18-01-2011

East European Film Alliance "EEFA Training Network 2010"

    EAST EUROPEAN FILM ALLIANCE, a consortium of Eastern European film organizations with the financial support of the MEDIA INTERNATIONAL Preparatory Action of the European Union launched its training program „EEFA Training Network 2010“ to be held during 2010. Consortium partners were RFS (Romanian Film Sector Association) – Romania, IFF Molodist (Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist) – Ukraine, ALTFilm (ALTFilm) – Moldova, ASA (Ankara Cinema Association) – Turkey, GEOPOLY (Geopoly Film) – Bulgaria, IFF Moscow (Moscow International Film Festival) – Russia, PÖFF Tallinn (PÖFF - Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival ) – Estonia, ReAnimania (ReAnimania Festival) – Armenia, GOLDEN APRICOT – Armenia, AATALANTA (A Atalanta Film Production S.A.) – Slovenia, NFC - National Film Centre of Latvia, and Georgian National Film Center – Georgia. In 2010, EEFA operated a one-year Training Network for its partners in the following countries: Russia, Armenia, and Estonia. Alongside our partners, this initiative was supported by Media International. EEFA TRAINING NETWORK was a platform for film professionals from the East European countries and EU neighboring countries, utilizing co-production projects as concrete means to gather talents and strengthen the wide regional film industry. EEFA TRAINING NETWORK created, developed and helped capitalization of opportunities for international co-productions between the Eastern and European partner countries, as well as with the established film markets in the EU, trying to inter-relate the existing platforms or markets. EEFA TRAINING NETWORK facilitated information exchange and stimulated market intelligence by establishing a wide professional network that makes effective use of the information regarding necessary working conditions, legal framework, systems of financing, systems of distribution/exhibition within the audiovisual markets in the partner countries. EEFA TRAINING NETWORK enhanced the competitiveness and international co-operation of the audio-visual sector of the East European partner countries in relationship with their European counterparts. EEFA TRAINING NETWORK fostered opportunities for cultural diversity, product exchange and circulation of audiovisual products among the partner countries and within the EU by offering access to an industry-standard professional network available for all its members. Learning targets and professional benefits Participants learned the elements needed for a viable film project and improved their skills in how to draft a professional film-script, how to produce a film, how to deal with the main legal issues, how to analyze target audiences and market potential of a film project.Participants improved their understanding of the film sector in their country as well as of the other partner countries in order to understand the basic requirements to enter into co-production. Participants gained concrete parameters as to how to develop their career further in film and/or audiovisual field, as well as how to improve their daily practice.Participants had a better understanding of the functioning and dynamics of the European and Eastern film markets. Training format and methodologyThe training was spanned on the duration of a year, and consisted of four phases:

    • an on-line preparation phase during which all participants aligned themselves on key principles regarding the topics they worked upon, had interactive feedback in the form of questions and answers, and worked on assignments.

    Participants received on-line a set of core concepts and a list of assignments before the workshops, in order to attend the training with an equal level of understanding and preparation for the live workshops.

    • a live phase of spotlight meetings of the four basic film business crafts (screenwriters, producers, legal representatives, distribution representatives) in the form of residential workshops where initial assignments were evaluated and improved.

    In the workshop, know-how input was given through lectures, case studies and screenings for all participants. In the plenary and in group sessions led by the trainers, participants discussed and analyzed specific topics or case studies. ProgramSession no. 1: “Scriptwriting/Development” - framework event : Moscow International Film Festival- where : Moscova (Rusia)- when: 20th -22nd of June 2010Session no. 2: “Management of the Film Production” - framework event : Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival- where : Yerevan (Armenia)- when: 14th -16th of July 2010Session no. 3: “Legal Bases of Co-productions” & “Film Distribution”- framework event : Baltic Nights Film Festival (POFF)- where : Tallin (Estonia)- when :1st -6th of December 2010 And framework event: Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale 2011)- where: Berlin (Germania)- when: 10th - 19th of February, 2011 In 2010, 14 projects were selected (potentially, one per each partner country) and then given access to the Training Network program. The participants applied in teams and with projects, and benefited of one year of online assistance for their projects coming out from European experts: Mr. Patrice Vivancos (GR/FR), Mrs. Lucy Scher (GB), Mr. Christian Routh (UK/SP), Mrs. Catherine Buresi (FR), Mrs. Linda Beath (CA/IT), Mrs. Marta Lamperova (CZ/DE), Mr. Dirk Poppendick (DE), Who could applyEEFA Project 2010 was open only for the film professionals who were residents of the 14 partner countries plus Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.The trainees for EEFA Training Network applied in project teams (producer, writer/director, legal expert, promotion expert) that shared the same long feature film project (fiction or documentary, more than 70 minutes) being in development phase at that moment. Application requirementsThe applications were evaluated taking into considerations both the quality of the submitted projects and the professional profiles of the members of the team.

    • Indicative selection criteria for the submitted film project

    - quality of the script;- international market potential;

    • Indicative criteria for the members of the film project

    Selection procedure Selection criteria for producers were: either to have produced a minimum of two hours of audiovisual programs (any format and genre, no matter whether through their own or a third entity) or to have a sound business and managerial experience in any other field. They needed to be currently working in their country on project where they had teamed up with the writer/director. Selection criteria for writers or directors were: to have written and/or directed at least two hours of audiovisual program (any format and genre). They needed to be currently working in their country on project where they had teamed up with the producer. Selection criteria for legal experts were: at least three years of professional activity, preferably with experience linked to the film sector and intellectual property law. They needed to be currently working in their country on project where they had teamed up with the producer. Selection criteria for promotion expert were: at least three years of professional activity in film marketing/promotion. They needed to be currently working in their country on project where they had teamed up with the producer. Submitting the documentsThe application package was drafted only in English and contained: · Application form (properly filled in and signed);· CVs for each member of the team: producer, writer/director, legal experts, promotion expert. Each CV had to be updated with relevant information regarding the experience in cinematography industry or related fields and had to contain a photo in pdf or jpg format.· Long feature film project (fiction or documentary, more than 70 minutes) folder, which included: - synopsis (one page);- treatment (maximum 10 pages);- draft budget and financing plan (in euros; one page each);- draft distribution plan (one page).· A motivation letter signed by the Producer, containing a brief description of the production company and which had to provide arguments sustaining the interest of the team in participating within EEFA Training Network 2010. EEFA Training Network provided all technical support for an easy and secure application procedure. All documents were sent via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The East European Film Alliance was supported in 2010 by Media International Preparatory Action (an EU program aiming the development of the audiovisual industry in partnership with non-EU countries), by the FilmNewEurope website and the MAQS Law Firm. CoordinatorCATALIN LEESCUEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Mobile: +40 753 125 237
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