CINEPHILIA BOUND CANNES

MIDDLE EASTERN & AFRICAN FILMMAKERS – INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY MEETINGS AT CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

This program is on hiatus. Check back in January 2024.

Cinephilia Bound offers

• A total allowance of $300 (USD) (can be used towards accommodation or daily stipend)

• Cinephilia X EAVE event: One-on-one meetings with producers from EAVE Network + lunch.

• One on one meetings with festival programmers, funders, sales agents, distributors and industry professionals.

• Jury Pitching event and industry project presentation

• Cinephilia Bound Cannes Award of 5,000USD (cash award)

• Full accreditation to Cannes Film Festival (official selection screenings, masterclasses, market & pavilions)

• Participation in a filmmaker roundtable

• Invitation letter to facilitate visa process

• Continuous support from Cinephilia Productions. Selected filmmakers and their projects will be promoted through Cinephilia industry network as well as EAVE Network of over 2,000 producers.

• As much as Cinephilia will do its best to get filmmakers to meet and network, filmmakers are encouraged to do their research and reach out to people they want to meet and discuss their project with.

CINEPHILIA BOUND CANNES AWARD

Each selected filmmaker will pitch their project during a 10-minute presentation to a group of industry professionals (producers, funders, agents…etc) in the presence of a jury that will award the Cinephilia Bound Cannes Award of 5,000 USD sponsored by SEAT26 PRODUCTIONS.

PROGRAM PARTNER

EAVE is one of the leading training, development and networking providers for audiovisual producers in Europe. Since its creation in 1988, EAVE has built up a unique network of 2,165 professionals from over 98 countries and more than 668 experts from the audiovisual industry. In addition to EAVE’s flagship programme, the EAVE Producers Workshop, EAVE is involved in programmes for producers in Europe and the rest of the world. Apart from the EAVE Producers Workshop, EAVE runs a number of other specialized programmes such as EAVE+ for experienced producers, the EAVE Marketing Workshop, as well as a couple of international schemes such as PUENTES – EAVE Europe/Latin America Producers Workshop, and TIES THAT BIND – EAVE Asia/Europe Producers Workshop.  In addition, it offers tailor-made “à la carte” workshops: EAVE ON DEMAND.

Cinephilia Bound does NOT offer

• Accommodation (filmmakers can use the allowance budget towards accommodation)

• Transportation cost from/to airport. Filmmaker can take a bus from airport to Cannes (€ 1.50 one way) or train (€ 5.50)

• Travel, insurance and visa costs. Filmmakers are required to purchase a travel insurance that covers their entire trip.

Expectations

• Selected filmmakers are expected to submit a 1-page letter highlighting their thoughts, observations, and progress made during Cinephilia Bound and/or a 1-2 minutes video stating the aforementioned.

• Filmmakers accept to be interviewed and filmed by Cinephilia Productions, talking about their projects.

• Completed films must include in their credits “With the support of Cinephilia Productions, Bound 2020”. Award recipient project must also mention “With the support of Seat26 Productions”

Eligibility requirements

• Career and emerging screenwriters and film directors are welcome to apply. (Screenwriters working on literary adaptations must provide rights clearance documents. Screenwriters working on a project without a director attached are highly encouraged to apply. Film directors can be screenwriters-directors or working on directing a screenplay written by another screenwriter. In this case, an agreement between the writer and the director should be presented.) Please note: Producers are not eligible to apply.

• Must be citizen of any one of the eligible countries. Applicants residing outside the eligible countries must provide a proof of citizenship.

• Must be in development of their first, second or third narrative or documentary feature film project. (Experimental films are not eligible.) For documentary filmmakers, projects that have initiated principal photography are encouraged to apply.

• Must have a proven track record of work such as previous short film(s), feature film or produced screenplays (writers who do not have a produced screenplay to their credit will be asked to submit a writing sample from other screenplays.)

• Must be over 21 years old

• Must have valid passport

• Must have good command of English language

• Collaborative groups (co-writers or co-directors) must present one application. If selected, Cinephilia Bound covers the cost for only one filmmaker (to be decided among the collaborators themselves).

Filmmakers can apply more than one project. Each project requires a separate application form and a separate application fee. However, we encourage filmmakers to submit the project that they are most passionate about and the one that they think is the most developed. 

Eligible countries

MENA: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates & Yemen. 
AFRICA: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, prepare the following material before starting the application process:

. Synopsis (500 words)
. Biography and Filmography (list of previous films and awards if any)
. Filmmaker Statement (500 words)
. Project status
. Link(s) to your past work
. Link to pitch video (see guidelines below)

All the material must be in English. No other language will be accepted.
Once you have the material ready, fill the application form and settle the application fee. 
Applicants will receive an automated confirmation email. Use your application confirmation number for future correspondence.

Pitch Video:

Your pitching video is the most important material in your application. Make it the best possible.

Requirements for pitch video:
. Video must be in english. No other language will be accepted. No subtitles.
. Do not make it a trailer
. Do not read your pitch on camera
. Maximum duration: 2'30" (2 minutes and 30 seconds) Longer videos will disqualify your application.
. No edits. No cuts. No special effects. No music. It's just you for two and a half consecutive minutes telling the story of your film as you would do to a producer sitting across the table from you. You want to convince them that you know your story, and you know it so well. 
. Sound quality: make sure your voice is audible and clear (avoid crowded spaces when filming. Obviously, you shouldn't be in the street or a cafe!) 
. Image quality: Make it look the best it can. We encourage you to use a digital camera and to have someone film you if possible. Cell phone videos are okay however, avoid selfie and strange angles. Keep the camera fixed and steady. No motion and no handheld.

