The 2nd Annual Green Bay Film Festival (GBFF) will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin from March 23 – 25, 2012.

The GBFF is seeking adventurous filmmakers who are looking to share new ideas, discover opportunities and develop new audiences for their work. The festival presents films on four screens over three busy festival days and offers opportunities for visiting filmmakers to engage with audiences and each other.

In 2012, the GBFF will award Audience Choice trophies in seven categories, including best narrative, documentary and short film. The GBFF also offers seminars on screenwriting, filmmaking and music, as well as numerous opportunities to meet vendors and professionals from various filmmaking fields.

The Festival offers visiting filmmakers all-access passes, as well as numerous press opportunities, a special invitation to the Gala opening, party and a delicious Sunday brunch with GBFF sponsors. The GBFF also offers complimentary transportation to the Festival from the airport and special rates at the nearby Radisson hotel.

Click for film submissions…

UPCOMING DEADLINE
December 30, 2011 – Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
At last year’s inaugural event, dozens of filmmakers made the trip to Green Bay from around the world, including Vladimer Rajcic, whose film Serbian Scars opened the event. Green Bay is a city where the art and commerce of film is flourishing and the GBFF is well on the road to becoming a great place for filmmakers to screen their films and network with peers. For the chance to be a part of a festival on the rise, submit to the Green Bay Film Festival today!

Green Bay Film Festival, a three-day event takes place at the KI Convention Center Friday through Sunday, February 25 – 27.

“Friday night we open at 6 pm with Serbian Scars,” says Green Bay Film Festival director Cyndee Sweetland. “The actor and executive producer of the film, Vladimir Rajcic will be attending from California for the weekend as well as many other filmmakers coming from Chicago and New York City, California, Oregon, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas other countries including Switzerland and the United Kingdom… and of course from all over Wisconsin!”

Click Here to Download Complete Program

The Green Bay Film Festival is a three-day event highlighted by the screening of feature films and shorts submitted from around the world, taking place at the KI Convention Center Friday through Sunday, February 25 – 27, 2010.

The weekend schedule will include six feature length films, 16 hours of short films, an afternoon of kids and family films, opening and closing parties and an awards presentation. The 1st Annual Green Bay Film Festival had over 200 submissions from over 20 countries. They accepted over 70 short and feature films and will be showing them on three screens at the KI Convention Center.

“Friday night we open at 6 pm with Serbian Scars,” says festival director Cyndee Sweetland. “The actor and executive producer of the film, Vladimir Rajcic will be attending from California for the weekend as well as many other filmmakers coming from Chicago and New York City, California, Oregon, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas other countries including Switzerland and the United Kingdom… and of course from all over Wisconsin!”

In addition to showing feature films and shorts, there will be forums for filmgoers to meet filmmakers and discuss the shows. Seminars will be held on filmmaking and the creative process during the second day of the festival. These will be led by professionals in the entertainment and creative field.

“Saturday we have two seminars. At 10:30 am we’ll host a Screenwriter’s Workshop and at 12:45 pm a Film Production and Financing Seminar,” adds Sweetland. “Our selected attending filmmakers will be speaking not only at the seminars but also after the screening of their individual films.”

In the past few years, Northeastern Wisconsin has quietly emerged as one of the new hot spots for filmmaking and film appreciation. Several films, including Tony Shalhoub’s Feed the Fish, Jim Rivett’s Westbound, and the critically acclaimed Public Enemies, have been shot in and around Wisconsin. Project Solitude: Buried Alive and Feed the Fish were just released on DVD and several others are in the pipeline including Lombardi and Waterwalk.

“This new event will allow us to attract more travelers into the downtown area during what is traditionally a slower season,” says Brad Toll, president of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Film Green Bay received a $31,760 Joint Effort Marketing grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism to promote the “Green Bay Film Festival,” a new event that will be held on February 25 – 27, 2011. The first year event will provide a rich cultural experience to our community while promoting Green Bay as a hub for filmmaking and film appreciation.

Friday Night Kick Off – February 25
An evening opener with a feature film and opening party.

