Call for Applications | New identities: An Israel/Canada international coproduction partnership in digital creation
An initiative of the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films, the Canada Media Fund and the National Film Board of Canada in collaboration with the Haifa International Film Festival, Hub Montréal and Xn Québec.
The Gesher Multicultural Film Fund (GMFF), the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films, the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) the Haifa International Film Festival (HIFF), Hub Montréal and Xn Québec wish to push the limits of new forms of narration and foster new conversations about identity.
Traditional definitions of identity are being questioned on both the individual and collective fronts. From political, technological, cultural and economic points of view, paradigms and identities are undergoing significant change. Conversations about identity have multiple anchors and differ depending on ethnic backgrounds, gender, ideology, technology, community and geography.
The aim of this project is to invite candidates to question the narratives that have been passed on to them and which have forged their identities, with a view to reshaping them to create new identity stories. These stories will favour an approach that is at once individual, collective, local and international. In so doing, the Israel/Canada partnership will help broaden horizons and engage with new audiences.
As part of the process, we will meet with artists, producers, creators, artisans and technologists. These candidates will be part of a delegation, and they will take part in a series of workshops in both Israel and Canada. Candidates will then be invited to form coproduction teams (made up of Canadian and Israeli candidates) and submit a project proposal to secure financing. The four best projects will be financed by an international coproduction incentive fund.
Each of the projects will be based on a story with a defined narrative (documentary, animation or an experimental approach). They could use several different media (360, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, mobile, social media, etc.).
The coproduction is a joint venture between both countries on the financial, executive and communications fronts. Transportation, lodging and per diems during the delegation phase when travel is required will be covered for the twelve candidates. The total budget of the production phase is 200,000 euros, and it will finance the four projects supported by the incentive fund.
Eligibility criteria
- This offer is open to professional artists in all disciplines.
- Israeli candidates must be Israeli citizens or permanent residents. They may be incorporated or registered.
- Canadian candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. They may participate in the delegation phase as individuals, but for the production phase they must be incorporated, with their head office based in Canada.
- All candidates must have a good understanding of spoken and written English.
- All candidates must be eligible to travel in both Israel and Canada, and they must be available during the Haifa International Film Festival (Israel, October 2019) and Hub Montréal (Canada, November 2019).
To submit an application
The proposal must include:
- A presentation page that includes the name of the artist
- A condensed CV and/or portfolio of the artist, including the presentation of previous projects or links to those projects
- A letter of intent of maximum 1 to 2 pages complete with the artistic motivations and intentions.
Each proposal must be supplied as a single copy, measuring 21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8½ inches x 11 inches), and sent by email only. Only the required documents will be transmitted to the members of the evaluation committee.
To submit your proposal, please send us a single email with the required documents by August 1, 2019 at 12 pm (EST).
- Canadian candidates must send their proposal to the following address: [email protected]. Canadian submissions must be written in French or English.
- Israeli candidates must submit their application online on the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films website. Israeli submissions must be written in Hebrew and English.
Evaluation process
The call for submissions will bring together twelve Israeli and Canadian artists (six candidates per country). The candidates will be selected by a jury composed of members of the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films and the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund on the Israeli side and members of the CMF, the NFB, Hub Montréal and Xn Québec on the Canadian side. Once selected, the candidates will be part of a delegation, and they will be invited to workshops.
Following this process, the candidates shall submit a project proposal. The four best projects will be selected by an international jury composed of representatives from each of the partner organizations and funds, and they will be financed by an international coproduction incentive fund.
Schedule
- Call for submissions opens: June 25, 2019
- Submission deadline: August 1 at 12 pm (EST)
- Finalists chosen by the selection committee: August 19, 2019
- First delegation to the Haifa International Film Festival: October 2019
- Second delegation to Hub Montréal: November 2019
- Coproduction teams (made up of Canadian and Israeli candidates) submit project proposals for the production phase: January 2020
- International jury selects the four best projects for the production phase: February 2020
- Launch of the four final projects: May 2021
Intellectual property
The selected artist remains the rights owner of the project proposal submitted during the delegation phase. All selected candidates grant the National Film Board of Canada the definitive rights of first negotiation and first refusal for the exclusive production rights of the project with the aim of developing and coproducing the project following the delegation phase in accordance with the conditions to be negotiated in good faith with the artist.
