Indian Film Festival of Alberta Comes to Fort McMurray

The Indian Film Festival of Alberta is coming to Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre this Saturday! Presented by the Edmonton Movie Club the Indian Film Festival of Alberta started in Edmonton on July 17th, travelled to Calgary on July 24th and now concluding its successful journey in Fort McMurray.

The festival consists of three movies created in India and one film made in Canada. The films are as follows;  

Margarita with a straw

A rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy leaves her home in India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love, and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery. The film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014 and was also selected in several other film festivals.

Date(s):  August 22

Time:  12:00pm

Tickets:  $12 or $25 festival pass

Venue:  Keyano Recital Theatre

Rating:  All Ages

Hindi with English Subtitles 100 minutes

Perariyathavar (Names Unknown)

This is the story of a municipal street sweeper and his daily experiences as he moves among the “nameless people” of a big city is a good example of realistic cinema, a staple of the Malayalam industry. The film was screened at several national and international film festivals, and also won the Best Film on Environmental Conservation/Preservation Award at the 61st National Film Awards in India.

Date(s):  August 22

Time:  2:30pm

Tickets:  $12 or $25 festival pass

Venue:  Keyano Recital Theatre

Rating:  All Ages

Malayalam with English subtitles 110 minutes

Court: Marathi 

Billed as a “realistic court drama”, this film examines the Indian legal system through the lens of the trial of a folk singer accused of sedition in a lower court in Mumbai. The film has won the best film award at international film festivals, as well as the best feature film award at the 62nd National Film Awards of India.

Date(s):  August 22

Time:  5:00pm

Tickets:  $12 or $25 festival pass

Venue:  Keyano Recital Theatre

Rating:  All Ages

English Subtitles 120 minutes

Rock Paper Dice Enter 

A 2014 Canadian thriller, directed by Shreela Chakrabartty. It is the first installment of the reported trilogy. It is based on the 2008 manuscript written by Kash Gauni. The film centers on the fictional American city of Strathaven, where security protocols are breached. Multiple timelines within film along with a diamond heist are suspense element of this film. Nominated for The Rosie Award, Best Dramatic Motion Picture of the year.

Date(s):  August 22

Time:  8:00pm

Tickets:  $12 or $25 festival pass

Venue:  Keyano Recital Theatre

Rating:  All Ages

English 91 minutes

For more information or tickets please visit the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre website or call the Keyano Box Office at (780) 791-4990. 

tiff Film: Pride

Fort McMurray Tourism and Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre presents: tiff Film Circuit Pride, May 21, 8pm at the Keyano Recital.

Margaret Thatcher's iron-fisted rule over 1980s Britain prompted waves of political protest. Perhaps the most amazing response of all occurred when Welsch coal miners and London lesbians and gays found a common cause. Pride tells the story of that unlikely alliance! Pride is a comedy that highlights some in the mining village that have to get over their homophobia and some of the gay activists that just have to get over themselves! Tickets: All Seats $13, rating: Coarse Language.

For more information or tickets please visit www.keyano.ca/theatre

Tu Dors Nicole Playing at Keyano Theatre

Fort McMurray Tourism and Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre presents: tiff Film Circuit

Tu Dors Nicole

A critical hit at Cannes, the third fiction feature by Stephen Lafleur once again displays his trademark absurdist humor and sense of ennui, honing in on twenty-somethings at an existential crossroads.  Nicole (Julianne Cote) is adrift after her graduation, working a dead-end summer job in her small Quebec hometown and lazing away her evenings with her best pal Veronique.  Nicole is looking forward to having the house to herself while her parents are away on vacation - until her older brother Remi unexpectedly returns with his band mates in tow, disrupting the girls languid summer.  Friendships quickly cool when Remis's new drummer, JF piques Nicole's interest, and it becomes clear that something has to -- and will -- change

Date: Thursday, April 16, 7:00pm

Tickets: All Seats $13

Venue: Keyano Recital Theatre

Rating:   Coarse Language

Alberta Culture Days Planning Meeting

Alberta Culture Days is looking for dedicated artists or community groups to create cultural events in celebration of arts and culture in our region, province and country!

