Indie News Headlines Nov 10 2008
Welcome to Super Indie Film’s Indie News Headlines. This is Anna Callahan, and I’ll be bringing you news highlights from the independent film movement around the world. To listen to a podcast of these headlines, click here.
Today is November 13, 2008.
The American Film Market opened on November 5th in Santa Monica. Over 8,000 industry leaders converged for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres, networking and parties.
Getting independent movies in front of consumers has become one of the top priorities for the Independent Film & Television Alliance, the trade organization that operates the American Film Market. ITFA CEO Jean M. Prewitt said that the organization fears domination of the Internet by major corporate interests in a fashion similar to TV and theatrical sectors. “We are keen to have the independents recognized as a separate voice,” Prewitt said. IFTA took opposite stance on Net neutrality to that of the Motion Picture Association.
A record 1,022 AFM titles were completed in 2008. Five veteran film execs examined the phenomenon at “The Indie Glut: Distribution at the Crossroads,” a BAFTA/LA panel. Film execs feared the slew of features already crowding theaters were smothering the industry.
On the topic of distribution, IFC VP of Acquisitions and Production Arianna Bocco comments, “some films can do so much more if they go through other revenue streams. It’s not an exercise in ‘Let’s get theatrical distribution.’ It (should be about) ‘Let’s make some money.’” Films like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” have relied on what’s called the “service deal”: instead of a distributor picking up a film’s rights, they take a fee for distribution services.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) held the Philippine Independent Film Summit on Nov. 8 at the Silangan Hall of the CCP.
According to Digna Santiago of the FDCP, the summit tackled diverse concerns of independent filmmakers, primarily “distribution, promotion, marketing and exhibition†in the local circuit.
Also discussed, Santiago said, were “possible programs that government and nongovernment organizations can undertake to help promote the distribution and exhibition of indie films.â€
The Hubert Bals fund is supporting two independent film distribution initiatives in Latin America.
Efecto Cine will organize 80 screenings in about 40 cities in Uruguay from January to April. The Network of Micro Cinemas for Peru will set up cinema groups to screen indie films throughout the country.
And finally, Howcast has released what it calls “hysterical how-to’s on making your first independent film.” This series of eight how-to videos covers all the basics, from writing and budgeting, to shooting and editing.
That’s your Indie Film News for the week, thanks for listening. This program was brought to you by Super Indie Films, helping filmmakers make money making movies.
February 4th, 2012 at 11:30 pm