For Canadian submissions: Questions may be asked in French or in English and can be sent to [email protected].
For Israeli submissions: Questions may be asked in Hebrew or in English on the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films website.
International coproduction partners
Gesher Multicultural Film Fund
Driven by the conviction that a powerful film can be a catalyst for social change, the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund (GMFF) is a unique fund in the landscape of the Israeli film industry. It invests in and fosters the development, production and distribution of feature films, documentaries and animation films of all genres that focus on social and cultural issues in order to contribute to the public discourse in Israel and around the world.
The GMFF promotes talented upcoming filmmakers at the start of their careers, including those from minority sectors that are geographically and socially removed. The GMFF provides expert professional guidance, a database, funding and innovative and creative initiatives, accompanying each project “from the idea to the screen.”
Working programs developed by the GMFF have been adopted by several organizations in Israel and around the world with great success. The films supported by the GMFF have gone on to be screened in the official competitions of the most celebrated international film festivals and have won a number of prestigious prizes.
Makor Foundation for Israeli Films
The Makor Foundation for Israeli Films invests in the development and production of films, documentary series, narrative short films and animated shorts, and narrative works that explore new media and new technologies. The foundation aims to invest in works that explore the richness and complexity of the cultural, social and political identities within Israeli society and of the country’s ethnic and religious minorities. Its mandate is to provide indiscriminate support of emerging and veteran filmmakers of all religions, faiths, races, ages and cultural backgrounds, and to encourage creativity through the quest for excellence and the defiance of established and stereotypical perceptions.
The Makor Foundation has supported hundreds of films that have garnered both local and international acclaim, been broadcast on major Israeli and foreign television channels and screened in major international film festivals, museums and art galleries as well as in film festivals promoting the constant connection of the Diaspora with Israel. The foundation recently developed collaborations with broadcasters and other funds and foundations in Israel and around the world to broaden the scope of its investments and help filmmakers in the development and production phases of their projects, whether they’re working on documentaries, short films, animated films or digital works.
The Haifa International Film Festival
The Haifa International Film Festival, the first such film festival in Israel, was inaugurated in 1983 and quickly gained a reputation as an important international cinematic event. The festival attracts some 300,000 visitors who attend the screenings of about 280 new films from around the world, live concerts and outdoor screenings for the whole family. The festival celebrates the artistic achievements in new Israeli cinema and its uncompromising, diverse character which addresses issues of Israeli society and pluralism. Some 300 guests from the Israeli and international film and television industry participate in the festival, meeting the audience, holding master classes and participating in industry workshops and competitions. Every year, the HIFF organizes a big international exhibition devoted to new media where it showcases the best narrative and artistic experiences in VR and AR and the latest Israeli virtual reality films. It also promotes films made by Israeli students and invites several guests to discuss their works with the public.
National Film Board of Canada
At the global crossroads of digital content, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) creates groundbreaking interactive animations and documentaries, content for mobile devices and installations and participatory experiences. The NFB’s interactive productions and digital platforms have picked up some 100 awards including 18 Webby wins. To access the award-winning content of the NFB, visit NFB.ca or download its mobile apps.
Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, promotes, develops and finances the production of Canadian content and relevant applications for all audio-visual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment through fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through industry and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors.
Hub Montréal
HUB Montréal is a professional market that fosters digital creativity in the cultural, entertainment and experiential marketing industries.
Xn Québec
The Digital Experiences Producers Association Xn Québec brings together the key players from Québec’s digital creation industry, namely more than 130 studios specializing in the production of content for various technological platforms.
Xn Québec is a catalyst for the development, consolidation and success of companies in the creative, media and cultural industries that are active across all forms of digital expression. It does this through various activities and events that foster networking and contribute to the growth of the industry.
Xn Québec brings the voices of digital creators together and amplifies the crossover of diverse networks and forms of expertise. It encourages the synergy of resources and knowledge in the production and broadcasting spheres.
