September 2, 2010 – Despite the slowed economic forecast for the global markets, emerging talent in the North American film industry is accelerating their career through Film Market Access’ (FMA) Toronto Program. The seven-day program runs from September 8-15, at the world renown Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). FMA’s program is designed to help emerging filmmakers and film students to maximize their opportunities during TIFF through the following:

• Introduction to the festival in the form of a junior industry delegate
• An internship with well-respected companies such as William Morris Endeavor, IM Global, Moving Pictures, and United Talent Agency.

This year, Film Market Access, in partnership with L.A based Creative Mind Group (CMG) will welcome ten participants to the Toronto Program; 2 Americans & 8 Canadian filmmakers and producers including the talented Nano Debassige, an editor from the Weekgushk Institute and Tetchena Bellange, a Montreal-based director whose film “Les Mains Noires” was selected for the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival.

 Furthermore, FMA secured a partnership with SaskFilm earlier this year in Cannes to select two Saskatchewan recipients for the Toronto Program. Producers Leanne Schinkel and Nils Sorensen were chosen among many applicants from the province. “We are pleased with our partnership with SaskFilm” says Kirk Cooper president of FMA, “as it speaks to our combined commitment to seek new ways in which to develop emerging talent in Canada.” 

 The Toronto Program gives each participant access to key receptions where they can establish valuable contacts with senior industry professionals. Participants also get the chance to learn what triggers a green light on a project by working closely with company executives and being able to observe acquisition and sales meetings.

Each participant receives the following:

• an access badge to the festival;
• shared accommodations at a hotel near the Elgin, AMC and Ryerson theatre venues;
• breakfast and lunch throughout the festival. 

Participants are scheduled to arrive a day before the festival for an orientation meeting that includes a guided tour of all festival venues and welcome dinner. FMA & CMG mentors will be available 24/7 to the participant in order to help them get the most out of their Toronto International Film Festival experience. 

About Film Market Access:

Founded in 2006 Film Market Access (FMA) is a film consulting firm specializing in Film Development, Financing and Publicity services to independent filmmakers. We introduce new trends, alternate business models, access to networking events and introduction to notable companies at film festivals and markets.

 Since 2006, FMA has brought a diverse number of Canadian producers, directors and other arts related delegates to the Festival de Cannes as well as the world’s largest film market, the Marché du Film. In its inaugural year 2009, The Toronto Program introduced several junior industry delegates from around the world (including England & United States) to the Toronto International Film Festival.

How to make the transition from the editing room to the marketplace.

Picture this! By some miracle to end all miracles, born of equal parts luck and blind determination, you’ve managed to rise above the never-ending barrage of questions from “concerned” friends and family who’ve always thought your talk about making movies was reckless. You’ve put together a cast and crew, refined your script, found some financing and in the process, you’ve even figured out how to ignore all your significant other’s not-so-subtle hints that a career selling life insurance really wouldn’t be that bad. To be honest, looking back, even you aren’t really sure how you pulled it off. Yet, despite all of the concerns and self doubt, you’ve somehow managed to make the impossible possible. You’ve made your first feature film! And, by definition, you’re finally a real filmmaker.

So, as your significant other drinks celebratory champagne with your family, friends and whatever members of your cast and crew are still speaking to you at the wrap party, you and I both know there is one nagging thought still rattling around in the back of your mind. It’s the same thought shared by every independent feature filmmaker. You’re asking yourself, how am I going to distribute this thing?

As a feature filmmaker, your distribution strategy will fall into one of two categories. Either your movie will be picked up, marketed and sold through various outlets by one of those distribution companies you read about in the trades, or you will sell it yourself. This is the major difference between traditional distribution and self-distribution. Regardless of which path you take, there are certain fundamental steps you must complete to ensure the film makes a smooth transition from the edit suite to the marketplace.

Preparing to Find a Distributor

When finding a distributor, many filmmakers partner with sales representatives, agents, lawyers or consultants to help get their movies seen and, hopefully, sold. It is during this time that the representative will often furnish the filmmaker with an extensive checklist of deliverables that include (with some variation): the movie master, talent agreements, high resolution digital photos for use in promotion, a credit lock, talent bios and press kits, a copyright registration form, chain of title and just about every other legal clearance the distributor can think of to minimize liability. One area where first-time filmmakers often stumble is in properly securing the rights to each and every bit of music included in their flick.

