• AFCOOP Newsletter
  • Posts
  • AFCOOP Updates — AIFF news & award apps! — August 15, 2024

AFCOOP Updates — AIFF news & award apps! — August 15, 2024

It's the last week to apply for Linda Joy and Helen Hill Awards.

AFCOOP YARD SALE: Friday August 30

Kick off your long weekend with a visit to the side entrance (Grafton at Carmichael, across from the Midtown) where Cody will be selling all sorts of used tech doodads and gear, including hard cases in a range of sizes.

Payment by card unless you have exact change. No early birds!

L-R: Olivia King, Christine DiGosia, Anna MacLean, Jamie Hammond

FILM 5 at AIFF

Our friends at the Atlantic International Film Festival launched their program this week, and amongst the plethora of local talent are FILM 5 2023-24 alum Olivia King (director) and Christine DiGosia (producer) with The Kitchen Sink and Anna MacLean (director) and Jamie Hammond (producer) with Gaslit.

About The Kitchen Sink: Three generations of PEI women wash dishes. Their differences and their capacity to change are revealed when one of their own begins his transition.

About Gaslit: A woman goes to dangerous lengths to prove she wasn’t responsible for a fart.

Gaslit screens as part of Shorts Programme 2 on Friday, September 13 at 5:45pm. The Kitchen Sink screens as part of The Reel East Coast Gala on Sunday, September 15 at 7pm. Both will also be available online from September 18-22. Peep the whole AIFF program here.

FILM 5: Call for Applicants

Nova Scotia’s renowned training opportunity for emerging filmmakers.

Deadline: Monday, September 23, 11:59pm

The Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative invites emerging Nova Scotia filmmakers to apply to the FILM 5 Program 2024/25. FILM 5 is a professional and creative development program for directors, screenwriters and producers. The program culminates in providing each accepted team with the opportunity to produce a short film.

The deadline for applications is Monday September 23, 2024. The program begins in October. Applications and program guidelines will be available this month on our website. 

FILM 5 Participants will attend intensive workshops and receive mentorship from professional filmmakers. Up to four teams will be awarded cash and services to produce a short film. 

To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Nova Scotia, Canadian citizens or permanent residents, have some basic film experience and demonstrate a commitment to pursuing filmmaking at a professional level.

Important dates for Phase I can be found here.

This year AFCOOP is holding a series of FREE preparatory workshops to help filmmakers develop their ideas and get their applications ready. Don’t miss this opportunity to jumpstart your application and give yourself a leg up on the competition!

For each workshop you attend you will be able to receive $10 off your application fee to FILM 5. Attend all three and your application is FREE (a savings of $30!) Registration is required. 

FILM 5 Prep Courses 

FILM 5 Prep: Producing is Fun!

August 21, 6pm – FREE (in person)

Former Film 5 Producers will join us to discuss being a creative producer on a short film. Whether you have a budding interest in filmmaking, are a director looking to expand your skill set, or are an emerging producer, all are welcome to attend. Come find out why these busy producers love their jobs!

Producer Panel: TBA

FILM 5 Prep: Applications and Pitches: Do’s and Don’ts

August 28, 6pm – FREE (in person)

We will go over some basic do’s and don’ts of submitting your Film 5 application. We will also discuss how to present yourself and your idea for a film, helpful both for networking but also because shortlisted FILM 5 applicants are interviewed by the selection jury as it makes its decisions.

The FILM 5 Guidelines and Application form are available on our website. If you have any questions please contact FILM 5 Coordinator Henry Colin: [email protected]

Devour! & AFCOOP present Amuse-Bouche:
Short Food Film Competition

Deadline: Friday, September 20, 5pm
APPLY HERE

Devour! The Food Film Fest’s 14th edition is set for October 21-27, 2024 in Wolfville. As the world’s largest culinary film festival, we feature engaging cinema, food, wine, and culture, while addressing key issues in the food industry like climate change and food insecurity. Our theme this year is GAME CHANGERS & CHANGE MAKERS, where we will spotlight globally recognized visionaries and local heroes who are solving the world’s biggest food challenge. 

We are introducing the inaugural Devour! & AFCOOP Emerging Food Filmmaker Competition. We are seeking short films that explore themes connected to food, beverages, climate, waste, or any relation to food—up and down the food chain and back again. 

Rules:

  • Films must be a maximum of two minutes in length.

  • Films can be submitted in the following categories: Drama, Documentary, or Animation.

  • There is no entry fee and there is no entry limit.

  • Films must be completed after June 1, 2024, and be available for screening at the 2024 October festival.

  • All films will be viewed by a panel of qualified judges who have relevant expertise and experience relating to film. Entrants will be notified of the decisions of the panel by September 27, 2024.

  • AFCOOP members creating a film will have access to a $500 in-kind equipment rental. Please email [email protected] for details.

Full rules and regulations available on the application form.

Prize: 

Your film will be screened at the Devour! Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, October 23. You will receive one filmmaker pass for the 2024 festival and accommodations for four nights in Wolfville. You will also be presented an award at the Devour! Golden Tine Awards Brunch on Sunday, October 27. 

Please email [email protected] with any questions pertaining to this competition.

LINDA JOY MEDIA ARTS AWARDS CALL

DEADLINE: August 20, 11:59PM

AFCOOP is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2024 Linda Joy Media Arts Award. APPLY HERE

The Linda Joy Media Arts Society was founded in 1986 to commemorate the contributions and legacy of Nova Scotia filmmaker and former AFCOOP Coordinator, Linda Joy Busby, who died of breast cancer at the age of 34. The film Linda Joy was started by Busby to share her experience during a period of remission and completed by her friend and fellow filmmaker Bill MacGillivray. Proceeds from the sale of this film comprised the foundation of the initial society.

