Hello!  You have arrived to the “Everything you needed to know about the IFP/Chicago Production Fund…but were afraid to ask” page!  Download these links below!

Production Fund 2012 Application

Production Fund Budget Sample

Two full days of film, music, creative displays, art gallery and photo exhibits.

Mofest is the annual film, media and arts festival that celebrates the local film, post, print and media production and creative communities.

For more details, visit mofest.com or email mo@mofest.com

For those of you who missed the official IFP/Chicago screening in late 2009, ROOFTOP WARS will have it’s hometown film festival premiere at the 27TH CHICAGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL on APRIL 8TH and 9TH.

Rooftop Wars has been featured in over a dozen film festivals worldwide with a big win last month for BEST SHORT FILM at the 33RD CINEFESTIVAL in SAN ANTONIO!

What: Screening of ROOFTOP WARS at the 27TH CHICAGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL

When/Where: Screening 1: April 8th, 4:30 PM, Landmark Theatres (2828 N. Clark);  Screening 2: April 9th, 1:45 PM, Instituto Cervantes (31 W. Ohio)

More Info:www.chicagolatinofilmfestival.org

View Rooftop Wars Trailer

Want a great way to hone your filmmaking skills, develop your craft, and explore your existential angst all at the same time? Our friends at the 46th Chicago International Film Festival invite you to explore The Human Condition through film!

Filmmakers of all ages and experience levels are invited to conceive, design, and produce an original 60-second film that examines who and what we are. This unique competition will be judged by an international jury of industry professionals, film critics, and civic leaders.

A program of finalist entries will be screened during the 46th Chicago International Film Festival and online, and the top three films will receive prizes, including $1,000 cash.

Submissions must be postmarked by August 25, 2010. For details on how to submit your film, visit www.ChicagoFilmFestival.com/TheHumanCondition.

IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs-Call for Documentary & Narrative Features

A National Program Connecting Mentors and Projects Before They Are Submitted to Festivals

Documentary Lab Submission Deadline: February 13
Narrative Lab Submission Deadline: April 17

Led by experienced producers, the Labs assist filmmakers in tackling the creative challenges of completing their modestly-budgeted, independently produced films – getting a leg-up before industry exposure. The five-day mentorship program in NYC challenges filmmakers to realize the full potential of their footage and stories with ongoing dynamic feedback and advice on technical & creative issues and distribution methods. The Labs are for first-time, narrative & documentary feature directors in the late stages of post-production. For more info & application:

http://labs.ifp.org

For Teachers & Students

The International Documentary Challenge is a thrilling learning experience for students of film and video. Many of our past participants (and winners!) have been groups of students led by a teacher – all levels from high school students to community media classes to documentary and journalism majors at universities and art institutes.

The feedback we receive is that the “challenge” is an exhilarating experience for the students that help them focus in a new and effective way. Initially it seems like a ridiculous notion to think of completing a film in such a short time, but that, in essence, is the point of this competition – to encourage filmmakers to work straight from their gut, make quick decisions and finish a creative project under pressure. When making a film in a few days, one learns a lot about what is and isn’t important in filmmaking – lessons that will never be forgotten.

One of the main lessons students gain by doing the Doc Challenge (or National Film Challenge for fiction) is that of teamwork. With such a tight deadline, the students learn valuable lessons on how to work together in an efficient and productive manner.

Coming your way:

May 1 – 3, 2009

The Talking Pictures Festival highlights new independent films from around the world in a celebration of films with a unique voice andpoint-of-view. The festival will take place at several venues throughout Evanston, Illinois, a vibrant and diverse community right next to Chicago.

Filmmakers, we are looking for your work!
Documentaries, fiction films, music videos, experimental films, animation, short or long, … any length or genre is welcome! Cash awards for winning entries.

“Early bird” deadline: January 15, 2009
Regular deadline: January 30, 2009

Entry form available at: www.talkingpicturesfestival.org
The organizing force behind the Talking Pictures Festival is Percolator Films, a non-profit media arts organization that also organizes the popular, 9-year-old Reeltime film and discussion series (www.reeltimeevanston.org). For the Talking Pictures Festival, we have teamed up with Northwestern University’s Block Cinema and Evanston’s Boocoo Cultural Center and Café to create this new festival where independent filmmakers can share their vision with appreciative audiences.

Questions? Contact us at: filmvideoforum@yahoo.com

The Illinois Film Office announces Shortcuts, Illinois’ first Short Film Contest. The winning entry will receive a cash prize and premiere at the 2008 Chicago International Film Festival.

Click here to download an application