To continue reading this artcle please visit  www.independent-magazine.org

FMA’s Toronto program helps emerging filmmakers and film students maximize opportunities available during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) through the following:  

1. Introduction to the festival in the form of intern (or junior delegate)

2. An internship with well-respected companies such as William Morris, Yari Film Group, IM Global and Moving Pictures; where they can prove themselves and launch their careers. 

 For complete details on this announcement please contact: charlene@saskfilm.com  or Tel: 306-798-3317

Dates:  September 8-15, 2010.   Participants must arrive on September 8 prior to 3:00pm local time.

Location:  Toronto, Ontario 

To apply: Applicants must submit the following by August 18, 2010 to charlene@saskfilm.com: 

1. A completed application form.

2. A current resume.

3. Electronic file of Passport size headshot (TIFF requires photo for accreditation badge).

 Registration fee: SaskFilm will cover registration fee and flight.

 For additional information contact:

Charlene Hilkewich

Initiatives and Policy Manager

SaskFilm

Tel: 306-798-3317

Email: charlene@saskfilm.com

Festival co-directors Cameron Bailey and Piers Handling announced films at Royal York hotel

It took me some time to review the list, once I was done I decided it needed to be shorten. Here are my picks of the most notable directors and Canadian talents to look out for while you’re making your selections of films to see this year… 

Xavier Dolan’s sophomore comedy “Les amours imaginaires” (Heartbeats). – I saw this film in Cannes and I must say I’m happy that they waited for TIFF before they released it theatrical. I hope festival attendees will enjoy it as much as I did. (for synopsis of film see my earlier blog from Cannes Day 7-8)

Denis Villeneuve’s “Incendies”- is one many Canadian films this year that will have its world première outside of TIFF. It’s scheduled to screen at the Venice festival. Based on the acclaimed play by Wajdi Mouawad – twins Simon and Jeanne embark on a journey to the Middle East that shines a disturbing light on their mother’s past and culminates in a shocking revelation

Last year's Genie winner Denis Villeneuve returns with "Incendies"

Jonathan Sobol’s father-and-sons comedy “A Beginner’s Guide to Endings” staring Harvey Keitel – where has Harvey been hiding out? We miss you Keitel!

Ed Gass-Donnelly’s “Small Town Murder Songs” Ed is one of those directors that has a keen sense to the details in his film. Regardless  how small that detail may be to the story. The film stars Jill Hennessy.

Most notable Quebec director Louis Belanger’s “Route 132,” will play the festival after its world première at the Montreal World Film Festival – The film is about two old friends and small-time crooks embark on a crime spree, but take an unexpected detour that could lead them down the road to redemption.

And finally festival returnee Ingrid Veninger – “Modra” In this authentic portrait of teenaged self-discovery, recently-dumped seventeen-year-old Lina and free spirit Leco travel to visit Lina’s extended family in the quirky town of Modra, Slovakia.

The true honour this year goes to Canadian director Bruce McDonald’s film “Trigger” which will be the inaugural film at TIFF’s Bell Lightbox. Trigger stars Molly Parker and the late, great Tracy Wright who passed away earlier this year.

Toronto's own Bruce McDonald - Trigger

 On the documentary slate there are two to look out for: Sturla Gunnarsson’s “Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie,” about the Canadian environmentalist and a new print of the late Allan King’sdocu classic “A Married Couple” will screen in Canadian Open Vault as a tribute.

And finally we come to what is considered the backbone of Canadian film industry – the SHORTS.

There are several topics, styles and length…far too many for me to trim down but they all sound wonderful. My suggestion is to visit the TIFF web site http://bit.ly/9ec9ry  to get the full list. But don’t be surprise if you see the name of a famous director’s son – that would be Brandon Cronenberg – I wonder if he’s got a bit of his father style?  I guess we just have to get a ticket and find out.

Please remember comments are welcome.

A view of the Lightbox's main control centre (think HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey) as seen from the exhibition floor

It’s been in the planning stages for a decade (and under construction for what seems like even longer), but the TIFF Bell Lightbox at King and John is set to open its doors to the public, for real, on September 12, smack in the middle of the thirty-fifth annual Toronto International Film Festival. As the new headquarters for TIFF, whose various operations are now divided between Jackman Hall, 2 Carlton Street, and various screening spaces throughout the city, expectations for the space have been running high. More than just an office building with a bunch of theatres, the Lightbox has promised to serve as a site for education about visual culture, a gallery space, and, more generally, a shining beacon of Toronto’s world class film culture. Lofty goals all.

