This years programme for Shuffle Festival has now been revealed and tickets are on sale.
The festival, now in its third year and headed by Danny Boyle is held in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park between 24th July – 1st August. This years theme is “Movement, Migration and Place”….
…“The journeys, movements, resettlements, discoveries and upheaval of communities to new places and new lands has been the abiding story of humanity. In London the influx creates a heady mixture of people who come together to inhabit the city; bringing ever more complexity, variety and exuberance. In our own lives we experience it viscerally and emotionally – either moving away from family, familiarity and home, or remaining in the place we grew up, watching the rapid changes around us. Overseas and at our own borders debates rage on about who should come in and who should stay out. People leave dangerous places run by dangerous people, crossing the sea in large numbers to find safety and life in a new place.” [from Shuffle website]
The film programme includes films such as The Godfather Part II and The Arbor, 127 Hours, The Battle of Algiers and Ida spread across the festivals many themed days… plus the Shuffle Short Film Competition!
FRIDAY 24TH JULY – Where You Belong
SATURDAY 25TH JULY – Stranded
SUNDAY 26TH JULY – The Sea
MONDAY 27TH JULY – Exile & Escape
TUESDAY 28TH JULY – No Place
WEDNESDAY 29TH JULY – The City
THURSDAY 30TH JULY – Return Home
FRIDAY 31ST JULY – Imagined Place
SATURDAY 1ST AUGUST – Beyond Earth
Its not just films on offer though, the festival is also running nature walks, comedy, dance and many talks over the week… plus you can eat in the treehouse diner!
Wimbledon International Short Film Festival is currently accepting short films under 15 minutes and this year we’re excited that re:Vault’s programmer and founder Louise is working for the festival.
“The festival is dedicated to UK and international short films from 10 seconds to 14 minutes 59 seconds long. We’re keen to showcase what you as new filmmakers worldwide are doing whether it’s your first film or you’re on your way to becoming established. Wimbledon International Short Film Festival welcomes your short film whatever the genre – it can be funny, serious, real, fantastic, experimental, drama, documentary or animation.”
Films must be less than 15 minutes in duration including title sequences and credits.
Entries must be submitted via Secure Online Screener Submission via withoutabox
Submission deadline: 30 June 2015 Date of festival: 3 October 2015
This year the festival is in association with Wimbledon BookFest
Also worth a read is WISFF new blog with interviews with past winning filmmakers: blog.wimbledonshorts.com
Wolf is an exciting new cinema venue in Berlin with a truly independent spirit, something we value above everything else here at re:Vault, so when we heard about this project we had to share it with you. We chat to Verena von Stackelberg to find out more about Wolf and its currently live crowdfunding campaign!
Can you tell re:VAULT readers a little about the idea and ethos behind Wolf, and what inspired you to create it? Wolf will have two screens, a café-bar, a third flexible screen for exhibitions, moving image installations and workshops as well as a post-production space and office / rent-a-desk, located in what was once a brothel in Berlin-Neukölln over 360 square metres.
A big focus is on the workshops, which will range from practical filmmaking courses to alternative distribution and exhibition models and hands-on cinema programming workshops for professionals and newcomers. In terms of programming the cinema, I want to try new programming strategies that can accommodate films without distributors by showing them fewer times a week but for several months, enabling word of mouth. Other programming ideas relate directly to the workshops and in addition, there are many filmmakers on board who will welcome more screening spaces for their work. But we’ll also show new theatrical releases, classics, shorts, etc.
Photo by Marjorie Brunet Plaza
The idea is to create a more holistic space that incorporates the trajectory of filmmaking from beginning to screen. I believe the more understanding we have for the different processes, the healthier the ‘industry’ is as such. The inspiration came from the realization that we often work alongside each other and not together.
There are many middle-men, pretend-divisions, that we actually don’t need in the digital age. And through the digitization we can create new spaces, host smaller screens and be more social. So in the end I’m following logical steps to adapt to these new possibilities. At the core, I want Wolf to be a place that is appreciative of the struggle filmmakers go through when making a film, give them confidence not to compromise too much at all the labs, workshops, panels and pitching sessions that can cut a film’s wings. There’s too much talk of film as content or film as a product, and I hope we can counter this with our small attempt at Wolf and and keep the spirit art in film alive.
Drawing by Claudia Schramke
Why did you decide to crowdfund the funds needed for Wolf?
