Interchange (1 page maximum)
Deadline for applications: March 14th, 2013
All applications have to be sent to interchange@torinofilmlab.it in English and in PDF format.
Only entries with complete form and materials, in English and PDF format, will be accepted.