Saturday Events – February 26
An all day event that includes a series of seminars, short and feature length films.

Sunday – February 27
An afternoon and evening of films followed by an awards ceremony and closing party.

For more festival information visit www.gbfilmfestival.org.

Questions can be directed to:

Cyndee Sweetland
festivaldirector@gbfilmfestival.org
Green Bay Film Festival
920.865.7676

The Pierce County Herald and tons of other so-called mainstream “news” sites report the following story:

“Film-makers will hold a panel discussion next month on the future of Wisconsin’s tax breaks for making the Badger State a back-drop for movies. The forum will take place on December eighth in Madison, at a screening of the Door County film “Feed the Fish.” Green Bay native and Emmy-winning actor Tony Shalhoub starred in that movie. “Feed the Fish” received tax breaks when it was filmed on the Door Peninsula last year. But it didn’t get as much as the Johnny Depp film “Public Enemies.” That show got four-and-a-half million dollars, which caused outgoing Governor Jim Doyle to dramatically scale back the incentives. Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker has said he would re-work the movie tax incentives. Producer Mark Metcalf will moderate discussion on the subject. Four film-makers from the state will also take part, along with three board members from the group “Film Wisconsin.”

But none of them actually say exactly where or when the event is taking place… and the Film Wisconsin Website says, “We are currently overhauling our site to better serve you.” Nonetheless, I finally fell upon the complete details at  FilmWisconsin.us, a site  operated by Badger Guide LLC, publisher of the Wisconsin Production Guide (billing itself as the most complete directory for film, video, television and commercial production in Wisconsin).

Here’s the scoop and I do mean scoop, because of the “investigative journalism” required to deliver the following:

Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Orpheum Theatre, 216 State Street, Madison, Wisconsin

A panel discussion on the proposed improvements to the Wisconsin Film Tax Incentives heads an evening of Wisconsin filmmaking. Following the panel discussion will be an opportunity to speak one-on-one with some of the panel members and then a screening of the Wisconsin feature film, Feed the Fish.

Panel Discussion is free and open to the public. Feed the Fish is $7.50 general admission and $5.00 for Students & Seniors.

6:00-7:00 p.m. Panel Discussion (WI Film Tax Incentives)
7:00-8:00 p.m. Social Hour (One-on-one questions w/panel)
8:00-9:30 p.m. Screening of Feed the Fish (Ticket required)
9:30-9:45 p.m. Q&A with the film’s Wisconsin based crew

Funding for the WI Department of Commerce-backed program, originally launched in 2008, was reduced to $500,000 per year. In it’s first year, there was no limit placed on incentives. The budget thresholds for eligible productions were also lowered to $50,000 for film projects and $100,000 for game developments. For more information about Wisconsin’s film tax credit programs, contact Steve Sabatke, Economic Development Consultant, Bureau of Business Finance & Compliance, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, 201 West Washington Avenue, Madison, WI  53707-7970. Phone:  608.267.0762 or email:  Steven.Sabatke@Wisconsin.gov.

The debate circles around the subject of benefits harvested in Wisconsin vs. the investment. In reporting on the cutback, the LaCrosse Tribune explains the situation regarding the film Public Enemies: “Starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, the movie generated a lot of exposure and excitement for the state. It did not, however, generate much money. According to the Commerce Department, the production received $4.6 million in tax rebates and credits but only generated $5 million in economic activity.”

The producers and actors of “Feed the Fish” camped out in Door County for several weeks, but failed to spend much money here except for gas and groceries, expecting locals residents to “volunteer” to work with them. Shalhoub confirms this in a recent Business Journal interview saying, “A lot of people donated a lot of time, including the locals in Door County. They donated hotel rooms and there was a lot of support. They rallied around the project.”

It was disappointing to see the numerous missed opportunities to really connect locally, but none was greater than their failure to include the actual Jacksonport Polar Bear Swim. Instead we get a weak reenactment of one of the largest such events in the nation. The authentic filming of this event alone, might have justified the investment from a publicity standpoint and helped to salvage a somewhat mediocre production.

