By Tambay A. Obenson From Shadow and Act

Attention filmmakers… some news you can use.

The call for submissions for the inaugural Caribbean Film Mart, which will take place from September 24-27, 2015, is now open.

The Caribbean Film Mart will be held in Port of Spain during the 10th edition of the trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff), and is seeking Caribbean fiction feature films and creative documentaries in development or pre-production.

The primary goal of the Caribbean Film Mart is to foster direct relationships between the Caribbean and the international film industry, by stimulating and creating viable cinematic co-productions.

The selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with, and pitch their projects to, international film producers, film commissioners, sales agents and film funds, forging partnerships that can lead to the production and distribution of their films. The Mart will include panel discussions, networking receptions and a location tour, and participants will also be invited to attend the ttff/15 awards ceremony.

All applications must be for projects in development or pre-production to be made in the Caribbean. Either the producer or the director must be a Caribbean citizen or resident, or from the Caribbean diaspora, or an international filmmaker living and working in the Caribbean.

All submissions for the Caribbean Film Mart must be made online at http://vp.eventival.eu/ttff/2015/ no later than May 22, 2015. There is no submission fee.

The Caribbean Film Mart will be held in English, with interpreters provided as needed. Application materials should be submitted in English.

If you have any questions, visit: http://www.ttfilmfestival.com/caribbean-film-mart/

The project is co-financed by the ACP Cultures+ Programme, funded by the European Union (European Development Fund) and implemented by the ACP Group of States.

Additional details of the Caribbean Film Mart

The May 22 deadline for all submissions will be strictly followed. Filmmakers should not submit projects that do not fulfill the stated criteria. The ttff reserves the right to determine the eligibility of the submissions. Selected projects will be notified by the end of June.

Filmmakers are advised that the chances of making successful contacts during the Caribbean Film Mart are increased by a clear presentation of your project and a concrete description of the support or participation required.

Selection criteria:

The main criteria for selection are the viability and quality of the projects and the demonstrable talent of the directors and/or producers.
Each project will be considered on its own merits.
If selected for the Caribbean Film Mart, a completed screenplay (for fiction projects) must be submitted to the ttff by August 15th.
Again, the project MUST be made in the CARIBBEAN and either the producer or the director must be a Caribbean citizen or resident, or from the Caribbean diaspora, or an international filmmaker living and working in the Caribbean.
Specific conditions:

For selected projects, one representative, either the producer or director, must be present for the duration of the Caribbean Film Mart.
Selected projects will receive industry accreditation for the Caribbean Film Mart.
Economy class airfare and accommodation will be provided for one representative per project for successful overseas participants.
You may only apply if your film is still in the development or pre-production stage. However, if you have shot a teaser or trailer, you may still be eligible to apply.
If you are selected, you must submit your completed script by August 15th.
Each applicant may submit only one project.
Information required:

Title of film
Director, producer and writer
Estimated running time
Logline
Synopsis
Treatment
Notes of intention from the director and the producer
Script (if completed, in original language)
Top sheet of the budget in local currency with the US exchange rate
Financial plan including financing secured for the project if any
Director’s résumé
Producer’s résumé
Links to work of the director and producer
The Caribbean Film Mart is being implemented in association with the Fundación Global Democracia y Dessarollo from the Dominican Republic, the Association for the Development of Art Cinema and Practice in Guadeloupe, the Foundation of New Latin American Cinema and the Festival Régional et International du Cinéma de Guadeloupe.

The trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff) celebrates films from and about the Caribbean and its diaspora, as well as from world cinema, through an annual festival and year-round screenings. In addition, the ttff seeks to facilitate the growth of Caribbean cinema by offering a wide-ranging industry programme and networking opportunities.

Photo of Tambay A. Obenson

For more on this story go to: http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/call-for-submissions-for-inaugural-caribbean-film-mart-20150325