Cittador International Film Festival (Cittador IFF)’s Post

The BIRRARANGGA Film Festival (BFF) is a significant celebration of Global Indigenous Films, taking place in Naarm. Curated by Wurundjeri (Woiwurrung)/Yorta Yorta screen creative Tony Briggs, creator and writer of The Sapphires, the Festival will present over 90 feature-length and short films from Australia, Canada, the USA, New Zealand, Mexico, Russia, Norway, Finland, Hawaii, Sweden, and Greenland. These films explore the themes of strength, resilience, and the environment, reflecting the deep connections between Indigenous cultures and the moving image as a medium of expression. The Festival’s name, “BIRRARANGGA,” meaning "River location" in Woiwurrung, highlights the shared importance of rivers to Indigenous peoples worldwide. With the blessing of Wurundjeri/Yorta Yorta Elder Aunty Zeta Thomson, the name also symbolizes the fluidity and vitality of Indigenous storytelling. BFF’s vision is to: - Nurture leadership in the global screen industry - Create visibility for Indigenous filmmakers - Facilitate connections between screen practitioners worldwide - The BIRRARANGGA Film Festival provides an essential platform for Indigenous storytelling, celebrating cultural heritage while forging new pathways for collaboration and leadership in the screen industry. https://lnkd.in/gHzpSxt

📢 New Publication! 🎥✨ Sten Kauber and I explore the intricate relationships between film industry professionals and film audiences! 🎓 We hope this work #contributes to broader discussions on the interplay between audience expectations & professional strategies & communicative processes in film markets. 🎓We #introduce a novel theoretical framework that integrates social network markets, imagined affordances, and value creation, offering a multidimensional perspective on the film value network. Our findings underscore the importance of #bridging audience studies & production studies to provide a holistic understanding of value creation in film markets. #FilmIndustry #ValueCreation #AudienceEngagement #CulturalStudies #ImaginedAffordances #SocialNetworkMarkets #SocialNetworkMarkets #ValueNetworks #Estonia #AudienceStudies #ProductionStudies #EuropeanCinema CresCine Baltic Film, Media and Arts School https://lnkd.in/dAnw6Ch5

Ever felt discouraged as an aspiring filmmaker, wondering how to get your voice out there? The struggle of being overlooked in a sea of blockbusters is real. Many passionate storytellers often find themselves questioning if their unique perspective will ever be seen or celebrated. 😔 But let’s talk about the transformation from that feeling of doubt to a place of celebration. 📽️ Picture this: after honing your craft, submitting to various film festivals, and making invaluable connections, your short film finally gets selected for a major festival like Sundance or TIFF. Suddenly, not only do audiences notice your work, but you also feel a sense of belonging in a vibrant community that appreciates independent cinema! ✨ How did this change happen? Start by investing time in your craft—attend workshops, connect with fellow filmmakers, and immerse yourself in the world of storytelling. Submit your work to diverse festivals, and don’t shy away from feedback; use it to propel your growth! Also, celebrate every milestone—every screening or acknowledgment counts! 📣 For anyone aspiring to make their mark in the world of film, remember these tips: 1. Embrace your unique perspective; it’s your greatest asset! 2. Network—build relationships with fellow creatives and industry professionals. 3. Keep refining your skills; the more you create, the better you become. 4. Stay persistent! Every ‘no’ is just a step closer to a ‘yes’. Reflecting on this journey, it’s clear that breaking through the noise and sharing our stories enriches the cinema landscape. Every independent voice matters, and every film festival is an opportunity to uplift those voices. Here’s to celebrating the beauty of storytelling! 🌍🎬 #FilmFestival #IndieFilm #CindieCommunity #StorytellingMatters

🎬 Exciting things are happening behind the scenes as we gear up for the next edition of the T-Port Lighthouse Selections! We can't wait to reveal the details soon! ✨ If you’re new here, the T-Port Lighthouse Selections is our annual showcase of the best short films from our online catalogue. These films get special attention at all year long. 🌟 🎥 Every year, we collaborate with two top-tier guest curators from the film industry to handpick their favorite short films on T-Port. We have been honoured to have past curators from some of the most respected festivals and platforms out there, bringing their unique perspectives to our collection. 🎞️ Filmmakers, this is your chance! You can submit your work anytime via our website. 📲 Don’t miss out on the opportunity to have your film in the spotlight! https://lnkd.in/eFrFFhUr 💡 In the meantime, here’s some wisdom from last year’s guest curator, Maike Mia Höhne: "To really watch - not only a lot of movies from yesterday and today, but to keep on doing that - watching, reading, getting in contact - with oneself and the other." What’s your top tip for becoming a well-rounded filmmaker? Drop your advice in the comments below! 👇 #Filmmaking #ShortFilms #TPortLighthouseSelections #FilmmakerTips #Networking

SPI in partnership with the AFCI | Association of Film Commissioners International, have published Best Practice in Screen Sector Development. The study is a full update of a groundbreaking 2019 analysis, fully expanded to account for the changes in the global screen sector since 2019. It examines the strategies, policies, and other interventions used by governments worldwide to maximise their share of the screen production market. The findings serve as a free playbook for governments and sector partners, providing actionable insights based on SPI’s unparalleled global expertise. More here > https://lnkd.in/eqPiisCM

