New Funding Open for Otago Short Film Scripts

New Funding open: Otago short film scripts wanted

Short Film Otago has a new funding round open for new writers and filmmakers.

It is calling for scripts/film ideas/outlines for development and possible funding.

Short Film Otago provides a "first step" initiative for southern writers and film makers, similar to the New Zealand Film Commission's Fresh Shorts scheme, offering writers and film makers early in their career up to $10,000 to produce films. However, the SFO initiative is dedicated to Otago.

Short Film Otago is a registered charitable trust, which aims to invigorate screenwriting in the region by generating quality writing, and supporting full production of two or three of the best scripts each year to help build experience and talent.

Past SFO productions have been selected for screening in the NZ International Film Festival and numerous other festivals, picking up numerous awards, and several SFO writers and directors have gone on to make funded features.

Prior film making experience is not required, and professional mentoring and support is provided throughout production. Short Film Otago uses a "blind" assessment process to determine which scripts will proceed to development and production.

Writers of several selected scripts will be provided with a $500 grant for further development before final decisions are made on which scripts are supported through production.

We encourage writers to apply as part of director and/or producer teams, but writers applying individually will be given assistance in assembling a production team if their application is successful.

Entries are open to anyone living in, or with a strong connection to, the Otago region and can be anything from fully finished scripts to one-page outlines - or works in between. The concepts must be strong, original dramatic stories that are visually interesting and have an ideal length of 10 to 15 minutes. SFO does not currently fund documentaries.

I encourage anyone with a short film idea to get it in to us.

Entries close 5pm, Sunday, October 1st, 2017.

The Short Film Otago initiative is made possible by support of the Otago Community Trust and members of the local screen industry.

For further details about selection criteria and eligibility see the Short Film Otago website: https://sfo.org.nz or email tocontact@sfo.org.nz.

ENDS

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