Each year at MTC Digital Creative, I will explore the film festivals I have attended. What film festivals have already happened in 2021?

CONVERGENCE COMMUNITY FILM FESTIVAL at South London Gallery

Saturday 20 Feb

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE (from South London Gallery website)

12pm Industry Insights: Commissioning, with Mathieu Ajan

12.15pm Industry Insights: Getting your film off the ground, with Jade Ang Jackman

12.40pm Workshop: Women in Film SE15

1.40pm Director’s Talk: Comfort Arthur (includes a screening of Black Barbie)

2.30pm Industry Insights: Directing, with Dionne Edwards

3pm INTERMISSION Shade podcast: Interview with Small Axe writer Courttia Newland

3.25pm Art Assassins: Selects

4.50pm Director’s Talk: Abdou Cisse

5.30pm Mathieu Ajan: New Wave

5.55pm SLG Film School: There is no healing in silence


We will explore some of the highlights from this film festival, with a close focus on Industry Insights. Follow as many platforms as possible on social media and subscribe to newsletters.

Commissioning, with Mathieu Ajan @mathieuajan

Tips:

  • Spend time on marketing - social media etc

Jim Cummings is a great example of taking matters into his own hands. Through the use of Kickstater, Cummings was able to finance the short film Thunder Road which he wrote, starred in, and directed. Cummings has shared hours of his films on Vimeo. This comedy-drama is shot in one continuous take.

Cummings utilised Twitter and other social media platforms to raise awareness about his projects to gain the funding he needed.

Interview with Cummings and Risa Sarachan at Forbes:

Cummings: Well, winning Sundance helped and also having the short film available online for a year was very helpful. Bruce Springsteen said he was ok with us putting it online so I instantly put it online. As soon as we got the ok I emailed Vimeo and told them we got the ok and they were like “cool, release it on this day, and we’ll help out,” and they did. And now it has like 600,000 views for this 13-minute weird art film. So that really helped and then with Kickstarter building out the page and embedding all our films that were available online. In the interim, I made 9 other short films. If you go on the page you’ll be able to watch, you know like 30 or 40 minutes worth of quality content.

  • Apply to be a runner

  • Spend time at film festivals like BFI

  • Work with your own community

When making your film ask yourself:

  • Are the themes universal? Are there elements that everyone can relate to on different levels?

  • What is the WHY behind your story

Look to different platforms for inspiration:

Bounce Cinema @bouncecinemas:

‘Bounce Cinema is an organisation increasing access into the world of film.

Through our programme of screenings, talks and workshops, we bring thousands of people together to celebrate cinema.

We are an independent organisation and reinvest a percentage of our time and resources into supporting new and emerging talent.’ Bounce website

BBC Writersroom:

‘We discover, develop and champion new and experienced writing talent across the whole of the UK.’ BBC Writersroom website

Your Cinema @yourcinemafilms

‘Your Cinema is a platform dedicated to showcasing films, documentaries and talent from diverse communities in the UK.

Being huge fans of our culture we’re really here to support and empower independent filmmakers, actors and producers to progress as well as reinforcing messages that often get missed by traditional Film and TV outlets.

Every 3-4 months we also carry out exclusive screenings of unreleased critically-acclaimed UK films in partnership with Vue Entertainment and Film London so do check out the site for details on our next event.’ Your Cinema website

We are Parable

‘It started out as an intention to screen their favourite film in their local cinema. Seven years later, this husband and wife team have created a legacy of cinematic events that focus on creating unique experiences for Black audiences.’

The British Blacklist

‘The British Blacklist is an online platform which celebrates African & Caribbean creative professionals on the Screen and Stage, in Sound and Literature – both up front and behind the scenes.

Showcasing talent from across the from the British African and Caribbean entertainment industry from the UK and Global Diaspora, The British Blacklist champions up and coming talent alongside the industry’s elite giving everyone a platform to have an equal voice.

Featuring an extensive database of Black creative talent with a strong features-driven core, The British Blacklist offers reviews, news and social analysis striving to bring a voice to burgeoning talent, which rarely receive any visibility.

Our service allows users to search for individuals by name or works, post casting opportunities, it acts as an online portfolio and is a source for the latest topical news.’ The British Blacklist website

Vimeo Staff Picks

Films picked from across the internet by the staff at Vimeo.

A Decade of Staff Picks

‘3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....’ Vimeo

Best of the Year

'Commute' was filmed in 16mm at the busiest train station in the Western Hemisphere, New York City’s Penn Station. Set against a frenetic soundtrack that puts the viewer in the heart of a rapidly moving current of bodies, this visual essay captures what it’s like to endure one of the world’s most congested and grueling transit systems.’ Vimeo

Staff Pick Premieres

‘A high school student helps a group of senior citizens get through a vulnerable time — by teaching them karate.

"Golden Age Karate" is this week's Staff Pick Premiere. Read more about it here: vimeo.com/blog/post/golden-age-karate-by-sindha-agha-zendesk/’ Vimeo

Getting your film off the ground, with Jade Ang Jackman @jadeshanraeff @blackdogfilms @ridleyscottcg

Storytelling, storytelling, storytelling.

To get your film off the ground:

  • Visual Scrapbook

  • One page synopsis

  • Research - what is already out there

  • Ask yourself why you are making it

  • Who is your audience?

  • Shoot a teaser

Approach:

NOWNESS @nowness
’A global video channel screening the best in culture

NOWNESS is a movement for creative excellence in storytelling celebrating the extraordinary of every day. Launched in 2010, NOWNESS’ unique programming strategy has established it as the go to source of inspiration and influence across art, design, fashion, beauty, music, food, and travel. Our curatorial expertise and award-winning approach to storytelling is unparalleled. We work with exceptional talent, and both established and emerging filmmakers, which connects our audience to emotional and sensorial stories designed to provoke inspiration and debate.’ NOWNESS website

BFI Future Film Festival 18 to 21 February 2021 | online

‘The BFI Future Film Festival is the UK’s largest festival for young, emerging filmmakers. Join us for 4 days of free virtual events and screenings, all focused on helping filmmakers aged 16 to 25 break into the screen industry.’ BFI website

Examples of events that have happened this year:

Storytelling

Archive fever: unlocking the storytelling potential of film archives

‘How can you use archival film to inspire and inform new stories? Turner Prize-winning artist and filmmaker Jeremy Deller leads this workshop on the creative re-use of archive film, in collaboration with the Make Film History project, which makes available archive films from the BBC, BFI National Archive, Irish Film Institute and Northern Ireland Screen for educational use by young filmmakers. 

Using examples from Deller’s own films and the Make Film History collection, the workshop will demonstrate the adventurous potential of archive footage in developing fresh work. Operating at the intersection of modern technology and the historical archive, this workshop provides a wonderful opportunity for young filmmakers to engage with the enormous untapped potential of our film heritage and integrate it into their practice.’ BFI website

Business of film

‘Working in the screen industries will more than likely mean becoming self-employed and taking on freelance and short-term contracts. Join ThinkBigger! and David Thomas Media for this practical session which will offer a ‘how to guide’ on how to be a successful freelancer, from registering as self-employed, accessing support that may be available to you, managing your income and looking after your financial and mental health in these challenging times.’ BFI website

Film Freeway

‘Home of the Industry's Top Festivals and Filmmakers’ Film Freeway website

MATHIEU AJAN: NEW WAVE

The Gift (2019), Dumas Haddad

SERIOUS TINGZ (2019) | Micro Short Film | MYM, Abdou Cisse