The short film festival Brief Encounters and the animated film festival Animated Encounters, which were up until now held separately at the Watershed Media Centre in Bristol, have now united under the title Encounters Short Film Festival, which will take place for the first time from 21 – 26 November 2006.

Each festival’s previous programme series, such as Animation Industry Day and the Brief Film School, will continue following the fusion. A new and obvious choice of emphasis for the combined festivals is to provide a platform for films exemplifying the convergence of animation and live action – a current trend in short film production that will only gain importance in future as new technological possibilities become available.

The new Encounters Short Film Festival is organized by individuals from BBC, ITV, Film London, South West Screen, DreamWorks, Aardman Animations, GWR Radio, Watershed Media Centre, University of Bristol and the University of West England.

www.encounters-festival.org.uk

The French short film agency in Paris now offers member cinemas in the alternative projection co-operative RADI a new tool for selecting short films and for use in programme planning. The RADI distribution catalogue has been online since September in the form of a database. A keyword list with 60 different selection criteria helps cinema operators to identify suitable short films amongst the 250 international and French titles in the agency's repertoires.

RADI (Réseau Alternatif de Diffusion) was established by the short film agency in 1989 with the support of the Centre national de la Cinématographie. Cinemas that join RADI can choose a short film from the agency's distribution catalogue to go with every feature film they screen, for a yearly fee of 1,200 euros. More than 260 cinemas have joined the group. This idea formed the model for the short film subscription serviced offered by the Kurzfilmagentur Hamburg, which beat its French colleagues to the punch in putting its distribution catalogue online, and won an innovation award for its efforts in 2005.

Kontakt: Karim Allag - k.allag  agencecm.com

Quelle: http://www.agencecm.com

The Museum of Modern Art is the first New York museum to exhibit a piece by Finnish artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila, on display in the Media Gallery until 5 February 2007. “The Wind” is a 14-minute film presented as an installation on 3 screens. It is also one of five episodes in Ahtila’s feature-length film “Love Is a Treasure”. 

The MoMa writes of the artist and her work (Laurence Kardish is the curator): »Eija-Liisa Ahtila, a Finnish media artist whose works are shown in both cinemas and galleries, investigates the anxieties and emotional uncertainties of women who perceive their environments as alien (...) ‘The Wind’ offers simultaneous perspectives of a single breakdown: a confused and angry young woman invites, in a sense, a strong wind to scatter everything in her apartment.«

moma.org/exhibitions/2006/Ahtila.html

The organizers of the Sundance Film Festival in co-operation with the GSM Association, the international trade organization for mobile network operators, have announced a joint pilot project in which five short films will be commissioned that are to be conceived exclusively for mobile distribution. 

The filmmakers signed for the “Global Short Film Project” are Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, Justin Lin, Maria Maggenti, Cory McAbee and Jody – all of them independent filmmakers who have screened works at the Sundance Festival in the past.

The short films are scheduled to premiere at the opening of the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona on 12 February 2007, following which they will be made available to the broad public in co-operation with mobile carriers.

»Cell phones are fast becoming the ‘fourth screen’ medium, after television, cinema and computers«, said Sundance Institute president and founder Robert Redford. »We feel this experiment embodies fully our quarter-century dedication to exploring new platforms to support wider distribution of independent voices in filmmaking.«

GSM: http://www.gsmworld.com/

Sundance: http://www2.sundance.org/

The latest animated film by British Royal College of Art graduate Suzie Templeton, "Peter and the Wolf", premiered on 23 September at Royal Albert Hall. The half-hour puppet animation is a visual adaptation of Prokofiev’s eponymous tone poem. The score was performed by the London Philharmonia Orchestra. Suzie Templeton originally came to fame through her internationally successful short films "Stanley" (1999) and "Dog" (2001).

Producer of Suzie Templeton’s new film by is BreakThru Films, which has also produced films such as the successful short "The Most Beautiful Man in the World" by Alicia Duffy. "Peter and the Wolf" was shot at the renowned Semafor Studios in Lodz. In addition to the TV and DVD versions, the film is scheduled to be shown in concert halls worldwide accompanied by live music.

Production company website: – www.breakthrufilms.co.uk/prod.htm

The Beirut DC film collective is sending out a four-minute video message headlined "From Beirut to... those who love us" to the international community. With seldom-seen images, the video message compellingly draws attention to the situation of the residents of Lebanon. Beirut DC is calling on people all over the world to show the video missive in a non-commercial fashion in cinemas, cultural centres, museums and galleries, and at political and cultural events dealing with the war in Lebanon.

Beirut DC is a member of the grassroots network Samidoun, founded directly after the outbreak of war, which set up the first emergency accommodations for refugees from Beirut. Samidoun provided supplies for more than 10,000 refugees temporarily living in 31 schools and 2,000 refugees who found shelter with host families.

