D.E.R. would like to thank the following foundations for their generous support. Grants were received this week from:

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, to support The Great Gadfly, a film project in production by the Jon Palfreman Group.

The Mary Wohlford Foundation,  to support the outreach work on a film project by  Stuart Television  Productions.

The Massachusetts Humanities Foundation, to support James Ruttenbeck’s production, St. Patrick’s Parish.

We congratulate these filmmakers on their hard work and we look forward to supporting their efforts when the film projects are completed.

Cynthia Close

Executive Director, DER

Where Content Meets Intent: Ensuring Impact in Film
Los Angeles, December 7-10 2006

Guidelines for Applicants

National Video Resources is organizing a four day residency for Media Arts Fellows.

The program is designed for filmmakers working on social impact documentaries, or other genres with a socially-engaged theme. The residency will take participants through the development of outreach and community engagement plans for individual film projects.

Led by Working Films’ principals Robert West and Judith Helfand, the residency will be intensely practical- each participant will bring their project for discussion and leave with a comprehensive outline for the three phases of distribution: pre-release, release or broadcast, and post-broadcast or post-release.

The program will include: identification of national grassroots and community allies; introduction to alternative distribution strategies; drafting a website plan; development of an outline of support materials; festival and community screening development plan; and introductions to acquisitions personnel from distribution companies. Additional topics will include preliminary budgets, fundraising strategies and press strategies.

Before the residencies, Working Films will review project materials, including rough-cut tapes and written narratives and materials, and develop a preliminary outline of the outreach and audience development potential for each project.

In addition to the Working Films component, there will be sessions with guest speakers who will discuss alternative and traditional distribution methods.

Working Films
Working Films was co-founded by veteran film festival curator and media educator Robert West and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker and organizer Judith Helfand in late 1999. From the website, www.workingfilms.org: “We are neither a production company nor a distributor. We work with filmmakers — at every stage — to maximize their work in coordinated community education efforts, consumer organizing campaigns, activist movements and classroom projects. We work with organizers to enrich their on-going grassroots efforts with relevant, vital media. We work with educators to bring into the classroom critical independent film and video on issues of social and economic justice. With a diverse staff and board, we are an innovative, active and strategic resource for the world of independent film, serving a national role as strategists, consultants and community builders.”
Residency focus
The residency program is focused on documentary projects. Other narrative or experimental projects that explore socially-engaged or political themes may also benefit from the program, but preference may be given to documentary projects.
Who is this residency designed for?
Media Arts Fellows working on documentary or socially-engaged projects, who are interested in developing an audience and distribution plan. The project must be in rough cut stage; filmmakers need to have at least 5 minutes of footage available to screen (and will have the opportunity to screen up to 20 minutes of their work during the workshop), and should also have a clear idea of the film’s narrative.
Please note the proposed project does not need to be the project funded by the Fellowships program.
Residency dates
Thursday, December 7- Sunday, December 10, 2006.
Program starts at 5:30pm, Thursday, December 7, 2006 and concludes at 1pm, Sunday, December 10, 2006.
Participants must be available to attend the full program.
About the Residency
10-13 fellows will be selected for the residency. The number of participants is restricted to allow significant time to work on each of the fellows’ projects as well as addressing general issues in outreach and distribution for independent media artists.
Eligibility
Any artist who has received a Media Arts Fellowship throughout the history of the Fellowships (1988-2006) from National Video Resources is eligible to apply.

In addition, fellows must have a documentary project at rough cut stage. If the project is not yet at rough cut stage, at least a significant portion of the project must have been filmed, and the filmmaker has a clear idea of the direction of the final work.
Application process
Applications will be received via email. Faxed submissions are also acceptable. An application form must be completed and sent to National Video Resources by the deadline.
Application materials required
The application process has been designed to be efficient for both applicants and the review process. Required:

Completed application form.
Current filmography ( 2 page maximum)
Email or fax your application materials to mediaartists@renewmedia.org Fax: 212 274 8081.
Deadline
All applications must be received by 5pm, Wednesday, November 1, 2006.
Selection
Selection will be based on quality of proposal and suitability of project to the workshop focus. Applicants will be advised of outcome of their application by Friday, November 10, 2006.
Selected Applicants
If selected for the residency, applicants will be required to send additional materials to National Video Resources by November 15, 2006. Additional materials required:

5-20 minute clip of the proposed project, DVD or VHS
written or other materials relevant to the project.
Materials to be provided by selected applicants may include rough cuts of the project, written narratives on the projects and other related support materials. Please do not send these to National Video Resources until requested. Working Films will prepare a preliminary review of materials prior to the residency.