Since 2018, AFCOOP has administrated the annual Linda Joy Awards, typically awarded during the Atlantic International Film Festival in September. The Linda Joy Award and the Linda Joy Post Award consist of cash and in-kind services designed to help filmmakers in the Atlantic region produce a new piece of film or media art.

Awards are given out through a peer jury process.

LINDA JOY AWARD PACKAGE
  • $2,000 cash

  • 2 x workshops of your choice

  • Associate Membership

  • Ability to be covered under AFCOOP’s General Liability and Production insurance if required.

  • In-Kind Camera Package from AFCOOP

  • $5000 in-kind lighting and grip package courtesy of Sunbelt*

*The Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-operative (NIFCO) will provide $3,000 in-kind gear if a filmmaker from Newfoundland wins the award.

The New Brunswick Film Co-operative will provide $3,000 in-kind gear and a cash top-up from the Jane Leblanc Legacy Fund if a filmmaker from New Brunswick receives the award.

FilmPEI will provide $5,000 in-kind gear if a filmmaker from Prince Edward Island receives the award.

LINDA JOY POST AWARD PACKAGE
  • $1,000 cash

  • $2,000 (valued at regular rates) in-kind access to AFCOOP’s Media Suite*

*NIFCO will provide $3,000 in-kind for post-production if a filmmaker from Newfoundland receives the award.

*NB Film Co-op will provide $2,000 in-kind for post-production if a filmmaker from New Brunswick receives the award.

*FilmPEI will provide $2,000 in-kind for post-production if a filmmaker from Prince Edward Island receives the award.

HELEN HILL ANIMATION AWARD CALL

DEADLINE: August 20, 11:59PM

AFCOOP is pleased to announce the call for applications for the 2023 Helen Hill Animation Award. APPLY HERE

The Helen Hill Animation Award is open to artists working in animation and experimental forms in Nova Scotia. Helen Hill was a gifted filmmaker and film educator who was active in many communities across the continent. Helen lived in Halifax from 1995 to 2001, and was an integral personality in the film, arts and civic outreach communities.

Helen’s particular style of creation was unhampered by convention, and marked by a rarely found honesty and immediacy. In January of 2007 Helen Hill passed away in her home in New Orleans, the victim of a random act of violence. The Helen Hill Award was created to celebrate this remarkable individual and to support artists working in animation.

This award is given out through a peer-jury process. If you'd like to participate on a future AFCOOP peer jury please email Henry: [email protected]

HELEN HILL ANIMATION AWARD PACKAGE
  • $1,000 cash

  • $2,000 in kind equipment and facility access from AFCOOP (valued at commercial rates)

  • One year of Editing and Producing memberships (valued at $1,070) from the Centre for Art Tapes

Eligibility:

Applicants must be residents of Atlantic Canada. Sponsorship services are located in Nova Scotia. Past recipients can apply again at least 12 months after receiving an award as long as their past award project is completed, and required reports and material have been received by AFCOOP. Requests for retroactive financing are ineligible. The project for which funding is applied must be targeted for completion by May 2025. There are no restrictions on project length. The applicant must retain full creative control and ownership of the project throughout the production process.

SEQUESTERED SCREENWRITERS: AUGUST 27

The Sequestered Screenwriters Group is an online group for screenwriters to share their work. The group meets online at the end of every month to read and discuss each other’s short film scripts. In advance of the meeting, participants are given access to writing prompts to use (or not). Participants can send in their scripts, or works in progress to be discussed in the group. It’s FREE and open to all.

Here’s how it works:

1. Screenwriting prompts will be provided if desired. Otherwise, feel free to submit a screenplay or segment of up to 6 pages. Outlines are also welcome.

2. Work on your script and send it in to Henry by Thursday, August 23

3. Scripts will be sent out to the group on Friday, August 24

4. Online Group Meeting: Wednesday, August 27, 6pm

If you don’t like the prompt or if you have a script in progress that you’d rather work on that’s totally fine. The group will be facilitated by members Tracy McNeil and Emma Boardman. If you have any questions, contact Henry: [email protected]

FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Sending your film to the Niagara Custom Lab for processing? Going forward, AFCOOP will be mailing materials to the lab on the first Tuesday of every month.

Although we’re sending materials once a month, you can drop them off to our technical coordinator Cody Chandler anytime! Be sure to drop yours off before the next mail day on Tuesday, September 3.

For more information on getting your film processed, email Cody: [email protected]

AFCOOP’s Filmmakers Job Board is a place to connect with filmmakers and film crews looking for work, or volunteers looking to gain experience in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.

Submitting to the AFCOOP Job Board is totally free! All posts are subject to approval by AFCOOP staff and will be reviewed before they appear on the site.

Note: You don't have to create an account to post a job. If you wish, simply enter your email to sign up at the time of job submission.

See it all HERE!

ABOUT AFCOOP: Established in 1974 the Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative (AFCOOP) is a non-profit, community organization dedicated to supporting the production and presentation of independent film and moving-image-based work in a collaborative, learning environment.

AFCOOP acknowledges that we are located and operate in Kjipuktuk, in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw People. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaw, Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy Peoples first signed with the British Crown in 1726. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaw and Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations. We are all treaty people.

AFCOOP operates with generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of Nova Scotia and the City of Halifax.