Digital Shorts details 07

DIGITAL SHORTS 2007

DIGITAL Shorts 2007 is a short filmmaking scheme for the Northwest’s best and most innovative filmmakers. This year, four filmmaking teams will each receive a maximum of £12,000 per team, to produce their next short film.

“We’re looking for filmmakers with a new approach to genre and storytelling. Whether it’s drama, documentary or animation, we want to see inventive, creative filmmaking at its very best,” says Helen Bingham, Head of Production Development at Northwest Vision and Media.

Digital Shorts 2007 will be delivered as part of the UK Film Council New Cinema Fund’s Digital Shorts scheme. This national scheme is available in every part of the country, with Vision and Media determined to contribute Northwest shorts which show passion and imagination.

“We’re looking for stories that are unique and challenging and have the potential to do well at festivals and attract audiences from all over the world,” explains Helen.

This year, the Digital Shorts selection process will be in line with Vision and Media’s hugely successful micro-budget feature film scheme, Digital Departures. “We will be looking for one-page ideas only at application stage, not completed short film scripts. We will then interview up to 25 teams, before appointing the 12 strongest teams to the Digital Shorts Development Slate,” says Helen.

These 12 projects will then be developed by Vision and Media, in partnership with a national script consultant or agency, over a period of approximately 10 weeks. At the end of this development period, once all 12 projects have arrived at a production-ready draft, Vision and Media will select the best four projects to receive the production awards.

“We are holding two inspiring and informative workshops to assist filmmakers in making an application to Digital Shorts,” explains Helen. The renowned Script Development guru, Phil Parker, will deliver Writing Award Winning Short Films in Liverpool on the September 11 and in Manchester on the September 12. (To find out more, please click here)


***The deadline for applications to Digital Shorts 2007 has now passed, and we will be announcing the winners of the scheme before Christmas.***

FACTFILE

· Twelve projects will be developed, but only the best four films will be made as part of this year’s Digital Shorts scheme.
· We will only be looking for one-page ideas at application stage.
· Each applicant can submit up to three ideas.
· If selected, Vision and Media will support filmmakers to develop the one-page idea into a full short film script.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

All short-listed candidates/teams will be invited to attend an interview at the end of November 2007, where they will have the opportunity to tell the panel about their project idea(s) and about their aims and ambitions as a filmmaker. The successful filmmakers will be informed shortly afterwards. All filmmakers will be informed of the panel’s decision by Friday 14th December 2007.

SCHEDULE OF IMPORTANT DATES

Launch scheme: September 2007
Deadline for submissions: October 26
Interviews: End of November
Twelve development teams announced: Early December
Training: TBC – Jan/Feb/March 2008
Script Development Programme: January- March 2008
Four films selected: End of March 2008
Four films in production: April / May 2008
Post: May – June 2008
Rough Cut Approval: End of June 2008
Delivery to NWV: Mid July 2008
Delivery to UKFC: End of July 2008