"From Beirut to... those who love us" can be viewed under the URL below, where a DVD with English and French subtitles can also be ordered (German, Spanish and Italian subtitles will be available soon).

Contact: info@beirutletters.org

http://www.beirutletters.org

The newly founded film archive in Tangiers, which opened its doors in early 2006, will launch its own cinema in October – the tradition-laden, completely refurbished "Cinéma Rif" on Grand Socco in the centre of the medina.

The Cinémath?que de Tanger (CDT) is a non-profit organization that aims to collect and screen films from Morocco’s heretofore virtually unknown cinematic heritage as well as to provide the public with an overview of international film history. Additional emphases are the areas of documentary film, video art and experimental film. The CDT thus aspires to become the focal point of film culture in North Africa. Its ambitious goals include plans to become a film distributor and to establish the RIF Cinema, renovated in summer 2006, as the pre-eminent theatre for international film premieres in Morocco.

The Cinémath?que de Tanger launched its public programme on 21 October with an international documentary film workshop called "Doc Maroc".

URL: www.cinemathequedetanger.com

On 16 October at the Cork Film Festival, the European Film Academy and UIP announced the final nominations for the Short Film Award 2006. The Prix UIP Cork – the last in the yearly round of UIP festival prizes – was conferred on "Aldrig som första g?ngen (Never Like the First Time)" by Jonas Odell (S).

The following films had already been nominated at other festivals: "Delivery" by Till Nowak (D); "Vincent" by Giulio Ricciarelli (D); "Pistache" by Valérie Pirson; "Meander" by Joke Liberge (B); "El Cerco" by Ricardo Íscar & Nacho Martín (ES); "Before Dawn" by Bálint Kenyeres (H); "For Intérieur" by Patrick Poubel (F); "Sniffer" by Bobbie Peers (N); "By the Kiss" by Yann Gonzalez (F); "Zakaria" by Gianluca De Serio & Massimiliano De Serio (I); "Sretan Put Nedime (Good Luck Nedim)" by Marko Santic (SLO); "The Making of Parts" by Daniel Elliott (UK); "Comme un Air... (It's in the Air...)" by Yohann Gloaguen (F).

This nomination list will now be submitted to the members of the European Film Academy for judging. The awards ceremony will take place on 2 December in Warsaw.

Source: www.europeanfilmacademy.org

Since June 2006, “Short Film News” has been featuring English-language reports on the Iranian short film and documentary scene. The website would like to draw the attention of the international public to Iranian short, experimental and documentary film, while also keeping its own country informed of reactions to these films at international events. The sections on the site thus include film synopses, articles and reports from Iran, as well as announcements and news of festivals abroad.

Another aim is to promote international exchange. To this end, “Short Film News” provides assistance to those compiling film programmes, or passes on contact information for filmmakers and organizations in Iran.

Introducing its own work, “Short Film News” emphasizes the significance of short film in Iran as a format in its own right which, together with documentary film, represents nearly the entire extent of independent cinema in Iran. “Short Film News” describes itself as an independent, non-governmental organization based in Tehran. Editor-in-Chief is filmmaker and author Marjan Riahi.

http://www.shortfilmnews.com

With the establishment of the non-profit foundation “imai - inter media art institute”, Düsseldorf will now become the home of a pioneering project for video art. The foundation combines archiving, distribution and research and is, according to Lord Mayor Joachim Erwin, »unique in Germany in this three-fold bundling of expertise«. “Imai” aims to become an important forum for international media art. Operations began in July 2006 at the foundation’s premises in the NRW Forum in Düsseldorf’s Ehrenhof Street.

The foundation, which already has an archive of over 3,200 works in Düsseldorf, some of them by internationally renowned media and video artists, is an initiative of the state capital of NRW and the Cologne agency 235 MEDIA GmbH, representatives from which, including 235 Media founder Axel Wirths, form its board.

235 MEDIA has been active since 1982 in the distribution and sales of video art and has since expanded into the fields of media and exhibition technology. Thanks to the financial support of the Kulturstiftung der Länder (Cultural Foundation of the German States) and the Kunststiftung NRW (Art Foundation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), the imai foundation was able to acquire the rights to 235 Media’s archive. These works now form the cornerstone for the new collection. The archive features works by Marina Abramovic, Bill Seaman, Woody Vasulka, Klaus vom Bruch, Jochen Gerz and Valie Export – as well as selected works by Ulrike Rosenbach that were previously on offer from 235 Media for 10,000 euros.

As a non-profit organization, the foundation will put its technical knowledge and conservation capabilities at the disposal of artists, museums and collectors. In future, artists or collectors will be able to archive their video masters »under optimal conditions« using the archive’s facilities at NRW-Forum in Düsseldorf.