Upload the video to a private link (preferably Vimeo with a password and make sure download setting is on). We do not accept videos by email. Do not send us emails with downloadable links or attached videos. Your link should go in the application form that you submit online.

IMPORTANT: Videos will be kept confidential and will only be accessible to the selection committee and later to the producers attending the pitching sessions.

If you have any questions, please email us at bound@cinephiliaproductions.com by/before the application deadline date. 

Pitching videos that fail to meet the requirements above will not be considered and will automatically disqualify your application.

APPLICATION DEADLINES & FEES

Regular fee: $45 (USD) / Regular Deadline: February 10, 2020
Late fee: $60 (USD) / Late Deadline: February 25, 2020

The application fee is non-refundable.
Please do not email us to request waiver requests. We do NOT waive application fees.
This fee covers administrative expenses and costs for the review panel.
If you are in a country where credit cards are not available, please find a friend or family member in a country where they have access to online pay and have them help you out.

SELECTION PROCESS

Finalists will be notified by email on March 10, 2020.

Finalists are requested to send the following materials by March 13, 2020:
. Treatment of maximum 8 pages of the proposed project (in English)
. Proof of citizenship (passport or national ID)

Notifications to all applicants will be sent via email after the selection panel has made its final decision.
Final selection will be announced on March 17, 2020.

Selected filmmakers who require Schengen visa are advised to start their visa process immediately to avoid delays.

Application feedback

Cinephilia Productions does not provide a feedback to applicants. However, we understand how important it is for your creative process to receive constructive criticism on your work that contributes to your progress. Applicants have the option to receive a 2-page feedback on their project from the review committee for an additional fee or to have a consultation Skype session with our consultants. Please email Cinephilia with your request. (Subject: 'Cinephilia Bound 2020_Application feedback'). This request will only be taken into consideration within 1 month after selection announcement.

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, prepare the following material before starting the application process:

. Synopsis (500 words)
. Biography and Filmography (list of previous films and awards if any)
. Filmmaker Statement (500 words)
. Project status
. Link(s) to your past work
. Link to pitch video (see guidelines below)

All the material must be in English. No other language will be accepted.
Once you have the material ready, fill the online application form (find below) and settle the application fee. 
Applicants will receive an automated confirmation email. Use your application confirmation number for future correspondence.

Pitch Video:

Your pitching video is the most important material in your application. Make it the best possible.

Requirements for pitch video:
. Video must be in English. No other language will be accepted. No subtitles.
. Do not make it a trailer
. Do not read your pitch on camera
. Maximum duration: 2'30" (2 minutes and 30 seconds) Longer videos will disqualify your application.
. No edits. No cuts. No special effects. No music. It's just you for two and a half consecutive minutes telling the story of your film as you would do to a producer sitting across the table from you. You want to convince them that you know your story, and you know it so well. 
. Sound quality: make sure your voice is audible and clear (avoid crowded spaces when filming. Obviously, you shouldn't be in the street or a cafe!) 
. Image quality: Make it look the best it can. We encourage you to use a digital camera and to have someone film you if possible. Cell phone videos are okay however, avoid selfie and strange angles. Keep the camera fixed and steady. No motion and no handheld.

Upload the video to a private link (preferably Vimeo with a password and make sure download setting is on). We do not accept videos by email. Do not send us emails with downloadable links or attached videos. Your link should go in the application form that you submit online.

IMPORTANT: Videos will be kept confidential and will only be accessible to the selection committee and later to the producers attending the pitching sessions.

If you have any questions, please email us at bound@cinephiliaproductions.com by/before the application deadline date. 

Pitching videos that fail to meet the requirements above will not be considered and will automatically disqualify your application.

APPLICATION DEADLINES & FEES

Regular fee: $45 (USD) / Regular Deadline: February 10, 2020
Late fee: $60 (USD) / Late Deadline: February 25, 2020
The application fee is non-refundable.
Please do not email us to request waiver requests. We do NOT waive application fees.
This fee covers administrative expenses and costs for the review panel.
If you are in a country where credit cards are not available, please find a friend or family member in a country where they have access to online pay and have them help you out.

SELECTION PROCESS

Finalists will be notified by email on March 10, 2020.

Finalists are requested to send the following materials by March 13, 2020:
. Treatment of maximum 8 pages of the proposed project
. Proof of citizenship (passport or national ID)

Notifications to all applicants will be sent via email after the selection panel has made its final decision.
Final selection will be announced on March 17, 2020.

Selected filmmakers who require Schengen visa are advised to start their visa process immediately to avoid delays.

Application feedback

Cinephilia Productions does not provide a feedback to applicants. However, we understand how important it is for your creative process to receive constructive criticism on your work that contributes to your progress. Applicants have the option to receive a 2-page feedback on their project from the review committee for an additional fee or to have a consultation Skype session with our consultants. Please email us at bound@cinephiliaproductions.com with your request. (Subject: 'Cinephilia Bound 2020_Application feedback'). This request will only be taken into consideration within 1 month after selection announcement.

READ THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING. APPLICANTS WHO FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE REFUNDED THE APPLICATION FEE.