Wednesday 24 September 2008

Bridging the Gap

The deadline for the scheme is the 3rd of October. They will also be doing a series of masterclasses for documentary makers - check out their website for updates on those and details on how to apply.

Tuesday 23 September 2008

BBC Blast Live Film Festival

Film festival for 13-19 year olds. Deadline 17th October. Also go there to find out about the blast film bursary for 16-19 year olds.

Monday 22 September 2008

Skillset Film Trainee Network

Via this you can get placements in film companies.

Requirements to get a placement are from the website

"To become a trainee you must, as a minimum, have either:
successfullly completed a Skillset supported New Entrant Training programme within the last 12 months;

be a student from one of the Skillset Screen Academies (approved by industry as centres of excellence) – students are eligible to apply if they have completed a minimum of 50% of their course, or alumni who have completed their course within the last 12 months

If neither of the above applies, your application must be supported by at least two industry professionals' testimonials

This scheme is available to those who have less than 12 months professional experience in the film industry."

Check out the website for more info and applications - deadline 29th Feb 2009

Thursday 18 September 2008

Mirrorball TV

"mirrorballtv brings together creatives from across the music video, animation and design spectrum to share ideas and promote ground-breaking new work." to see the stuff from cutting edge promomakers like Mike Mills and Spike Jones go and sign up at the website.

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Tuesday 9 September 2008

Detention of Documentary Filmmaker in Nigeria

Info from D-Word the documentary forum

Dear D-Word Members and Friends,We are now in the fifth day of Andrew Berends’ detainment in Port Harcourt, NigerDelta, Nigeria. Andrew’s friends, family and colleagues are outraged about hissituation and find it incomprehensible that more has not been done to secure hisrelease.The U.S. State Department has been aware of Andrew’s detainment since day one. Yethe still has not been visited by a State Department official. We believe it isbeyond acceptable protocol for an American citizen to be held illegally without anagent of the American government visiting him to ascertain his safety and theconditions of his custody and to make it crystal clear that the U.S. government isadvocating in no uncertain terms for his release. It does not appear that the State Department has done enough to be in constantcommunication with the Nigerian Government to apply pressure or even get accurateinformation about Andrew's status and well-being. If what they are doing is morethan minimal, that has not been made clear to us, Andrew’s advocates. Nor has itbeen getting any apparent results. Too many days have passed with no shift inAndrew’s circumstances and no coordinated or decisive action on the part of theState Department to shift things. Andrew entered the country legally as a filmmaker and journalist. He was filming ina public place in a country that claims to be a democracy when he was arrested. Hewas not filming oil facilities or the military, which are the only two subjects theNigerian government has deemed to be sensitive. We have been told that on the day hewas detained, Andrew even asked and was granted permission by a military officialprior to filming. Andrew reported to us that during the first 36 hours of his detainment, he wasinterrogated nonstop with no sleep. He was denied food and given barely any water.He does not have the benefit of legal representation inside the SSS facility and hasbeen forced repeatedly to make coerced statements.This is the fourth incident of American journalists being held in Nigeria within thepast two years. It is now a pattern. It is evident that there has been no legitimatereason for the treatment these American citizens have endured. Rather, theseincidents are intended to suppress journalism. They are a blatant attempt by theNigerian government to cover up the evidence of years of human rights andenvironmental abuses and discourage others from coming to expose the poverty,injustice and corruption rampant in the region. We call on the U.S. government tospeak out against this.We urge our Congressional representatives to let the State Department know that thelegislative branch they serve and answer to will not stand by and let more hours ofinaction pass. In a country like Nigeria and a region like the Niger Delta, thingscan change in an instant. It is dangerous to assume that Andrew is OK and give in tothe platitude that “these things take time.” This situation must be elevated tothe highest level of urgency. We must press strongly and continuously for Andrew’simmediate release and safe escort out of the country.Because journalists working in foreign countries often depend on local assistantsand translators to do their work, make themselves understood, and keep safe, we areparticularly distressed that Samuel George, the Nigerian national who works as atranslator with Andrew Berends, was also detained by the Nigerian Military. We havehad no word of his condition since his arrest, and we are deeply concerned thatSamuel may be experiencing harsh treatment at the hands of the Nigerian government.It is imperative that Samuel George also be released immediately, and that there beno further intimidation and harassment of media workers by the Nigerian government.

For the latest updates about the situation and to strategize about how to help,go to the Free Andy Berends topic on The D-Word:http://www.d-word.com/topics/show/147?read=new ** There is also a Help Andy Blog: http://helpandy.wordpress.com/

The Adders

a new award and film festival for filmmakers under the age of 19. Email by the 27th Sept for an application form - theadders@adderfilms.co.uk - via Netribution