Interchange

Interchange – TFL/DIFF/EAVE Development and Co-production Workshops.

Thanks to the support of the European Union’s MEDIA International, TorinoFilmLab, the Dubai International Film Festival and EAVE are running a Middle East – Europe training programme:

The aim is to build cooperation between film professionals from Europe and the 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), selecting 12 teams of writer/director + producer and 3 trainee script consultants, and bringing them together for 2 residential 5-day workshops, one in Torino at the end of May and one in Dubai in December.

The training is designed to match the needs of experienced professionals who want to develop their skills by concrete work on their projects, under the expert guidance of international tutors, and who are ready to share their ideas with colleagues and involve themselves in discussions in order to improve and increase the participants’ knowledge. The trainee script consultants will be trained as story editors working each on 4 of the 12 selected projects.The programme had its first edition in 2010, developing 11 projects from Arab territories.

Who can apply?

Teams of writer/director and producer applying with a project: writers and producers must come from Europe or one of the listed 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.

The applicant producers should have a demonstrable track record of producing in their own country and perhaps internationally. This could include the production of feature films, documentaries, music videos and advertising

European applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear relationship to or involvement with the countries indicated above and proposed projects should come from or be related to them.

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.

The working language of all Interchange workshops and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate.

Workshop & online sessions
Participants’ activities will take place across 6 months in 2011 as follows:
May 26th - May 31st: 1st five-day residential workshop in Torino with tutors: development and pitching workshop with group sessions, lectures and case-studies
August - September: 1st online/e-mail development session with tutors: assessment, consulting, task-setting
October - November: 2nd online/e-mail development session with tutors: assessment, consulting, task-setting for writers/ directors/ producers
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.
More details on Interchange events: http://www.torinofilmlab.it/events.php?year=2011
The training of writers/ filmmakers/ producers/story editors trainees will be carried out simultaneously in both workshops and the curriculum will be designed around two central concerns: project development and co-production strategies.
Participants will continue working online between the 2 workshops and will receive feedback on project development through a schedule of online/email consultations.
A head producer will supervise all 12 teams. Each team’s project will also be analysed in depth with supervision and guidance by 3 professional tutors working in smaller groups.
Drawing on the EAVE and TFL’s tested pedagogical methods and building on both organizations’ previous experience of working with the Dubai International Film Festival and the Gulf Film Festival the workshops will benefit participants in the following ways:
Establishing an extensive network of professional contacts both in the Arab region and Europe
Experiencing first-hand the European and Arab region film market opportunities
Developing practical professional skills in project development, financing, co-production, international marketing which can be applied to current and future projects
Furthering opportunities for success in having their project produced.
Realizing projects along a development ‘fast track’ through help from international experts/ tutors
Personal and professional development for shaping a marketable audiovisual product
Acquiring lifelong/ teachable professional know-how in implementing a broader creative vision
Establishing international audiovisual industry relations through TFL, EAVE and DIFF partners’ industry network comprising producers, financiers, financial, legal, business advisors and decision-makers, which will then also be accessible for future projects
Understanding of Arab and EU markets and what projects may be suitable for co-production
Promoting audience taste for Arabian audiovisual works in the EU markets and vice-versa
Practice at the final pitching for connecting with industry - at future Festivals or co-production Markets
Acquiring strengths for operating internationally backed by reputable networks
The tutors and trainers are experienced and well connected professionals, both at a European and international level.
Participation cost

There is no entry fee.

TorinoFilmLab covers participants’ accommodation expenses (hotel and meals) during the workshops.

Travel expenses have to be covered by the participants but will be partially reimbursed at the end of the programme. In order to receive the reimbursement the participants need to send all the original travel tickets to TorinoFilmLab office when the programme has finished
How to apply?

Applications for Interchange 2012 will open on the 1st of November and will close on the 4th of March, 2012.

You need to apply through the TorinoFilmLab website, at: http://www.torinofilmlab.it/interchange.php.

Teams of writers/director and producer applying with a project need to send:
Application form
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’ 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)*
*only 1 per applicant; showreels will not be accepted; the short film should be uploaded on line and the link sent by e-mail to interchange@torinofilmlab.it via Pando (http://www.pando.com) or YouSendIt (http://www.yousendit.com).

Film professionals applying as trainee script consultants need to send:
Application form
Full curriculum vitae
Letter of motivation for doing Interchange (1 page maximum)
Only entries with complete form and materials will be accepted.
Interchange 2011 participants
Click Here to download the Interchange Book of Projects 2011
Project Teams
• 3000 Nights / France – Palestine / Les Films d'Ici
Representatives: Mai Masri, Tunje Berns
• Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim / Egypt – USA / Ein Shams Films
Representatives: Amer Ahmed, Elouan Hossam
• Beautiful Spirit / Egypt / Collage Productions
Representatives: Ahmed Abouzeid, Ihab Ayoub
• Beirut Solo / Lebanon – Canada / ..né à Beyrouth Production
Representatives : Sabah Fatima Haider, Pierre Sarraf
• Bell / Switzerland - Iraq / Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion AG
Representatives: Furat Al Jamil, Samir
• Heat Wave / Palestine / Janan Films
Representatives: Fareed Ramadan , Riyad Deis
• Breathe / Lebanon – France – UK / Paraiso Production Diffusion
Representatives : Jihane Chouaib, Nathalie Trafford
• No Return / Egypt / Issawi Production
Representatives : Ahmed Salah, Hesham Issawi
• One Day and 124 Nights/ Lebanon – Austria / NEOS Film
Representatives : Sabine El Chamaa, Andreas Atzwanger
• Mimosas, The / Spain / Zeitun Films
Representatives : Oliver Laxe, Felipe Lage Coro
• World is Pink, The / Lebanon – Germany / NikoFilm
Representatives: Myrna Maakaron, Nicole Gerhards
Script Editors
Malak Quota / Saudi Arabia / Made in Saudi Films
Nadia Eliewat / Jordan / American University in Dubai - Mohammad Bin Rashid School for Communication
Naji Abu Nowar / Jordan