Fees & associated costs
There is no fee associated with this program. Meals that are part of the scheduled program will be provided at no cost to the participants. This includes a continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Dinner will also be provided on Thursday evening. There is no scheduled program for Friday and Saturday evenings and dinner for these days will be at participants’ own cost. For participants from outside the local area, National Video Resources will fund and coordinate airfare, transportation to and from the airports and accommodation.. Hotel accommodation costs covered will be for room and hotel tax only; all other charges, such as telephone charges, room service, will be the responsibility of the participants. All travel arrangements will be coordinated with National Video Resources staff. Please note no funds are available for additional costs such as preparation of application materials, meals outside the scheduled program, taxis or other associated costs.
Venue & Location
University of Southern California - Downtown Los Angeles. Full details provided to participants.

Questions
Please direct any questions about this program to Emma Balazs, Special Projects, National Video Resources.
Email: mediaartists@renewmedia.org Telephone 212 274 8080

National Video Resources
73 Spring St, Suite 403
New York NY 10012
Fax 212 274 8081

Saludos Amigos,

The Oaxacan woodcarvers, Ventura Fabian, 68, and his son Norberto, 26, will be returning to Boston in a few weeks for another school tour of the Visiting Mexican Artists Program: The Dancing Chickens of Ventura Fabian. (Oct. 28 - Nov. 25). Once again we invite you to be a part of this special project.

Please join them at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center’s annual Day of the Dead Festival on Thurs., Nov. 2, 5:30 - 8:30pm at 41 Second St. in Cambridge. Admission charge of $12 general / $6 CMAC members, children 12 and under and seniors goes to support the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center.

Additionally, there are three different ways to see and purchase the Fabian’s colorful wood carvings, possibly win a wood-carving as a door prize, and in the process, make a huge contribution to the care and feeding of two hungry Mexican artists and their Boston host.

1) Sign up to host a pot luck dinner/house party on one of the three weekends in November before Thanksgiving! Invite your friends to practice their Spanish and stock up on original, hand-made gifts for those upcoming holidays in a fun pre-holiday gathering. Host gets a carving of appreciation.Special door prize awarded!

2) Offer a dinner invitation! One of the hardest parts of the 2003 visit was having to cook for Ventura and Norberto after a long day of school presentations; when people invited us over for dinner it was a great relief, a huge help, and also a lot of fun. Our calendar is wide open. I promise we’ll be charming and witty dinner companions.

3) Prepare a casserole, or any other simple meal for 3 of your choice; or chip in and order a take-out (or delivered) meal for 3. We’ll provide restaurant phone #’s, suggested dishes, and do the pick-up. All you have to do is put it on your plastic! :-)

Thanks again for your continued interest and support!

Hasta pronto,

Nina, Ventura and Norberto
www.der.org/donate/dancing-chickens (soon to have a shorter URL)

CONTACT:
Tim Etheridge, ITVS, 415-356-8383, ext 250
tim_etheridge@itvs.org

SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2007 FINAL CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The 13th annual Slamdance Film Festival will be held January 18-27, 2007 in Park City, Utah.  Slamdance is the number one alternative to the Sundance Film Festival.  Located at the same time and place, Slamdance offers a leg up to new first time filmmakers.

FINAL POSTMARK DEADLINES:
October 10th –Shorts (THIS TUESDAY)
October 16th –Features

Go to www.slamdance.com/filmmaker for more information or to apply.

Thank you for your consideration.

Warm regards,
Sarah

–
Sarah Diamond
Director of Programming
Slamdance Film Festival
5634 Melrose Ave
L.A, CA 90038

(323) 466-1786
(323) 466-1784 fax

“by filmmakers, for filmmakers”

The 2007 Black Lily Film & Music Festival (“The Lily”) will be the first event of its kind in Philadelphia—a film and music festival wholly focused on the contributions of women. It will take place May 4-6 in Philadelphia. Recognizing the parallels between the music and film industries—both male dominated fields—in which women continue to strive for the acknowledgement and recognition often taken for granted by their male counterparts; this international, multi-racial, non-competitive festival seeks to highlight groundbreaking women filmmakers and musicians.

OPEN CALL

The films in this section will make up the bulk of programming and may be short-form (0-30 minutes) or feature-length (31-90 minutes) in any of the following genres:

Narrative Films
We are accepting works of fiction that deal with any topic or theme, provided that the work is directed and/or produced by a woman. Preference will be given to recent works, but it is not mandatory.

New Media/Experimental
We are accepting works that don’t fit into the narrative/documentary binary. Works that employ alternative technology and/or structure are encouraged to submit to this category. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to mount video installation, so please only submit works that are meant to be screened in a theater.

Documentary Films
These works may include shorts and features from 0 to 90 minutes. Works not originally produced in English must have English subtitles.