While the Wisconsin arts community rallied to save the film incentives program from Doyle’s hatchet, no one spoke up for an alternative to funding big-ticket Hollywood productions. “Feed the Fish” filmmakers received $40,000 in tax credits for their film. What if ten independent Wisconsin filmmakers each got $4000? At this point “Feed the Fish” is floundering with no national distribution. I’d like to see ten chances to launch an up-and-coming local filmmaker and crew over one chance at seeing Hollywood stars hanging out in my neighborhood for a few weeks.

Controversial, thought-provoking, artistic and independent films are the focus of biweekly film screenings in the loft above Greens N Grains Deli in Egg Harbor.

There are many so-called “art films” that get shown and discussed regularly upon release if you are fortunate enough to live near a college campus. Often you can find some of these unseen cinematic treasures in rental outlets or on Netflix, but the chance to engage in thoughtful discussion with others afterward is missing. Film aficionados in Door County are encouraged to join in the creation of a new interest group that will pursue their love of cinema at biweekly meetings of the Green Door Film Society.

The concept was launched last winter in the Greens N Grains Dinner and a Movie Series which showed a variety of’s films from around the world and concluded in March with a local filmmaker’s night. As the organizer of last year’s series, I want to build on the success and expand the concept further with the inclusion of themed discussions as an integral part of the meetings.

The Green Door Film Society will have exclusive use of the loft facilities which comfortably seats about 30 people. Every other Thursday, beginning on November 18, we’ll get together to watch and watch and discuss film and the film making process throughout the “quiet season.” Notes and discussion questions for each film will be provided here in special category along with posters that you can download and post to help get the word out.

On Thursday, November 18 at 7 pm we’ll begin the series with Oliver Stone’s latest documentary, “South of the Border.” Eager to explore how the U.S. media has depicted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, director Oliver Stone travelled to South America to interview Chavez and several other South American presidents in the process. Among the distinguished subjects in Stone’s probing and controversial documentary are Bolivia’s Evo Morales, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Argentina’s Nestor Kirchner and Cuba’s Raúl Castro. The film is certain to provoke dialogue and was not shown in any local Door County commercial venues during its recent box-office release.

Greens N Grains Deli will host a natural and organic dinner special each evening before the Green Door Film Society meetings. Enjoy a delicious soup specialty, salad, a fresh baked roll and a cup of tea for $7.50, available from 6 pm on. The Film Society screenings take place at 7 pm and there is no charge for membership but seating at screenings is limited to 30 people.

Greens N Grains Natural Foods and Deli is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm – except on Film Society screening nights when they will remain open until 9 pm – in downtown Egg Harbor at 7821 Hwy 42, and can be reached at 920.868.9999 or by email at info@greens-n-grains.com. The store’s Website features news and special monthly discount flyers at Greens-N-Grains.com.

Winners of this online festival will be announced in December, 2010.

Bursting onto the scene in 2010, the 1st Annual INTERNATIONAL MOVIE TRAILER FESTIVAL (IMTF) is an online competition created specifically to celebrate the art of the movie trailer. Filmmakers are invited to submit trailers for short or feature films they’ve made or trailers for movies they dream of making. All genres are welcome, including trailers for dramas, comedies, thrillers, animations, and documentaries.

Entries will be presented on the Web within a “virtual theater,” featuring advanced search capabilities encouraging fans, producers, and exhibitors to find and view trailers in a multitude of ways. IMTF’s Grand Prize of $5,000 USD will be awarded by a jury of industry pros including Scott Rosenfelt, producer of MYSTIC PIZZA and HOME ALONE. Other awards include a $1,000 People’s Choice Award chosen by visitors to the site, a $500 music/soundtrack award, a $500 student prize along with a $500 grant to the winning student’s school.

What’s more, select trailers will have the opportunity to be included in an upcoming feature-length documentary entitled PREVIEW YOUR DREAMS: THE ART OF THE MOVIE TRAILER.