I was approached by KissKissBankBank who are trying to expand in Germany – currently they’re big in France and Belgium but little known here. They thought that we’d be the right project to present themselves as a platform for filmmakers and film initiatives and promised full time support. I think it’s a great opportunity, also because it really helped to get awareness and talk about what we are doing in advance of opening. Plus we are half-financed, so we need more financial support and the more we get through the campaign, the better for our independence.
Photo by Marjorie Brunet Plaza
If you are successful when can people expect Wolf to open its doors, do you have films and events already planned out to show?
All going well we will open in December 2015, but the venue is completely gutted and needs a lot of work. So in terms of programming, we have time to think about events and films, most films we will show are probably in post-production at the moment. As soon as we know we can go ahead, we will organize round table discussion and publish a call for programming ideas and get working on implementing our own thoughts. We also occasionally open the doors to the raw venue as it is now with an improvised screen so we can get to know Wolf’s future audience
Do you have a backup should you not raise the money needed?
Yes, I think there always needs to be a plan A, B and C at the minimum if you really want to make something happen. But if the campaign will be successful, it will be much, much easier to convince the remaining investors and sponsors to fully commit. So a lot of it depends on the success of the campaign. I have a few more months left to fix the finances, and after that my current contract expires – which means we’d lose the ex-brothel space. This doesn’t mean we’re back to square one, but it would mean losing the perfect venue.
Thanks Verena, we wish you all the best with your crowdfunding!
After many years of a steady decline in movies being shot on film – Kodak suffered a 96% drop in sales over a decade – an agreement has been announced that gives hope to filmmakers devoted to celluloid… well hope for those who can afford to shoot on film.
This week (4 Feb ‘15) Kodak announced it had finalized new film supply deals with major Hollywood studios. Disney, Fox, Sony, Paramount, Warner Bros. NBC and Universal have all agreed to continue purchasing Kodak film stock. “Film has long been – and will remain – a vital part of our culture,” said Jeff Clarke, Kodak CEO, in a statement. “With the support of the studios, we will continue to provide motion picture film, with its unparalleled richness and unique textures, to enable filmmakers to tell their stories and demonstrate their art.”
The campaign to save Kodak has had support from some of Hollywood’s key players – Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and Judd Apatow. With the highly pressured task of overseeing the latest instalment of cinema’s godfather of blockbuster franchises; J.J. Abrams also showed support for celluloid by choosing to shoot the new Star Wars movie, “Episode VII – The Force Awakens,” on Kodak film. Apatow, who is also currently shooting his latest film, ‘Trainwreck’ on film said, “There’s a magic to the grain and the color quality that you get with film.”
Tarantino’s hardcore love of shooting on film and his passionate dislike of digital shooting and projection often comes to the surface in interviews. While at last years Cannes Film Festival for the 20th anniversary screening of Pulp Fiction he declared ‘film dead’. “As far as I’m concerned,” he said, “digital projection and DCPs is the death of cinema as I know it.” Later in the year, after taking over programming duties at LA’s historic New Beverly Cinema, he promptly ripped out the digital projector, vowing to only show movies from his own private collection of celluloid. Which is fair enough if he has the means to do this but with most films now being shipped digitally rather than on film, I wonder, will he only be showing old films rather than new releases?
I remember going to see an old film print of Top Gun in the early 00’s; a print which was battered and faded. For me this added to the nostalgia of the experience. I’ve also seen classics shown off DVD at art house cinemas and to be honest it didn’t seem to take anything away from the experience. At the end of the day there are so many facets to filmmaking, like directing, acting, music, editing; that are all important to the story and the experience it gives. It’s the story that counts first and foremost.
Martin Scorsese has long been a supporter of film and in particular the preservation of old reels. He chose to shoot Raging Bull in black & white, one reason being to acknowledge the problem of fading color film stock. He also established The Film Foundation in 1990, a non-profit organization dedicated to film preservation and the exhibition of restored and classic cinema. Last year he wrote an impassioned letter in defense of Kodak, saying, “Film is also an art form, and young people who are driven to make films should have access to the tools and materials that were the building blocks of that art form.” (Scorsese’s full letter can be read here)
I couldn’t agree more with Scorsese’s argument of ‘access’. However Tarantino’s hard line derogatory view of digital seems myopic and creatively limiting. It is important that there is a choice to shoot with film or to shoot digitally. Giving filmmakers that choice was also discussed by Nolan, “The point at which you’re told you won’t have a choice anymore, that becomes an important creative issue that needs to be brought to people’s attention.” (The Hollywood Reporter – Dec ‘14).