The imai foundation is charged with the long-term preservation of the collection entrusted to it, while expanding its holdings and making them available to the wider public. As a central research and distribution facility for art that involves the use of audiovisual media, the foundation will assist institutions with continuing training, research and teaching, and distribute the audiovisual works as the artists see fit. The foundation is thus destined to become a key platform for international media art.

Also part of the foundation is the MedienKunstArchiv, an online database that for the first time makes artists' videos accessible at full length from a home PC. The videos are listed in an online catalogue in preview quality, protected with a digital fingerprint. Accompanied by metadata commentaries, the works can thus be researched from anywhere in the world. Research can already be carried out on foundation premises at public viewing stations set up for this purpose.

Imai is Germany's first publicly funded institution dedicated to the distribution and promotion of media art -- a task that could only be undertaken at a loss if entrusted to the private sector.

Sources: Press releases of the State Capital of Düsseldorf / imai

Contact: imai - inter media art institute

Foundation management: Sandra Thomas, Alexandra Wessels

Ehrenhof 2

D-40479 Düsseldorf

Tel: +49 (0)211 2370999-61

e-mail: info@imaionline.org

URL: www.imaionline.org

Denmark’s major public libraries, led by the ?rhus Kommunes Biblioteker, are undertaking a joint pilot project to test the possibility of distributing films by way of video-on-demand. In addition to testing video-on-demand in digital networks, the project has five additional goals: 1) to draft standard contracts regulating digital film rights for libraries; 2) to develop a valid payment system for distributors and producers in co-operation with the relevant associations; 3) to establish up-to-date “experience centres” for visual media at public libraries; 4) to set up a system for lending films and TV shows online to private households; 5) to develop a roll-out plan for the rest of Denmark’s libraries.

As part of the pilot project, BIBCAST is offering short films that for legal reasons can currently only be viewed at the participating libraries. After the summer holidays, however, library card holders – initially in four cities only – will be offered free Internet access to some 25 short films and documentaries. Currently, BIBCAST has about 50 short films available, in addition to its fiction and educational titles. 20 of the short films were provided by the Swedish short film portal glimz.net, while the rest come from Danish producers or abroad.

Source: http://www.bibcast.dk

For the past nine years, the Manhattan Short Film Festival has been showing an annual selection of international short films in Union Square Park and asking the public to judge them. Last year, the twelve finalists in the competition were also shown all over the country at over 50 venues, judged in each case by the local audience.

For the 9th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival, this concept is to be extended to other countries as well. The organizers are therefore looking for partners in Canada and Europe. In exchange for agreeing to host a screening, all of which are to take place simultaneously all over the world between 14 and 23 September, interested venues receive two DVDs with six short films each, along with uniform ballots and promotional material. The local hosts may repeat the programme as often as they wish during the festival period. The organizers ask 50% of gross receipts in return.

The films nominated this year include “Sister” (Daniel Mulloy, UK), “Ten Steps” (Brendan Muldowney, Ireland), “La ruta natural” (Alex Pastor, ES) and “Everything Goes” (Andrew Kotatko). Potential hosts are asked to contact Nicholas Mason from the Manhattan Short Film Festival.

Contact: Nick  MSfilmfest.com

A new deal between Shorts International (UK) and American distributor Magnolia Pictures makes it possible to download this year’s Oscar winners in the category Live Action Shorts at iTunes. Theatrical distribution in the UK and an international DVD version are also planned. The films “Six Shooter”, “The Last Farm”, “Cashback”, “Our Time Is Up”, and “Ausreisser” are available at iTunes for $1.99 each.

Previously, iTunes had only offered short films from Disney and Pixar. According to a report in the Unofficial Apple Weblog “tuaw.com”, Disney intends to offer all of its animated Oscar winners, such as “Three Little Pigs”, in the iTunes Music Store this coming summer.

In a press release dated April 2006, the UK Film Council announced a significant boost in its support for short film. Funding was allocated to three schemes, which in some cases are the offspring of earlier activities: “Digital Shorts Plus”, “Cinema Extreme” and short film financing within the scope of the Completion Fund.

“Digital Shorts Plus” is conceived as a professional extension of “Digital Shorts”, with the aim of helping previous participants launch new projects with higher budgets. Grants of up to ?20,000 are available. Six projects have already been approved at ?10,000 each.

“Cinema Extreme” is co-financed by the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund and FilmFour for the promotion of innovative film ventures. Currently, three films are each benefiting from a production award of ?25,000 – including a new film by Simon Ellis. Grant recipients to date include Andrea Arnold (“Wasp”) and Duane Hopkins (“Love Me or Leave Me Alone”).

The Completion Fund is making almost ?60,000 available for post-production of ten short films including Daniel Mulloy’s “Dad” and “Normal for Norfolk” by Gareth Lewis.