But if today’s behind-the-scenes media tour at the Lightbox is any indication, the venue is well on its way to establishing a name for itself as the year-round locus of cinema in Toronto. It’s still very much under construction, but it’s becoming easier to conceive of the Lightbox as a unified space, and not just a bunch of scaffolding, concrete, and puffed-up press release rhetoric.

Photos courtesy of TIFF.

Article written by John Semley Contributing Editor for Torontoist

 

 

It would have taken one hour by plane however I was grateful that I did not take that option. I had the chance to travel along the great Canadian high way passing many places I’ve only heard of such as Muskoka, Parry Sound and Casino Roma. We made a brief stop at the Casino sadly it wasn’t anything like I’ve seen in the movie. I guess I will have to go to Las Vegas for that. Along the way we were thankful that we dodged a tornado by 30 minutes in a town that we drove through.   

So what am I doing 6 hours away from Toronto? I was invited to become a member and take part in the AGM of the first Aboriginal Film Institute in Ontario. Weengushk Film Institute (WFI) was founded by Shirley Cheechoo a multi discipline artist from the Cree Nation.  WFI is a non profit charitable organization that offers media –arts programs in the fields of film, video and multimedia to Aboriginal youths and person of diversity. The institute has only been open to students for one year but within the institute has attracted attention to its education mandate. On May 2, WFI had its first group of graduation students and in July institute will launch the first emerging artist program and welcome fourteen new participants to the youth program in September 2010. 

To learn more about WFI please visit their website. www.weengushk.com

You can showcase your work, connect with the right people and make a significant difference to your career. Directors such as Darren Aronofsky, Clint Eastwood, Sofia Coppola, Terrance Malick, the Coen brothers, Gus Van Sant, and Peter Weir are just some of the filmmakers most likely will be attending TIFF this year among the thousands of industry professionals. With a balance of films, industry professionals, and international media, the festival is the ideal launching pad for your career.

Addition to the festival this year is the new industry centre  host hotel located next to the TIFF Bell Lightbox- it’s the center stage of the festival venues.

Film Market Access/Creative Minds Toronto program prepares and guides you for this extraordinary festival event so you will get the most out of it. Here is what one of intern/junior deleagte had to say about his experience last year. 

2009 Intern Jonnathan Bunning - Host Company:Doe Eye Media Productions

Jonnathan Bunning – England.

After originally taking a huge leap of faith across the Atlantic Ocean to Toronto I was able to focus once again on my creative path. I felt my career was deviating away from my post graduation period.  The Film Market Access/Creative Minds Toronto program gave me access to the festival and the internship portion gave me such a unique experience that I was able to tailor to my own skill set and needs with the support of my host company. 

At the end of the program I felt that I had surpassed the expectations of my host company and I was invited to continue the working relationship while back in England. In the months that followed I worked remotely on my assignments.

In June of this year I flew back to Canada for the final phases of the production. It felt like retuning home to a family. I felt good to be back on set. We were at Banff TV festival to complete most of the B rolls and interviews for the Documentary “Made In Canada” our back drop the rocky mountains. This is also where I’ll never forget being in earshot of Ricky Gervais’s and William Shatner who recreated his famous scene from The Twilight Zone live on stage during an interview panel. 

The incredible ongoing support of Film Martket Access continues to shape my future as I progress with this project as I move forward in my own personal development in the industry. I felt that I wouldn’t have had the means to enter the professional side of the industry on my own. But I’m glad I had the foresight to apply to the program. 

Now taking applications – http://bit.ly/9T2k2G

Palme d'Or

 Asian cinema tonight emerged as the surprise winner of this year’s Cannes film festival when a lyrically beautiful and often surreal Thai movie took the Palme d’Or. Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. It is the first Asian Palme d’Or winner since Kiarostami shared it with Japanese film maker Shohei Imamura in 1997.

While young Quebec filmmaker Xavier Dolan (Les amours Imaginaires) didn’t leave Cannes empty handed, he accepted the “Regards jeunes” prize on Saturday awarded by a European jury of seven young cinephiles. Also the actor to beat was Javier Bardem and as the saying goes if you can’t beat him join him - Elio Germano did just that in sharing the title of best actor.