Alberta Culture Days began in 2008 as Alberta Arts Days, a one day event to recognize the value of Alberta’s arts and cultural communities.  Since then, it has expanded into a vibrant, three day event celebrated province wide which helped inspire the creation of Culture Days – a pan Canadian movement to raise awareness and participation in the arts and cultural life of our communities. 

This year, Alberta Culture Days is scheduled from September 25^th – 27^th. If you would like to get involved in this unique celebration please join our next planning meeting, Tuesday, April 21^st, 7pm-8:30pm at the Future Forward Building, 9717 Franklin Avenue. For more information please contact Michael Beamish, michael.beamish@woodbuffalo.ab.ca, 780-788-1498. 

What Makes You Proud to be Canadian?

What Makes You Proud to be Canadian?

We’re asking youth from 8 to 18 years old across Canada to tell us what makes them proud to be Canadian by submitting their best, most dynamic drawings, photos or pieces of creative writing that represents everything that Canada is as a strong, proud and free nation.

Enter the 2015 Canada Day Challenge for a chance to win great prizes, including all-expenses paid trip for two to Ottawa to celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill: go backstage, meet some of Canada’s most inspiring people, tour museums, galleries, the iconic Parliament Buildings and be part of a special summer exhibit at the Canadian Museum of History!

Plus, there’s even more to be excited about this year! Winners will also receive the opportunity to work with the amazingly talented team of education specialists from the National Film Board of Canada to create their very own short films about their adventures in Ottawa. 

For more information please visit the Canadian Heritage website. 

The deadline is March 20, 2015

Get creative! Get inspired! And, get your entries in for the chance to experience a truly Canadian adventure
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WinterPLAY Guest Blog: Tito Guillen of the Fort McMurray Filmmakers Association – Let’s Make Movies

There’s a quote I really enjoy by Ira Glass, it pertains to writing but can be translated to any discipline. The TL:DR version is, if you want to get good at something, do it as much as possible so that you learn and grow from the experience.

This method also proves to the individual if what they are doing is truly something they want to be good at and in turn invest their time and resources to become educated in.

That is the idea of the Winter REELs Film Challenge. The challenge is an opportunity for filmmakers and those interesting in filmmaking to come together and create something in a very brief amount of time. This exercise is less of a challenge in film, as it is in storytelling and collaboration. In fact, it often works to the benefit of the teams to not all be filmmakers.

The concept is simple, a short film made in three days. To ensure no one films anything ahead of time, a group of elements is added to the challenge. They are often an object, a location, and a line of dialogue. The winner is the team that best incorporates these elements into their film. Last year introduced an audience vote for winner and this year there will be a judged winner and an audience choice favourite film.

Anyone can participate and all entries shall be screened on the big screen for friends and families to see. This year, they will be screened along side the 80’s feature ‘Revenge of the Nerds.’ That is also the only clue we have for potential teams this year.

The best advice for new teams participating is to not get too hung up on the technology of filming. It may seem overwhelming but story is everything. Take the time to give your script a start, drama, and resolution and you will be fine. 

For returning teams, the best advice that can be offered is to try something new while remembering that the elements and how they are used is key to impressing the judges. 

The YMMFMA is very proud of the entries submitted every year and look forward to seeing new and familiar faces in this year’s entries. 

The kick-off is at 9pm February 19^th at the lobby of the Keyano theatre. This year will offer over $2500 in awards over several categories. The films will be screened on February 28^th along with Revenge of the Nerds. This is a movie I have wanted to screen since the first Winter REELs. It will be an 80’s party with best 80’s clothing winning a prize from Nerdvana.

Hope to see you all there. Cowabunga!

Film & Television Relief Program

The Actors’ Fund of Canada provides emergency financial aid to assist cultural workers in recovering from an illness, injury or other circumstances causing severe economic and personal hardship. The Fund is not just for actors: performers, creators, technical staff and other production team members in the fields of film & TV, theatre, music and dance can benefit from the Fund. The Actors’ Fund of Canada receives no government funding and is wholly sustained by support from individuals and entertainment industry organizations. 
Through its Film and Television Relief Program (FTRP) the Fund will help hundreds of film and television industry workers in 2014. The Actors’ Fund of Canada was the recipient of the 2011 Gemini Special Award for exceptional service to the Canadian television industry.
Help us spread awareness of the Actors’ Fund of Canada by spreading the word on set, in the studio and on stage! 