A British innovation, at least since the central UK Film Council was founded to replace earlier funding institutions, is the delegation of grant management to private-sector enterprises – a solution that however has not yet achieved satisfactory results in the realm of independent, artistic film. “Digital Shorts Plus” is managed by the production company Lifesize Pictures (Sheffield), “Cinema Extreme” by The Bureau (London) and the Completion Fund by Lifesize and Maya Vision International (London). For its work in conducting the short film promotion programme, Lifesize received a subsidy in the amount of ?163,000 during the funding period described here. According to the British Council, a total of ?676,000 in all is being spent on promoting short film. The funds come from the National Lottery.

Source: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk / www.britfilms.com

As a fitting finale to her three-year term as Short Film Consul, Sirin Eide announced that in 2005 Norway would spend ten million kroner (about 1.25 million euros) on promoting short film. This is approximately 1 million NOK more than the prior year. The largest share (9.3 million) was earmarked for production funding. 34 films were awarded grants ranging from 10,000 to 750,000 NOK. The most expensive production of 2005 was "Bawke (Flukten)" by Hisham Zaman with a total budget of 935,000 NOK.

Overall, the Norwegian film promotion fund administered 10 million NOK more in 2005 than in the previous year. In 2006, another 14 million NOK are to be added to the film financing programme. Beneficiaries include the Norwegian Short Film Festival Grimstad. Institutional funding of the Kortfilmfestivalen has been increased by 500,000 to 2,000,000 NOK (approx. 250.000 EUR).

As State Minister Stoltenberg announced at the beginning of this year, plans are for the Short Film Festival in Grimstad to attain the status of a central national institution ("nasjonal knutepunktinstitusion"). Members of the board of this institution are to include, in addition to state representatives, producer Helga Fjordholm and artist Per Platou representing the Short Film Festival.

Source: Norsk filmfond/Kultur- og Kirkedepartementet

The Finnish short film platform Pixoff.net has been online now since February 2002. Pixoff offers filmmakers and media artists the option of presenting their works on the Internet. Pixoff is conceived as a film database with several search options that contains information on the work and the author of each film, a forum with viewer commentaries, user statistics and a contact form for feedback and networking.

The digitization, hosting and release of the films is free of charge. Authors maintain the copyrights to their work. The films are streamed for various bandwidths in Windows Media Player format. Every Finnish filmmaker is eligible to participate. Apart from the minimum technical requirements for masters, the only restrictions concern the length of the films (up to 60 minutes) and the genre (no music videos).

Pixoff.net is supported and operated by the production company Provisual Oy in co-operation with partners from the technology and culture sectors. These partners include POEM - the Northern Film and Media Center. Main sponsor is AVEK (see below).

Pixoff.net’s strategic objective is to network various parties in the business and media culture fields, such as non-profit organizations and groups, filmmakers, producers, national institutions and international firms, in order to give a worldwide audience access to the whole bandwidth of Finnish short film – from underground artists to professional filmmakers.

The website is unfortunately available only in Finnish,, but with more than 300 feature-length, documentary and animated and experimental films, it’s still worth a visit!

http://www.pixoff.net

An initiative has been launched in Great Britain to bring artistic short film to the cinema. "A Movie" has commissioned six films, which will tour 18 British cities during 2006 and be on view in 20 cinemas. The aim is to bring artistic short film out of the galleries and into the cinema. The selection primarily targets those works that consciously reflect the cinema context. The short films will be shown as warm-ups to selected feature films at art film theatres. Artists participating are Daria Martin (USA), Jimmy Robert (F/NL), Mark Leckey (UK), Mika Taanila (FIN), Imogen Stidworthy (UK) and Yang Fudong (China).

Sponsors were South West Screen and Film London. The films were produced by LUX and Spacex.

Source: Film London

The British initiative Future Shorts presented its new distribution label at this year’s Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival. The group plans to set up worldwide distribution for a selection of the best short films from the repertoire of the Future Shorts tour programme. This will be followed in the course of the year by a Future Shorts DVD label.

Future Shorts has gained fame in recent years in particular through its short-film tours and eccentric short-film events taking place during other festivals, such as the London Film Festival. The initiative has managed with lightning speed to establish itself not only in British cinemas, but abroad as well, with Future Shorts line-ups recently on view in Paris, Brussels, Moscow and Lisbon. The repertoire includes well-known and successful short films such as "Tango", "Harvie Krumpet" and "Staplerfahrer Klaus".

The group’s activities are largely financed through co-operation with partners and sponsors. These include Miramax/Weinstein, Nokia and Stella Artois. To date, participating filmmakers have been offered contracts for granting screening rights, but without licensing fees. The non-commercial character of the events is used to justify this omission, although the local organizers or cinemas do pay fees to show other films and of course charge admission.

Contact: distribution@futureshorts.com

www.futureshorts.com