UPCOMING DEADLINE
August 31, 2010 – Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 on this deadline

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Filmmakers who submit to IMTF become part of an online community where information is exchanged, production problems are solved, and members can collaborate on movie projects. Everyone who signs up will receive a free digital copy of Moviemaking Illustrated: The Comicbook Filmbook.

To date entries have been submitted from across the globe. Get your trailer seen by both movie fans and movie professionals from around the world – submit today!

Chicago, Illinois – USA
October 22 to 24, 2010

In the Spotlight this week is the 5th Annual ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (IIFF), celebrating a broad spectrum of indie films and screenplays against the vibrant backdrop of Chicago, Illinois.

With the belief that no matter the film’s budget or the director’s vision it’s the filmmaker’s passion that drives a film, IIFF declares itself a “no limits” festival, screening a multi-genre lineup of films from around the world. From underground and horror films to the more traditional family-friendly fare, IIFF has been known to show a diverse selection of works, offering something on the schedule for film fans of all ages. Noteworthy selections from years past include CRAZY, MASS ROMANTIC, GOD’S EARS, and documentaries HEARTS OF HOPE, JACK BE NIMBLE, FACING SUDAN, and FOUND IN CHINA which enjoyed sold-out screenings.

IIFF’s list of alumni only furthers the point: the festival is rapidly growing and picking up steam early on. Alumni include Mike Reiss (ICE AGE 3, “The Simpsons”), who unveiled QUEER DUCK at IIFF; Tony Wash (IT’S MY PARTY AND I WILL DIE IF I WANT TO), who recently inked a distribution deal; and Mark Roberts (writer/producer of “Two and Half Men”), who presented WELCOME TO TOLONO and declares it “a wonderful experience for showcasing my film.”

UPCOMING DEADLINE
July 31, 2010 – Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 on this deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The Illinois International Film Festival brings audiences and filmmakers together to better enjoy the art and fun of filmmaking.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Exhibiting filmmakers receive two all-access passes to IIFF festivities and a gift bag filled with swag. What’s more, the Festival emphasizes the filmmaker’s role in the equation; filmmakers participate in engaging Q&A sessions, sharing their behind-the-scenes stories and perspective on their films. Networking opportunities abound with fellow filmmakers and visiting industry players. Alum Warren Sheppard (STEWARD) gushes that IIFF “is an amazing…opportunity to meet…artists. I had the best time!”

Filmmakers & Screenwriters: to present your work in the great city of Chicago, submit to the Illinois International Film Festival today!

I hope to meet you at “Doing Your Doc,” an upcoming 3-day seminar in St. Paul sponsored by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) in conjunction with Native American Public Telecommunications, Native American Journalists Association, InMotion, St. Paul Neighborhood Network, IFP Minnesota, Intermedia Arts, UST, Latino Public Broadcasting, NBPC, ITVS, CAAM, PIC and Twin Cities Public Television.

Here’s a unique chance to work with story consultant Fernanda Rossi, the Documentary Doctor, author of the book “Trailer Mechanics,” plus receive project mentoring on your proposal, trailer or documentary idea. This intensive 3-day workshop is tailored for anyone… whether you are just beginning, have already shot footage on a documentary project or are seeking finishing funds.

“Doing your Doc” is designed especially for media makers in the diverse communities of Minnesota, preparing them to receive production funding and apply to national professional programs while developing unique stories and views. It takes place starting at 3 pm on Sunday and runs all day on Monday and Tuesday.

Come back every day to vote for your favorite submission – even if it’s your own. Keep up with the contest on Twitter using the #pbsvideocontest hashtag.

At PBS.org, you can watch your favorite PBS shows on the new video player, in their entirety, whenever you want. You can interact with PBS producers and talent through live chats. Or you can get up close and personal with your favorite shows through blogs, Facebook Fan Pages, Twitter and YouTube.

The Associated Press said “PBS may be cooler than you think.” Check out our online offerings and see if you agree. Then SHOW us what you think.  Create a 30 second video showing something surprising about PBS on the web.