Learn more: http://www.actorsfund.ca/about-us/what-we-do 
Apply to the Fund: http://www.actorsfund.ca/apply-for-assistance 

Call for Submissions- Reel Shorts Film Festival

The Reel Shorts Film Festival is accepting submissions until midnight on Monday, December 15 for the 9th festival May 6-10, 2015 in Grande Prairie, Alberta. There is no submission fee and filmmakers will be paid screening fees if their film is selected. All Official Selections are eligible for the Audience Choice Award and three Juried Awards: Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short. Each winning film will receive an award designed by Grande Prairie sculptor Grant Berg and made by Decca Industries in Clairmont with a base made by D.R. Sales Woodworking in Grande Prairie. Submission details can be found at http://reelshorts.ca/submit/. 

The festival received 625 submissions from 55 countries for the 2014 fest and the programming team considered another 630 films that were seen at other festivals or requested for consideration. From 1,255 short films, a program of 111 films from 28 countries was presented to 3,000 attendees including school groups of 1,300 students and their teachers from 15 schools in the region. Twelve Peace Region films were showcased including 11 that were created during the Frantic 48, a 48-hour film challenge offered by PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association) and the fest.

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Reel-Shorts-Film-Festival-Call-for-Submissions

Reel Performances: TIFF Film Circuit

Fort McMurray Tourism and Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre Present:

Reel Performances: TIFF Film Circuit

Thursday, September 25- 7 pm Keyano Recital Theatre

The Grand Seduction charts the lengths to which the community will go to enchant a visitor from the city. Like many affected by the collapse of the fishing industry, residents of this once-thriving village are driven to seek employment in the city or, worse, queue for government assistance. The future looks brighter, briefly, when a plastics company proposes building a factory in the village—until the villagers learn that they need to secure a full-time doctor to serve the community’s needs, which is easier said than done. Enter Dr. Christopher Lewis (Taylor Kitsch; television’s Friday Night Lights, The Bang Bang Club), a young, cosmopolitan plastic surgeon banished to the physician-starved seaside due to a previous misdeed. In a hilarious attempt to charm him—without revealing their plan—the villagers take up the doctor’s beloved cricket and fall over themselves trying to persuade him that he has come to the most fascinating, desirable place in the world.

Gentle, whimsical and poignantly funny, The Grand Seduction is brought to life through tremendous performances from Ireland’s Brendan Gleeson (Albert Nobbs, Gangs of New York) and Newfoundland-born Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent (Away From Her, Saint Ralph). Shot on location in Trinity Bay, the film marvelously captures the colour and vibrancy of Newfoundland’s coastal landscape, and is certain to delight even the saltiest cynic.

Call for Submissions- $100 Film Festival

The 23rd annual $100 Film Festival is now open for submissions- deadline is December 1, 2014 Films must be under 22 minutes in length, completed after Dec 1, 2012, and finished to either Super 8 or 16mm. We are looking for new, innovative, thought provoking film from any genre that keeps the practice of celluloid filmmaking alive. Full submission guidelines and forms can be found here: http://100dollarfilmfestival.org/call-for-submissions/

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Call-for-Submissions-23rd-Annual-100-Film-Festival

Funding Available for Filmmakers!

In order to foster equality and promote diversity, CSIF offers various non-cash funding opportunities to filmmakers at any career level. Our production funds provide successful applicants with membership, access to equipment and facilities, as well as workshops. 

Download the Full Guidelines (PDF, 140KB) and the Application Form (PDF, 320KB) 


Cultural Equity Production Fund: 
One grant will be awarded bi-annually. Awarding 2 grants per year. 
Deadlines: August 1, March 1 

The Cultural Equity Fund is a production support program that provides opportunities for minority artists to express themselves creatively through the medium of film/video. 

Each successful Applicant receives: 

• A one-year producing membership 
• Up to $1,000 in access to CSIF equipment and facilities
• Up to $250 credit towards a CSIF workshop 

Aboriginal Voices Production Fund: 
One grant will be awarded bi-annually, Awarding 2 grants per year. 

Deadlines: August 1, March 1 

The Aboriginal Voices Production Fund is a production support program for First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists who wish to express themselves creatively through the medium of film/video. 