So film is saved! Which I personally am very happy about. As a filmmaker myself I look forward to one day having the budget to shoot on 35mm! Because let’s face it, for most indie filmmakers the choice of shooting format is a budgetary choice rather than one of access.
Our pick of new calls for films… EARLYBIRD DEADLINES, enter now and save money!
San Diego Film Festival Earlybird Deadline: 1 February 2015 The San Diego Film Festival’s mission is to support the growth and distribution of the motion picture arts through supporting filmmakers, through connections, education and exposure, bringing independent and noteworthy film to a diverse audience, and promote San Diego as a thriving film and arts community. sdfilmfest.com/submit-films
Coney Island Film Festival EarlyBird Deadline: 20 February 2015 Held at Sideshows by the Seashore and The Coney Island Museum, in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood, Coney Island, New York. Coney Island Film Festival Voted “One of MovieMaker Magazine’s Coolest Film Festivals in the World” and “25 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”. coneyislandfilmfestival.com
New Orleans Film Festival Earlybird Deadline: 20 February 2015 Celebrating its 26th anniversary this year, the New Orleans Film Festival has firmly established itself on the regional film fest circuit as one of the most reputable in the country. Born in a city known for its eclecticism and artistic vibrance, NOFF seeks out bold and passionate storytellers. With top-notch programming in one of the world’s most cinematic cities. neworleansfilmfestival.org
And finally the pick of final and LATE DEADLINES, Last chance submissions… don’t miss out!
St Albans Film Festival Late Deadline: 2 February 2015 The 3rd Annual St Albans International Film Festival has over £3000 worth of cash prizes & other prizes over seven different short film categories. Short films must be under 20 minutes. stalbansfilmfestival.com/submityourfilm.php
Sheffield Doc/Fest Deadline: 2 February 2015 Sheffield Doc/Fest is the biggest documentary event in the UK, annually screening over 150 films from around the world. If you want to launch your new documentary, there is no better place than Doc/Fest. sheffdocfest.com/view/submissions
Open City Documentary Festival Late Deadline: 2 March 2015 Celebrates the best in contemporary non-fiction filmmaking from around the globe the opportunity to have their work seen by award-winning judges, fellow filmmakers and a broad public audience. opencitydocsfest.com
Glasgow Film Festival 18 February – 1 March 2015 The Festival is apacked programme including pop-up cinema and special events in unique Glasgow venues. The full GFF15 programme will be launched on Wednesday 21 January www.glasgowfilm.org
Belfast Film Festival 16-25 April 2015 The Festival showcases both local talent, and the best in new International cinema. Its documentary film competition, The Maysles Brothers Award was launched by documentary legend Albert Maysles in 2006, and its aim is to celebrate the best of new observational documentary work from around the world. The short film competition provides a platform for fledgling film-makers from across the island of Ireland. belfastfilmfestival.org
BFI London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (London) 19-29 March 2015 The best place to see an array of feature and short films from acclaimed directors and new filmmakers. www.bfi.org.uk/llgff
Flatpack Festival (Birmingham) 19-29 March 2015 Flatpack is a festival which takes over venues across Birmingham every March. In their own words … “Flatpack is not just a festival – it’s also a state of mind.” flatpackfestival.org.uk
Limelight Film Awards is now open for short film submissions of under ten minutes giving emerging the talent the chance to win £10,000 towards there next film!
The awards is an annual short film competition, followed by a red carpet awards ceremony, attended by over 500 film makers, celebrities and TV/ Film personalities. In its seventh year, with 12 film categories and a £10,000 production award, Limelight is paving the way in identifying emerging British film makers while helping to strengthen the industry.
Films in the following categories are accepted with awards for each one:
Animation
Comedy
Documentary
Horror
Sci – Fi
Drama
Music (Includes Music Videos)
Thriller
Free-fall (If your not sure what category it fits into)
Experimental
Best Visual
Best School Production
Best School Screenplay
Film of the Night Award (£10k Production Award)
Limelight is managed by Spotlight UK in partnership with Canary Wharf Group PLC and is now recognised and supported by national and global organisations, including Film London, Avid, The Community Channel and many others, including personalities from the Film and Media industry.
re:VAULT Film Den 