Call for Submissions: ttff/16 RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion 2016

24–26 September 2016
Application deadline: July 14

The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), in association with RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago), invites applications for the sixth annual RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion.

Mission and Objective

RBC Focus: Filmmakers’ Immersion is an intensive development programme that provides ten selected filmmakers from the Caribbean with the opportunity to learn from internationally respected filmmakers and other film professionals. It will be held from 24-26 September 2016, during ttff/16 (20–27 September).

Focus will include group discussions on a range of topics concentrating on the artistic side of narrative filmmaking, sharpening the skills and abilities of participants. There will be a particular emphasis on enhancing the filmmakers’ creative voice and storytelling capabilities.

Each filmmaker will enter Focus with a concept for a feature-length fiction film, from which they will be expected to develop a detailed treatment.

Pitch Session and Competition

At the end of Focus, all participants will be given an opportunity to pitch their project to a jury at the ttff/16. The participant with the best project and pitch, as determined by the jury, will win a cash prize of TT$20,000.

Eligibility

Focus is open to filmmakers from the English-speaking Caribbean, the Netherlands Antilles, and Haiti . Applicants must have completed at least one narrative film (short or feature-length), but no more than two narrative features, as a screenwriter and/or director.

Applications

All applicants must submit a maximum three-minute excerpt of a previous film (narrative short or feature) via Vimeo link, stating their role(s) on the film (writer and/or director). They must also submit their résumé and a cover letter stating, in no more than 100 words, the concept of the project they would be bringing to Focus and what makes it unique. Participants will be selected based on the strength of all three criteria.

Applications should be submitted to submit@ttfilmfestival.com .

The deadline for applications is 5pm EST on Wednesday, 20 July, 2016. Successful applicants will be notified by 10 August.

Expenses

All selected participants will be provided with the materials for Focus, lunch, a Festival pass (which provides access to all film screenings and industry events), and invitations to Festival-related activities. Participants not residing in T&T will be allocated shared accommodation (inclusive of breakfast) at the official festival hotel, and local transport to and from Festival-related activities.