A week ago, the 37th European Film Awards took place, hosted for the first time in Switzerland, in Lucerne. While I have some reservations about certain winners, it must be said that the European Film Academy brilliantly celebrated the richness of European cinema and the diversity of its talents. Swiss cinema also gained visibility throughout this year of preparation, culminating in the awards ceremony. However, the stars that shone over Lucerne seem to conceal a sobering reality: across Europe, budgets for culture — and therefore cinema — are among the first to be sacrificed in austerity plans. This short-sighted vision is creating increasingly hostile conditions, fueled by certain political agendas intent on leveling down and stifling diverse artistic expressions and narratives. Switzerland, unfortunately, is no exception to this trend. Even more worrying, Switzerland once had a unique project, internationally acclaimed, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) within the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). This funding has now been drastically reduced, directly impacting key institutions such as the Trigon-Film Foundation, which distributes numerous films from emerging cinematic regions, and the excellent Fribourg International Film Festival. As for the funding of Visions Sud Est — which, over 20 years, has supported more than 200 productions, some of which have won prestigious awards at major international festivals, would probably never have seen the light of day without this initial impulse — and the Winterthur International Short Film Festival, they have simply been eliminated. Yes, the celebration was dazzling, filled with glitter and light, but it cannot hide the darker days ahead for culture and European cinema… Vous pouvez lire ce texte en français sur j:mag : https://lnkd.in/eqmDF8KP Die deutsche Version dieses Textes finden Sie auf j:mag : https://lnkd.in/eqmDF8KP #europeancinema European Film Academy #EFA #Lucerne

Awards in the film industry are a strange affair. I have sat on over twenty awards juries at film festivals, even chairing several, and they are never entirely fair. Egos, friendships and petty jealousies come to the fore and always influence those present. However, the new BAFTA voting system is brilliant and about as fair and true as I think it can be. Now, they have dispensed with DVDs, which only benefited the well-funded distributors (the only time I ever sent out DVDs to members, it cost my company just short of £12,000). This means that a film distributed by a small company with unknown filmmakers and actors can stand alongside the $100 million studio movie. I am so pleased to see such a wonderful cornucopia of documentaries entered. In the old days, it was just not viable. They even suggest that all members be divided into groups, and then they recommend that the group watch a certain number of films. This is a genius idea, as the group's films are diverse and always introduce members to films they might not normally see. Because the selected films are only nine in number, even the busiest BAFTA member has a chance of seeing them all. Many members I know ignore their grouping, which is a shame as it does give all filmmakers the same bite at the cherry, which is rather marvellous. It is the fairest judging that I have ever come across. Well done, BAFTA, and whoever thought of and devised BAFTA View. #bafta #films #filmawards #documentaries #oscars #awards #distributors #distribution

This one is really special. Encouraging young generations of entrepreneurs and change makers to be a part of a bigger social good will always be at the top of our priority list. #legacylab #legacyinthemaking #docufilms

As challenging as it is to produce an independent film, everything that comes after can be just as difficult. From researching which festivals to apply to, getting the film in front of the intended audience, to finding the right partners for distribution, each step can bring stress and confusion. It often leads us to ask ourselves, “Am I doing the most I can with this piece of art?” For many of us independent film producers, our instinct is to submit our work to film festivals. Personally, I’ve found that with so many festivals out there, it can be hard to determine which ones are worth applying to. How much value do we truly gain from a laurel or from an in-person screening versus an online one? Christine and I had an experience with the Spotlight International Film Festival that completely shifted my perspective on the value these programs can provide to independent filmmakers. Not only did it give us an opportunity to screen "Seen", but it also granted us access to the #AmericanFilmMarket. This experience demystified so much of the journey between completing a short or independent film and getting it in front of the audience it’s meant for. The knowledge we gained made the entire trip to Las Vegas worthwhile—not to mention the opportunity to share our art, connect with talented filmmakers, and learn more about this industry. Grateful for this experience and excited to share "Seen" with everyone in 2025! 💜

The Misconception of "Making It": African Filmmakers at International Film Festivals and the Struggle for Recognition "Remember, you can't complain about being ignored by the press because you're African while simultaneously ignoring the press that is there specifically to cover you..." I'm writing this in the thick of awards season film festival coverage, with Venice and Toronto now behind us. My experiences during this relentless whirlwind of events reminded me of a persistent problem. The journey of African filmmakers through the labyrinth of major international film festivals is fraught with expectations and missed opportunities. The excitement of having a film selected for a prestigious event is often tempered by the reality of the festival's aftermath, where visibility and media engagement are critical yet elusive. There appears to be a prevailing belief that acceptance into a major international film festival means you've essentially "made it." This couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, festival placement is just the beginning of a crucial phase that demands strategic thinking, relentless promotion, and savvy media engagement. There is a disconnect between African filmmakers and producers whose films are selected, and the international press covering these events. It's a two-sided coin of frustration that needs to be addressed for the benefit of African cinema as a whole. Last week, Akoroko Premium subscribers received an in-depth look at this conundrum from key industry perspectives. To receive the newsletter and more, subscribe at the link: akoroko.com/subscribe/