CINEPHILIA SHORTS LAB
2019 OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
6th Edition Cinephilia Shorts Lab
2019 Hosting Country
Tunisia
October 21 - November 2, 2019
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL JCC 2019
IN THE FRAMEWORK OF
JCC SHORTS LAB/CARTHAGE PRO
AWARD SPONSOR
SEAT26 PRODUCTIONS
Application Deadline: September 30, 2019
WHAT IS CINEPHILIA SHORTS LAB?
Launched in 2013, Cinephilia Shorts Lab is a 12-day intensive writing program designed to assist filmmakers in developing their storytelling potential, criticism faculty and technical proficiency.
Cinephilia Shorts Lab aims to develop original, visionary and daring voices in the art of screenwriting from the Middle East and Africa.
The lab offers the tools that result in a strong narrative short film while focusing on the individual's unique voice as screenwriter and by connecting like-minded people through shared collaborative feedbacks.
CSL takes place in different cities worldwide in partnership with film festivals, institutions and organizations. The lab selects up to 6 filmmakers, 4 from Middle East/Africa and 2 from the hosting country. With this structure, the lab aims to provide a platform for cultural exchange between filmmakers to discuss their stories from a personal point of view within a universal context.
Previous Cinephilia Shorts Lab editions took place in Beirut, Cairo, Rotterdam, Rome, and Paris.
6th edition of CSL will take place in Tunisia at JCC Carthage Film Festival 2019.
HOW IT WORKS
The lab selects up to 6 filmmakers who are developing a narrative short film screenplay. 4 filmmakers from Middle East/Africa and 2 filmmakers from the hosting country. The selection is based on the originality of the submitted project. Cinephilia is looking for visionary narrative short film projects that break the boundaries of the conventional.
During the intensive 12-day lab, filmmakers develop their projects with the help of lab mentors and fellow filmmakers within an environment that encourages constructive and collective feedback.
By the end of the lab, filmmakers should expect to have a screenplay draft completed.
Filmmakers present their screenplays during an official table read event to a select jury of industry professionals. Professional actors will be assigned for the reading of each screenplay. The jury will award one project the Best Screenplay Award $3,500 cash prize (Award sponsored by Seat26 Productions to be presented during JCCCarthage Pro Awards Ceremony)
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
. Must be a writer or writer/director (Writers with no director attached to the project are highly encouraged to apply.)
. Must be in development of a narrative short film screenplay (documentary shorts are not eligible)
. Must have at least written or directed one short film
. Must have a treatment of the proposed project up to 5 pages
. Application form must be completed online by September 30, 2019
. Must fully commit to all lab sessions.
. Must be originally from one of the eligible countries (regardless of their country of residence)
. Must be over 21 years old
. Applicants submitting a project that is a proof of concept short to support a feature length project are highly encouraged to apply
. Students working on MFA thesis films may apply (only if they have previous work to show)
. Must be fluent in English (all sessions are conducted in English language)
. Must agree to mention in the credit of the completed film 'Developed at the Cinephilia Shorts Lab 2019 in partnership with JCC Carthage Film Festival and in the framework of JCC Shorts Lab).
ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
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.
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.
THE LAB OFFERS
. 12-day intensive workshop sessions
. Full accommodation for the duration of the lab at Ramada Plaza Hotel in Gammarth
. Filmmakers will be provided a full access pass to JCC screenings and industry events
. Meal vouchers for the entire lab period
. Local transportation from/to lab location to hotel/festival hub
. One-on-one meeting with lab mentor
. Industry reading and jury presentation event. Scripts will be read by professional actors. Jury will award one project.
. Best Screenplay Award $3,500 cash prize (Award sponsored by Seat26 Productions to be presented during JCCCarthage Pro Awards Ceremony)
. Invitation letter for visa process (if needed)
. Continuous support by Cinephilia Productions providing networking opportunities with industry professionals
Note 1: Filmmakers must cover their own flight ticket expense and travel insurance.
Note 2: A selection in Cinephilia Shorts Lab does NOT guarantee that the completed film will be selected at the hosting festival in next editions or at Cinephilia Filmmakers to Watch Series.
Note 3: Filmmakers must sign a lab agreement prior to the selection announcement.
LAB COSTS
All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee.
The selected filmmakers traveling to Tunisia are required to cover their own flight expenses and travel insurance. Cinephilia Shorts Lab and JCC do not cover travel costs.
TO APPLY
1. Fill the online application form (below)
2. Pay the non-refundable application fee
If you have any questions please email us at labs@cinephiliaproductions.com
Selection Process
A committee will select applicants based on their proposed project, previous works, as well as the written material supplied in the application.
Notification
Applicants receive a notification when their application has been received and transferred to the selection committee. Notifications to all applicants will be sent via email after the committee has made its final selection. Please do NOT email asking for updates. You will hear from us once we have finalized our process. Selected filmmakers will be notified by email on October 5, 2019.
Application feedback
Cinephilia Productions does not provide a feedback to applicants. However, we understand how important it is for your creative process to receive objective criticism on your work that contributes to your progress. Applicants have the option to receive a 1-page feedback on their project from our Cinephilia in-house consultants for an additional fee. Non-selected applicants can send a request for feedback within 1 month of selection announcement.
Application fee
A non-refundable application fee is required with each application. Application fee is $45 USD. This fee covers administrative expenses and costs for the review committee. Payment is due at the time you submit your application electronically.
Please do not ask for a fee waiver. We do not provide waivers. The only payment we accept is via our online form. Please do not email asking for alternative ways to make payments. You will need a debit/credit card to process your application fee.
Lab timeline
Selected filmmakers must arrive to Tunisia on October 20, 2019.
Lab dates: October 21 - November 2, 2019.
Jury presentation and reading: October 31st, 2019.
Awards Ceremony: November 1st (Best Screenplay Award sponsored by Seat26 Productions to be presented during JCC Carthage Pro Awards Ceremony)
Filmmakers departure: November 2, 2019.
Transportation from/to festival hub will be provided.
APPLICATION FORM
By clicking 'APPLY' you will be directed to fill the application form and pay the non-refundable application fee (45$).
READ THE ENTIRE APPLICATION BEFORE FILLING THE FORM. YOUR ANSWERS WON’T BE SAVED AUTOMATICALLY. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU WORK ON YOUR ANSWERS THEN COPY YOUR ANSWERS WHEN YOU ARE READY TO APPLY.
READ THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING. APPLICANTS WHO FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED THE APPLICATION FEE & THEIR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
ABOUT CINEPHILIA SHORTS LAB 2019 PARTNER
CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL JCC
Since 1966, the Carthage Film Festival (JCC) has been home to African and Arab cinema, offering a Southern forum to filmmakers from the region. Though its competition is open only to African and Arab films, JCC showcases films from Asia & Latin America. JCC’s professional platform Carthage Pro supports talents from the region with grants and funding.
Official festival website: http://www.jcctunisie.org
CINEPHILIA SHORTS LAB 2019 AWARD SPONSOR ($3,500)
SEAT26 PRODUCTIONS
Founded in 2015, Seat26 Productions aims at supporting filmmakers bring their ideas to life on screen. We finance films and create co-production opportunities, while contributing to projects that help construct relevant narratives, that move audiences and trigger conversations beyond borders. Highlighting the power of storytelling being our mandate, we also promote film literacy within communities by designing international workshops and industry-related events, with a focus on script writing and film development