Innovative digital short film programme Blank Slate is hitting the road in November to showcase the next generation of black and minority ethnic filmmaking talent and encourage other up-and-coming filmmakers to apply for the 2009 scheme.
Now in its sixth year, Blank Slate supports up to five aspiring filmmakers to make their vision a digital reality by learning from experienced industry professionals as they develop their script for the big screen.
The national Blank Slate tour exhibits last year’s films and it is hoped that the screenings and accompanying workshops and panel events will catalyse filmmakers, writers and those interested in getting into the film industry to submit to Blank Slate 09.
06 Nov Cardiff University of Glamorgan, Adam Street, CF24 2FN 08 Nov Leicester Phoenix Art Centre, Upper Brown Street, LE1 5TE 10 Nov Edinburgh Cameo, 38 Home Street, EH3 9LZ 12 Nov Birmingham Electric Cinema, 47 Station Street, B5 4DY 17 Nov London BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London 19 Nov Manchester Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, M15 6JA 22 Nov Bristol Encounters Film Festival, Watershed, BS1 5TX
B3 Media, who are coordinating the project, invites submissions from writers, directors and writer/directors from across the UK for Blank Slate 09. The criteria include:
• Blank Slate will fund successful applicants up to 15K per film • Filmmakers may apply without a producer • Films must be between 5 and 15 minutes in duration
Blank Slate is part of the UK Film Council’s UK-wide Digital Shorts initiative and is funded through the New Cinema Fund, B3 Media and the Arts Council England.
Marc Boothe, Director of B3 Media, says: “B3 are always on the lookout for fresh original talent. We are excited by the prospect of unearthing the next batch of stories that raise the bar and push the creative boundaries for emerging filmmakers.”
Lenny Crooks, Head of the UK Film Council New Cinema Fund, comments: “These films represent an exciting and inspiring group of new filmmaking voices. We are very proud to support the Blank Slate scheme and the energizing and diverse range of films that have come out of it.”
Over the past six years, Blank Slate films have been showcased at major international film festivals in Chicago, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, London, Venice, Durban, Cape Town, Cairo and Rio de Janeiro and more.
For more information and to download an application form and guidelines visit: www.b3media.net
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For further information and interviews with Marc Booth and/or any of the filmmakers, please contact Libby Appelbee at Colman Getty on 0207 631 2666 or libby@colmangetty.co.uk
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