Here are the winners from the films Offically Selected “In Competition”

Palme d’Or (Golden Palm): “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives” by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand)

Grand Prize:“Of Gods and Men” by Xavier Beauvois (France)

Jury Prize:“A Screaming Man” by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (Chad)

Best Actor:Javier Bardem, “Biutiful” (Mexico) and Elio Germano, “La Nostra Vita” (Italy)

Best Director:Mathieu Amalric for “On Tour” (France)

Best Actress:Juliette Binoche, “Certified Copy” (Iran)

Best Screenplay: Lee Chang-Dong, “Poetry” (Korea)

Camera d’Or (first-time director): “Ano Bisiesto” by Michael Rowe (Mexico)

Congratulations to all and I’m already looking forward to next year!

The water is a bit cold at first but once you jump in ..its all good.

I took a train to Paris on Saturday night. As I sat in the train I couldn’t stop thinking of that now memorable scene from last year’s in competition film “Inglorious Bastard”. Its the opening scene where the Nazi general enjoys a fresh glass of milk at a little farm house in the french country side. The view from my train window is beautiful and  suddenly I felt the urge to stop have a glass of milk as well. Perhaps next time.

Its day 11 of the festival and decided to take it easy. I woke up late missing the daily hotel buffet breakfast. Called my sister’s room and I invited her to the beach. She had  just finishing packing for Paris. It’s was our last day in Cannes. The sun was shinning and there was no film in particular to see.

In has been a lack luster festival when it came to films. Among my meetings and reception/parties there wasn’t much to choose from. I wasn’t always lucky with scheduling there was always a conflict with my selections or the festival schedule was incorrect an unmistakable first that I can recall. However bearing that in mind I had to select films from the market or the festival day after screening schedule which sometimes turned into a mad frenzy – example Biutiful. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday night. I’ve had little luck in seeing the film that wins Palme d’Or and this year might be the same.

So a day at the beach was a great idea. There wasn’t a chance I would be disappointed in what I’ will see. After all the French are never shy about their body. And they were plenty of topless French beauties to the left and to the right.

After the beach, we had lunch and made a dash to the train station only to be confronted with a huge group of Parisians with the same idea – “time to vacate Cannes”

So with my sister sitting next to me we bullet across the French countryside to a welcoming and exciting city which has been said for decades is full of romance and culture. With Moulin Rouge in mind I wonder which one of us will find romance among the culture. Stay tune….

 I had mentioned this film before in a previous blog entry but I never gave the premise for the story or why I liked this film. This unusual story is set in Montreal – it’s about two friends, one female, one male, who both fall in love with the same guy, both attempting to woo him. It’s a beautiful film with a very contemporary story. Highly stylized and it is complimented with a wicked soundtrack. At 21 years old Dolan has a great future ahead of him. This is his second film to be played along the famous Croisette. His first was “I Killed My Mother” in 2009.

My second moment took place as I was sitting on the floor of the Salle Bunuel watching “Biutiful” by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 Grams, Babel) (May 18^th). Yes – that’s correct I was on the floor because once word got out after the first day of screening of Biutiful everyone wanted to see it. Aside from any major fire violations been broken most people were pleased to sit on the floor for the second and only Cannes screening. Having made it pass the cut off point myself I was overjoyed despite my fatigue.

It was a 300 seat theatre with 600 people wanting entry. So here I was on a night that I felt I needed a second wind to make it through the festival standing in line tired, hot and felt very uncomfortable. However at that moment it didn’t occur to me that the interest in this film could be compared to that of Twilight or some other popular cultured films yet this was not a public event it was all professionals… my peers – waiting for more than 2 hours in line just to see a film from their favorite director.

The love of film is what drives us!   

The film itself, although very sad and quite the conventional festival film. Biutiful is a film your either going to love or hate. The story of Uxbal (Javier Bardem) who sort of deals outside-of-the-law in Barcelona. He helps a group of Chinese immigrants work illegal jobs that pay under the table which provides knock-off products so that Senegalese immigrants then can sell them illegally on the streets. Uxbal doesn’t deal in drugs anymore, but that was once part of his past life. His wife is a prostitute with bipolar disorder and he has two children whom he loves very much. Mateo, his son is very cute and delivers a memorable performance at the dinner table. But Uxbal soon discovers that he may not be alive much longer and we’re taken on an emotional journey after he learns that news.

Director: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu & Javier Bardem

One thing I can say for sure sitting in the aisle on the floor of a prestigious festival was a first for me but it was also a reminder of how films can unite us. It relieves us from the individual experience and brings the communal familiarity in cinematic entertaining through the love of a film. Tired or not I think all 325 people were all thankfully for the experience.