Music Videos
These works may feature artists that are signed or unsigned as long as the director has festival rights to screen the work. They should not exceed 5 minutes in length.

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

Peace & Justice
Black Lily is collaborating with non-profit group Spearhead Soldier to present works celebrating the global struggle for peace and justice for individuals, families, communities and nations. We welcome narratives, documentaries and experimental works dealing with this topic. Priority will be given to works dealing with violence against women but all will be viewed and considered.

Women in Music
Given the history of the Black Lily organization and our hometown of Philadelphia’s rich legacy contributing to American music, we’ve decided to have a special focus on films dealing with women in music. These films can be narratives or documentaries about musicians, composers, vocalists, promoters or related artists.

Young Lily
Girls aged 19 and under are encouraged to submit film & video works that will be shown in conjunction with the Open Call, but will receive special attention for a Black Lily Honor on closing night and also be screened as part of the Girls Workshop.

The Five Spot: Paying homage to the home of our original music series, five [5] works created by local women filmmakers who live in Philadelphia and the surrounding area will be showcased. Artists must have lived in the city for at least six months prior to submission. Any pieces 45 minutes and under are welcome for this showcase.

PRIORTITY DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS DECEMBER 1, 2006
Late deadline is December 31, 2006

Please mail submissions (and a postage-paid return envelope if desired) to:

Black Lily Film & Music Festival
c/o Painted Bride Arts Center
230 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106 USA

Submission fees must be made out the Painted Bride Arts Center
(Please include “Black Lily Festival” in the memo line)

For updates and more information, check out blacklilyfilm.org and myspace.com/blacklilyfilm





PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL THE FABULOUS WOMEN IN FILM YOU KNOW!

SIN EMBARGO is playing at 6:30pm on Monday Oct. 23rd at MassArt (free screening), and SUBTANGO is playing Friday, Oct. 27th at 5:00pm at the Center for Latino Arts in Boston. Visit www.bliff.org for more information.

The Vermont International Film Festival (VIFF) — the world’s oldest human rights and environmental film festival — is closing in on launch day. Join us from Wed., Oct. 11-Sun., Oct. 15 for a program of roughly 100 feature-length, short, documentary, and narrative films from around the world. This year’s festival takes place at a new host venue — downtown Burlington’s Waterfront Theatre at Lake and College Streets. We’ll also continue to show select 35mm films at Merrill’s Roxy Cinema. (See film schedule at www.vtiff.org and in the Oct. 4 issue of Seven Days.)

To get the buzz going, we’re holding a SNEAK PREVIEW event at Nectar’s Restaurant in Burlington, Wed., Oct. 4, from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The event features student films, animated films from the U.K., and music by the band Domestic Blend. Suggested donation: $5.

In this e-newsletter:
· SOME FEATURE FILM HIGHLIGHTS
· SCREENINGS ALL DAY LONG — AND MORE
· ISSUE-ORIENTED CIINEMA
· TICKET OPTIONS
· THE FESTIVAL IN SEVEN DAYS
· SPREAD THE WORD — AND JOIN US!

SOME FEATURE FILM HIGLIGHTS
VIFF is especially thrilled to bring to our community some powerful films making waves on the festival circuit:

Sisters in Law — Forget everything you know about jury duty. In this poignant, at times uproarious documentary, two women legal professionals in Cameroon — one a judge, the other a prosecutor — mete out justice with neither fear nor favor in a male-dominated society.

Iraq in Fragments — Hands down, the year’s must-see film on the Iraq War. An absence of voiceover narration lends a harrowing starkness to this documentary chronicling the lives of Iraqi citizens caught in the crossfire. A triple award-winner at Sundance in 2006.

China Blue — This “deep access” documentary goes inside a Chinese blue jeans factory to follow the daily routine of teenage girls tied to the machinery of the global economy.

Darfur Diaries — The all-too-rare headlines about the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, say virtually nothing about the Darfurians as people. In this groundbreaking film, we meet them up close, learn about their history, experience their culture, and confront their desperate struggle to survive.

KZ — The memory of the Holocaust takes on a life of its own in this documentary about tour guides working in a concentration camp-turned-tourist site.

SCREENINGS ALL DAY LONG — AND MORE
The festival will include panel discussions with visiting filmmakers, film showcases, receptions featuring live music, and, of course, groundbreaking independent films juried for awards in four categories: War & Peace, Human Rights & Social Justice, the Goldstone Award for emerging Vermont filmmakers, and the Ben & Jerry’s Environmental Award.

WED., OCT. 11

Multiple film screenings starting at 1:30 p.m. and continuing into the evening.