As part of the BBC’s SuperPower season, take part in the MyWorld competition – make a two-minute video about how you see the world and you could be broadcast by the BBC around the world.

Stephen Kastner

MyWorld

The BBC says, “No-one sees the world the way you do. The BBC wants to see things from your perspective – and create a unique picture of our lives today across the planet.”

We are asking you to use any camera you can find – a mobile phone, a point-and-click, or a friend’s camcorder – and shoot a two-minute documentary with the theme MyWorld.

We are looking for original films that you think the world should know about and will shortlist films that are emotionally touching, important or visually impactful.

The best will then be selected by a panel of the world’s top documentary makers and assembled into sequences showing the stories of each continent.

About the competition

We are looking for entries from across the planet

You can interpret the MyWorld theme any way you choose. Your film could be a compelling personal story, tell of a place that is changing, or document the joy or difficulty of your work life.

Each film must be relevant to one of the five major continents – Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania – and must be tagged as such. You can shoot a single shot documentary, if appropriate to your story, or edit your film with any editing software available to you.

A selection of all work received may be shown on TV and online and an ultimate winner will be selected based on the judging criteria.

After submissions close, five prestigious MyWorld curators will each be assigned films from a particular continent. From each, they will choose and assemble a sequence of up to ten of the best films creating a fascinating portrait of the world today (Editor’s note: 10 films x 5 continents = 50 films).

Finally each of the five curated sequences will be available to view online and on BBC World News. An overall winner will then be chosen and receive a prize of a semi-professional HD mini DV camcorder.

You can enter the competition by clicking here.
(Closing date 1600 GMT March 5, 2010)

Five continents, any camera, any editing, plain and simple or complex and highly-crafted, no rules, no limits… where do I start? By taking the first step! I clicked there… and found:

Send us your videos for the MyWorld competition.

BBC World Service wants you to tell us the story of your world in a two-minute video. Full details of the competition are here.

To enter, we need you to do two things:

Fill in the form below. Don’t forget to include your name, email address and some background information about your video – and don’t forget to attach the video itself!

Email us at myworld@bbc.co.uk with the additional Information requested below. This is very important – if you do not do this we cannot accept your video for competition.

Additional Information we need (to be sent to myworld@bbc.co.uk):

You can also send us your videos by email: mybbc@bbc.co.uk

• Your Name
• Your age (if under 18) – If you are under 18, please indicate that you have your parent or guardian’s permission to enter and provide their name and contact information.
• Film Title
• Country of Entry
• Country of Filming
• Synopsis
• Original Language
• Please write an English translation of all speech
• Duration in seconds including any titles and credits:
• Your Email address
• Your contact phone number
• Please name all contributors featured
• Please list all contributor contact phone number(s) and email contacts
• Please confirm you have read the terms and conditions
• *If any contributors are under 18 then please provide their age and the name and contact details of their parent/guardian.
• Please confirm that consent has been given by all contributors to both appear in the film and for their personal details to be supplied to the BBC.
• If featuring music please confirm that this is your original composition and performance.

Remember that when filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Please read our Terms and Conditions for the full terms of our – and your – rights.

If you experience any difficulties please e-mail myworld@bbc.co.uk

* indicates compulsory fields.

So the key word here is SYNOPSIS!

The second step will be to spend one day – this day – the last day in the year of the rat, thinking about the synopsis of my world. Profound or simple. What is My World? It seems like a very appropriate way to end this year and enter into the New Year… of course, following the Lunar New Year, which seems more appropriate for me than the typical western habit of the Gregorian calendar. If nature rules my life then those are the cycles I honor – certainly not one dictated by Papal decree!

But My World is a hybrid, a mix of the natural and the technological. I work with computers and digital technology all day (and into the night) and heat my home with wood. I shovel my snowy driveway by hand with a shovel and often ride a bicycle, yet I have an old pickup truck. My World is a weird mix of ancient and modern.

Recently a Nexus One Android entered my life. I think it will very soon become my digital soul. I am wired now, everywhere I go, always LlinkedIn… seeking my synopsis.