Each successful applicant receives: 

• A one-year producing membership 
• Up to $1,000 in access to CSIF equipment and facilities 
• Up to $250 credit towards a CSIF workshop 

LGBT Production Fund: 
One grant will be awarded bi-annually. Awarding 2 grants per year. 

Deadlines: August 1, March 1 

The LGBT Production support fund is for LGBTTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited and questioning) artists, who wish to express themselves creatively through the medium of film/video. Must be an emerging filmmaker. 

Each Successful applicant receives: 

• A one-year producing membership 
• Up to $1,000 in access to CSIF equipment and facilities 
• Up to $250 credit towards a CSIF workshop 

Tickets to Calgary’s Fairy Tales Festival Fish Fund Production Fund:
One grant will be awarded bi-annually. Awarding 2 grants per year 

Deadlines: August 1, March 1 

The Fish Fund is CSIF’s longstanding short-film production incentive program designed to help developing independent filmmakers produce their film/video by providing technical services and support. Applicants may be at any stage of their careers: emerging, mid-career or established. Each Successful applicant receives: Up to $2,000 in access to CSIF equipment and facilities

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/CSIF-Production-Access-Fund

Fort McMurray Film Makers Association Workshop on March 27

YMMFMA Founding Member, Tito Guillen will be giving a workshop on how to submit your film projects to various film festivals.

Thursday, March 27 2014

Bob Lamb Bldg – Room #252

8pm – 10pm

Free to Attend for Anyone!

Workshop will cover how to prepare your film for submission, different ways to submit films, creating a press-kit and much more!

Agenda – Film Festivals Workshop

Workshop will also include a discussion among attendees regarding current film projects, challenges and additional news/updates regarding filmmaking in our region, including a sneak peek into the 2014 Fort McMurray International Film Festival!

As with all Member-Led Workshops, this is peer-to-peer education and should be treated as tips and tricks of the industry. This is not formal education and no certification will be provided.

Calling All Filmmakers!

CBC Television is pleased to announce another season of Short Film Face Off, Canada’s only television magazine program that features short films from across the country. Now in its seventh season, the critically acclaimed show has helped bring a mainstream audience for short films in Canada and increased the profile of its featured filmmakers. The CBC is looking for the best short films from every region to take part in this program.

In Short Film Face Off, films are screened for a panel of industry professionals who provide commentary and discuss the creative and technical aspects of the films with the filmmakers. The series has a competitive component. The studio panel will choose three finalists and the television viewing audience will ultimately vote for the top film. The CBC and sponsors offer a prize made up of cash and production services to be used by the winning filmmaker towards his or her next short film. That film will be licensed for broadcast by the CBC.   

Films must be under 12 minutes in length, must have been completed in the past two years, and must not have been broadcast on network television. We are looking for comedies and dramas. Music videos and documentaries are not suitable for this program. Directors must be available for tapings at CBC Halifax from June 17 to June 20. The program producers will pay all travel and accommodation costs.

 If you are interested in entering your film in Short Film Face Off, please send the submission form (available at cbc.ca/shortfilmfaceoff) and a link (preferred) or a DVD or USB Flash Drive copy of your film to: 

Chris Martin – chris.martin@cbc.ca 
           phone - 780 667 7443

 Participants must own or control all the rights to the content in the film and be able to authorize those rights for broadcast. Visit cbc.ca/shortfilmfaceoff or contact the person above for more information. 

The deadline for entries is April 4, 2014. Get updates from Short Film Face Off on Twitter! Follow @cbcshortfilm. 

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/CBC-Short-Film-Face-Off--2014-Call-For-Submissions

2014 Alberta Screenwriters Initiative - Submissions Now Open!

Alberta Screenwriters Initiative

Submission Deadline: March 10, 2014

The Alberta Screenwriters Initiative calls for submissions of feature film scripts of any genre from an Alberta writer. An independent jury selects one script/screenplay to receive a workshop with an experienced story editor or screenwriter. The Writers' Guild of Alberta administers the initiative on behalf of the Alberta Association of Motion Picture and Television Unions (AAMPTU). The initiative recognizes the importance of story in the creation of filmed entertainment and the necessity to actively encourage and develop the voices of Alberta writers in film and television.

2014 Submission guidelines and entry information

WinterREELS begins TOMORROW!

The Fort McMurray Filmmakers Association and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo proudly presents the winterREELS Film Challenge, part of the 2014 winterPLAY Festival!