1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. — Vermont College Student Film Showcase
Back for a second year, this evening features film work drawn from five Vermont colleges and universities: Burlington College, Champlain College, Middlebury College, St. Michael’s College, and the University of Vermont

7 p.m. — Opening Night Films and Reception
Help us herald the start of the festival with two films by Vermont filmmakers: Director Bobbie Lanahan’s The Naked Hitchhiker and Vermont’s George Aiken: Balancing Freedom and Unity directed by Rick Moulton. Following the films, hoist a glass with filmmakers and guests at a reception scored by the local band Left Eye Jump.

THURS., OCT. 12

Multiple film screenings starting at 10 a.m. and continuing into the evening.

10 a.m. — Educational Film Screening for Area High Schools
The public is invited to join a special audience of local high school students as we screen China Blue. This “deep access” film documents the lives of teenage workers in a Chinese blue jeans factory. The presentation includes a facilitated post-screening discussion.

5 p.m. — Indian Film & Culture Night
Prior to three Indian film screenings, at 5 p.m., Dobra Tea of Burlington will serve specialty teas from India for a crowd of festivalgoers and special guests. Following the films, White Raag, an Indian-influenced musical duo will perform at 9 p.m. Burlington business Dobra Tea will also present refreshments at this time as well.

Film highlights: Ordinary Lives, Singing Pictures, Pawns of Paradise: Inside the Brutal Kashmir Conflict

FRI., OCT. 13

Multiple film screenings starting at 10 a.m. and continuing into the evening.

6:30 p.m. — Vermont Filmmaker’s Night
Green Mountain auteurs are the focus of this evening’s film program. Following the films screenings, VIFF invites you to raise a glass to Vermont film at a reception featuring a performance by Emmy Award-winning musician Gordon Stone.

SAT., OCT. 14

Multiple film screenings starting at 10 a.m. and continuing into the evening.

6 p.m. — Awards Ceremony for Films in Competition
Following this evening’s film program, the festival jury’s decision will be presented — and the festival’s star films awarded prizes. A reception follows featuring lively musical entertainment from classical guitarist and banjo player Craig Chipman.

SUN., OCT. 15

Multiple film screenings starting at 10:30 a.m. and continuing into the evening.

6 p.m. — Audience Awards ceremony

ISSUE-ORIENTED CINEMA
Many films screening throughout the festival — morning, day, and night — deal with specific issues and themes consistent with the VIFF mission to foster constructive community dialogue through film:

Cutting-Edge Indie Films — Novem; I Will Avenge You, Iago; Mojave Phone Booth; Sweet Memory; and more!

Environmental Films — A Life Among Whales, Frankensteer, The Great Warming, and more!

Films on Gay and Lesbian Issues — Zero Degrees of Separation, Lesbian Censorship in School, and more!

Film Focus on the Holocaust —KZ, The Ships Are Full, and more!

Justice on the Witness Stand — Documentary Films — Cowboys, Indians, and Lawyers; The Trials of Darryl Hunt; McLibel; and more!

Vermont Films — The state’s leading and up-and-coming auteurs present films in diverse styles on a wide range of subjects.

Films about Women — Goodbye Baby, Sex Slaves, and more!

TICKET OPTIONS
Festivalgoers have a range of ticket options for making the most of this year’s event:

Gold Pass — $100. Enjoy all access to festival films, discussions, and receptions.

Day Pass — $30. For any day of your choosing, all doors are open to you — film screenings, panel talks, and receptions.

Single Screenings — $7 for general audience; $5 for students (with ID) and senior citizens

Student groups of 10 or more can purchase Gold Passes for $35!

To buy passes and tickets or to get more information, visit www.vtiff.org or call (802) 660-2600.

CHECK OUT THE FESTIVAL IN SEVEN DAYS
The Oct. 4 edition of Seven Days contains a handy “At a Glance” guide to the festival. Use the guide to pick out must-see films. The official festival program guide will be available at festival venues. And you can also check out the schedule of films and events on our website — www.vtiff.org — or call us at (802) 660-2600.

SPREAD THE WORD — AND JOIN US!
Looking back to “square one” of this year’s festival, and looking ahead to our launch date on Oct. 11, the VIFF staff and volunteers are grateful for your support. Our work is not yet complete, however, so we encourage supporters and friends of the festival to help us spread the word.

We also welcome any contribution you’d care to make. Purchase a festival Gold Pass for $100 — and enjoy access to all film screenings, discussions, and receptions. Or make a financial contribution directly to VIFF. Make checks payable to the Vermont International Film Festival and mail or drop your contribution off at our office at One Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.

For tickets and information, visit www.vtiff.org or call (802) 660-2600.

With showtime nearly upon us, we’re excited to bring the festival to the community. And we look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Vermont International Film Festival Board of Directors and Staff