New Realities – Guth Gafa International Film Forum 2014

Date: 31st October 2014 09:30 - 17:00

Venue: Virginia Park Lodge, Virginia, Co Cavan

Official Partners:

• Honeycomb - Creative Works
• Irish Film Board
• Northern Ireland Screen
• Creative Europe
• Broadcasting Authority of Ireland

The Guth Gafa International Film Forum, in association with Honeycomb - Creative Works, will provide a platform to share ideas, circulate knowledge, and support the craft of filmmaking amongst Irish film creators and exhibitors, with particular emphasis on social impact, audience engagement and outreach strategies for completed films. The event will also have an additional focus on funding and distribution possibilities in the border-region of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Running Order

Workshop Breakdown

There will be 6 x 1 hour sessions, all repeated. So there will be four sessions in the morning, and two sets of four sessions in the afternoon. NB: Upon sign-up, participants can express their preference for the three particular sessions they wish to attend. Places to each session are limited, and cannot be guaranteed – they will be awarded on a first-come, first served basis.

Each participant will be able to participate in a single one-hour session in the morning, and a pair of one-hour sessions in the afternoon. This will give the film delegates an opportunity to attend three out of the six sessions.

Opening Seminar

Our opening plenary session will consist of short keynote addresses, as well as an introduction to the forum, its aims and objectives and an opportunity to introduce the Honeycomb programme.

Introduction David Rane (Guth Gafa) & Kevin Fearon (Honeycomb – Creative Works)

Keynote Address Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer, Tribeca Enterprises

Keynote Address Christie Marchese, CEO and Founder, Picture Motion

Workshops

Workshop 1: MULTI REGION

Exploring Regional and Cross-Border Co-Production and Distribution Strategies

Synopsis: Regional filmmaking in Ireland is flourishing, with the support of County Council Film Officers and other regional initiatives. How, then, do filmmakers with a finished film, or with an idea for a new one, access the support networks and mechanisms that exist regionally? And what other kinds of creative film-funding programmes exist for content-creators based outside our urban centres? This session examines how we can make inter-regional co-production and distribution work for all of us, while exploring what our neighbours in Northern Ireland and Scotland do to promote regional filmmakers.

Panelists:
Ben Kempas, EDN & Scottish Documentary Institute
Johnny Gogan – Independent Filmmaker
Other panelists to be confirmed

Workshop 2: NETWORKING 101

The Pool of Knowledge: Utilizing Filmmaker Networks & Organisations

Synopsis: How can filmmakers and film advocacy organisations aid each other with their festival and distribution plans? What do we need most from each other when we get close to finishing a project? Can we share budgets, strategies, contacts and ideas? Can we talk about our success stories and our failed ventures? Ultimately, can we build networks to support each other, and help each other with self-distribution plans? It’s time to get networking...

Panelists:
Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer, Tribeca Enterprises
Martha O'Neill, Screen Producers Ireland
Other panelists to be confirmed

Workshop 3: MONEY MATTERS

Using Crowd-funding Methods to Finance and Distribute Your Film At Grassroots Level

Synopsis: How does one make films and still pay the rent? And can one actually make money from independent filmmaking? Taking their own hugely successful crowd-funded film An Honest Liar as a case study, filmmakers Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein, who raised $250,000 on Kickstarter, will present an overview of crowd-funding methods, and other ways to survive in the industry, as well as discussing projects from people attending their session.

Panelists:
Tyler Measom, Producer and Director, An Honest Liar
Justin Weinstein, Producer and Director, An Honest Liar

Workshop 4: HOW TO GET FESTIVAL FIT

Building a Better Festival Strategy

Synopsis: The director of one of the most exciting documentary film festivals in the world (Camden International Film Festival) discusses with JDIFF Director Grainne Grainne Humphreys, current innovations in programming and the reasoning behind the imaginative choice of films at his own festival. Invited filmmakers will detail their own unique festival strategies, inviting discussion and debate from Irish content providers.

Panelists:
Grainne Humphreys, Jameson Dublin International Film Festval
Ben Fowlie, Festival director, Camden International Film Festival
Filmmaker, Alexander O Phillippe, Doc Of The Dead
Other panelists to be confirmed

Workshop 5: THE BIG ISSUES

How To Get Your Message Out

Synopsis: We present case studies of two major new environmentally-themed films - climate change documentary, ThuleTuvalu, and A Dangerous Game, the sequel to the acclaimed You've Been Trumped. Today's documentary films are dealing with the important global issues of our time, and filmmakers are faced with the challenge of making films that address these issues without falling into the trap of 'preaching to the converted' or creating 'worthy' advertisements for those active in the field. How, then, to strike the delicate balance between the artistic/aesthetic aspirations of your film, and the need to get the message home?

Panelists:
Matthias von Gunten, director/producer, ThuleTuvalu
Lauren Simpson, producer, A Dangerous Game

Workshop 6: GETTING ENGAGED

Promoting Your Film at Grassroots Level: Impact & Social Engagement

Synopsis: You're getting close to finishing a film that deals with an important social issue or human rights subject. How do you ensure your work has the maximum impact? This session addresses the realities of bringing your documentary film to market, looking at audience engagement, sales and distribution strategies, and breaking the festival circuit.

Case Study: Food Chains (US, 2014)

Panelists:
Christie Marchese, Founder/Chief Executive, Picture Motion
Maarten Schmidt, Producer, Ne Me Quitte Pas

Closing Plenary

Join us for a plenary discussion on the day's proceedings, with an opportunity for feedback from representatives in each group. We explore the future of Irish filmmaking and our international presence, with an opportunity for NI Screen, the Irish Film Board and our international guests to examine what the day's proceedings have taught us about successfully building upon Ireland's film profile at home and abroad.