A project-based skills development programme with market meetings at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival for 12 experienced film professionals who have a feature project (fiction, animation, documentary) in development.

Supported by The UK Film Council through Skillset and Olswang, the course will run in January and February 2009 with lead tutors Rebecca O'Brien (The Wind That Shakes the Barley) and Christine Alderson (Irina Palm - Opening Film, 2007 Berlin Film Festival).

Click here for a press release.
Click here for feedback on the previous lab.

Who is the lab for?

The lab is aimed at UK producers and UK distributors / sales agents who have a feature project (documentary or fiction film) in development and which they intend to produce with one or more European producer partners.

The lab is open to producers who have either produced a feature film or at least two short films / promos or a TV drama or documentary of more than 30 minutes. The lab is also open to distributors / sales agents who have at least 3 years experience in a sales / distribution company. All applicants must have a feature project in development which they intend to produce with one or more producing partners in Europe.

How does it work?

The lab consists of 1 x 4-day module in London and 1 x 6-day module at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival which mix workshops, lectures and case studies on:

• Advantages and disadvantages of official co-production status
• Case studies of national, European and International co-productions
• Co-production financing strategies - combining tax breaks and finance from different territories
• Finding your optimum partnership and financing scenarios
• Legal implications of co-productions
• Using the UK tax credit in co-productions
• Key negotiating points with co-pro partners
• Problem-solving in an international context - legal and financial issues
• Operating as a minority (service) producer
• Understanding co-productions from a non-UK producer's perspective.

In addition each participant will receive:

• One-to-one feedback on their co-production strategy with a producer who has co-produced with the territory which is the target of the participant producer
• Accreditation at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival
• Pre-arranged meetings with international producers at the 2009 Berlin Film Festival

When and where?

Module 1 takes place on 13 - 16 January 2009 at Olswang's offices in Holborn, London. Module 2 takes place on 4 - 9 February 2009 in Potsdammer Platz, close to the festival market in Berlin.

Fee

The fee is £ 550. This includes all light refreshments but does not include travel or accommodation costs which must be born by the participants themselves.

We strongly recommend applicants to approach their regional screen agency for bursaries towards the costs of the course. Applicants from Scotland and Northern Ireland can also apply to Skillset in their nation for costs associated with attending the course.

Initialize Bursaries

We have a number of bursaries available for participants who (a) live more than 56 miles away from the training location in London (Holborn) and / or (b) are unable to apply for bursary support from the Regional Screen Agency.

Applications

The application deadline is 15 December 2008. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible. This will also give applicants more chance of securing bursaries from screen agencies and Skillset (Scotland) before the course start date.

In order to apply, each applicant must send:

• A script (feature films) / treatment (docs / animation films) of the project which you want to produce through a co-production which has an international element to it;
• A list of any creatives attached to the project / any finance raised so far;
• A CV / filmography;
• A statement of why you want to take part in the programme (no more than 15 lines please)
• A completed application form;
• An equal opportunities monitoring form.

Click here for the following:

Application form

Guidelines
Equal opportunities form

Please send all details to applications@initialize-films.co.uk or to:

Initialize Films
Producers' Lab on Interntaional Co-Productions
15 Southampton Place
London
WC1A 2AJ

For more information on other training and project development programmes click on the links below:

Screenwriters
Producers
Documentary Filmmakers and Documentary Producers

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