Returning for it’s 2nd year, winterREELS will be a 100hr Film Challenge that encourages teams to Write, Direct and Edit a short film within 100 hours. All films must include 3 special elements released only at the Kick-Off.

Film Challenge Teams will be competing for Awards and Prizes that include the following:

Best Film – $1000 CAD plus Trophy and Certificate

Best Actor – Trophy and Certificate

Best Actress – Trophy and Certificate

Best Director – Trophy and Certificate

**BEST FILM IS SELECTED BASED ON INTERPRETATION OF THE 3 ELEMENTS**


3 Judges have been selected to determine the winners of each category: Jon Mick, Fort McMurray-born Comedian; Erin Schwab, Art Instructor at Keyano College; and Tyran Ault, Ward 1 Councillor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Kick-Off will be held in the Keyano Recital Theatre Lobby at 8pm on Wednesday, February 12 2014. Teams will have until 11:59pm on Sunday, February 16 2014 to complete their film. Organizers will be in front of the Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre to accept films at the deadline.


For more information and to fill out the registration form, please visit 
http://ymmfma.com/events/2014events/winterreels2014/

GET YOUR GRANT ON!

Public Records Grant Program 

Winter Grant Submission Deadline – February 7^th, 2014!

Public Records is a grant program offering up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers an opportunity for a grant to create a music video, along with educational workshops that nurture and develop their talent. Grant recipients form film and music teams to create music videos that will be broadcast in their local communities on TELUS Optik TV.

Emerging musicians and filmmakers in Fort McMurray have the opportunity to be awarded up to $7500 in grant funding, along with exclusive access to workshops on how to develop and market their artistry in Canada. Further details can be found at www.publicrecords.org

Are You a Musician or Filmmaker Looking for Funding?

Public Records is excited to announce that grants will again be available in our area! Through Public Records, emerging musicians and filmmakers in Fort McMurray have the opportunity at up to $7 500 in grant awards (up from last year!) and exclusive access to education and workshops on how to develop and market their artistry in Canada.

 Public Records is a grant program offering up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers an opportunity for a grant to create a music video, along with educational workshops that nurture and develop their talent. Grant recipients form film and music teams to create music videos that will be broadcast in their local communities on TELUS Optik TV. Grant submissions open on January 27, but it is important that interested artists create a profile ahead of time (this can be done here: http://publicrecords.org/artists/).
For more information about this great opportunity, please visit http://publicrecords.org/

Interested in learning more about theatre production?

BANFF CENTRE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: THEATRE WORK STUDY PROGRAMS

Apply by December 11, 2013 for Theatre Production, Design, and Stage Management Work Study 

Programs Dates vary by position between April 2014 and August 2015 

The Theatre Arts Production department at The Banff Centre provides an exceptional learning environment for aspiring theatre production practitioners with these unique, applied work study programs. 

This year, we are offering work study positions in the following areas:

•  Production Management April 2014 - August 2015 
• Stage Management (Dance, Theatre, or Opera) June 8 to August 9, 2014 
• Design (Set, Costume, Lighting) June 15 to August 9, 2014 
• Arts Administration April 1 to August 31, 2014 
• Technical Direction April 2014 – August 2015
•  Lighting Technician April 2014 – August 2015 
• Sound Technician April 2014 – August 2015 
• Stage Carpenter April 2014 – August 2015 
• Props Builder June 8 to August 16, 2014 
• Scenic Carpenter June 1 to August 9, 2014 
• Scenic Painter June 8 to August 9, 2014 
• Wigs and Make-Up Artist June 15 to August 16, 2014 
• Wardrobe Technician June 1 to August 23, 2014 
• Millinery Technician June 22 to August 9, 2014 
• Boots and Shoes Technician June 22 to August 9, 2014 
• Projection Technologist  May 25 to August 23, 2014 

Participants gain practical, hands-on experience by working with industry professionals and experienced directors and designers throughout the production processes of opera, dance, and theatre. Financial assistance to cover full tuition fees and a stipend are available to all participants accepted onto the program.

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Banff-Centre-Call-for-Applications-Theatre-Work-Study-Programs

2013 interPLAY Film Festival Final Results

2013 interPLAY Film Festival 48hr Film Challenge Kick Off