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- AFCOOP Updates — FILM 5 ANNOUNCEMENT — Nov 14, 2024
AFCOOP Updates — FILM 5 ANNOUNCEMENT — Nov 14, 2024
MEET THE 2024 - 2025 FILM 5 COHORT AND THE AMP LAB NEW DIGITAL ARCHIVE INTERN, BRODY!
Hello everyone! We are pleased to announce the 2024 - 2025 Film 5 cohort and thrilled to welcome Brody Weaver to the team as the AMP Lab Digital Archive Intern! Big thanks to the group who came out for the Talent to Watch discussion last night. Coming up next week is Brendon Wilson’s Colour Grading for Film Workshop and a reminder that the AFCOOP’s grants application is fast approaching (December 1st)! Learn more below.
THE FILM 5 2024 - 2025 COHORT
MATUES
Writer/Director: Mallory Amirault
Producer: Holly Stevens
In a poignant exploration of Indigenous resilience, this film centers around the enduring vibrancy of Mi’kmaq culture. Without dialogue, Matues invites audiences into an evocative soundscape, where the whispers of nature create a visceral connection to the past and present of Indigenous identity. Intimate and deliberate, this film signifies healing and remembrance, asserting that Indigenous knowledge and traditions are not only alive but thriving, calling all to listen and honor their significance.
THE DRAINING
Writer/Director: Autumn Cox
Producer: Patrick Wadden
The Draining is a spacious and surreal journey that follows Maya, a young woman weary from navigating a landscape filled with elusive truths. Guided through fragmented memories and ancestral echoes, the film examines the long-term psychological effects of the male gaze and how generational hardship can connect us beyond systems of oppression.
THE GIRLS
Writer/Director: Kirstin Bruce
Producer: Ailsa Galbreath
In a small town, 5 women and a child meet weekly for their scrapbooking club. Everything changes one Wednesday when their usual gossip takes a turn and goes too far.
MOURNING RITUALS
Writer/Director: Annaka Gale
Producer: Jovana Randjelovic
Mourning Rituals is a haunting exploration of grief, wherein a young woman begins seeing her deceased friend in the faces of strangers. Through fragmented memories and surreal encounters, she navigates moments of their past together, blurring the boundaries between reality and remembrance. As she struggles to accept the loss, these visions force her to confront the unresolved emotions buried deep within, and contend with how mourning reshapes our perception of the world around us.
ID: A digital scan of a dimly lit polaroid photograph. Pictured in the portrait is Brody, who appears in the centre wearing yellow-orange classes, a grey t-shirt, and her hair middle parted in a double braid. The background is dark.
Brody Weaver is white settler emerging media artist, writer and educator living and learning in Kjipuktuk. She has a BA in Art History and Contemporary Culture from NSCAD U, was a Media Art Scholar at the Centre for Art Tapes in 2022-23, and was most recently a Writer-in-Residence at Eyelevel Artist Run Centre. Brody has worked in in archives and collections, academic and arts-based research, and as a facilitator for art and community-based education programs.
Brody will be working with the AMP Lab manager, Chris Spencer-Lowe and AFCOOP/AMP lab staff and community, continuing work on the Online Archive project!
This position is funded through the Digital Skills for Youth program and coordinated by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA).
ABOUT The AMP Lab:
The AMP lab was established in 2022 by AFCOOP and the PUBLIC ARCHIVES OF NOVA SCOTIA to foster the preservation and sustenance of Film, Media and moving images in the Atlantic Region as history and artistic expression. AFCOOP operates with generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of Nova Scotia and the City of Halifax. The AMP LAB operates with continued support of the PUBLIC ARCHIVES OF NOVA SCOTIA.
AFCOOP’S FALL WORKSHOP SERIES
We’re nearing the end of the workshop series! Dark Room Safety has sold out and Colour Grading for Film is filling up quickly. Sign up today!
Colour Grading for Film
Instructor: Brendon Wilson
November 20, 2024, 6 pm
REGISTER
Dark Room Safety SOLD OUT
Instructor: Dawn George
December 4th, 2024, 6 pm
REGISTER
VENUE ACCESSIBILITY
AFCOOP is located at 1800 Argyle Street (Suite 303) in the Light House Arts Centre. There is a ramp to the main entrance on Argyle Street and elevators inside the lobby to the third floor, as well as gender-neutral bathrooms.
PRICING POLICY
AFCOOP recognizes there are systemic inequities that create barriers for people in accessing film training. In an effort to address and recognize historical and present-day inequities, we have created a pay-what-you-can style pricing plan for our workshops. Please feel free to sign up for whatever price point you are most comfortable with, no questions asked.
$35 — Regular Rate: This rate covers the cost of paying our instructor as well as the cost of staff time to organize and promote the workshop.
$20 — Reduced Rate: This rate makes a contribution towards our costs.
$0 — FREE: This rate acknowledges that financial means should not be a barrier to becoming a filmmaker. Please note that spaces are limited for this option and it's on a first come, first served basis.
See this year’s lineup of workshops below. Please note that dates are tentative and subject to change—workshops may be added or removed depending on registration numbers and interest.
VOLUNTEERS: We will need volunteers for lockup duty at these workshops. If you are interested in volunteering for a specific workshop, email Henry Colin at [email protected]
SEQUESTERED SCREENWRITERS GROUP NOVEMBER MEETING!
NEXT GROUP MEETING, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26th at 6 PM!
SIGN UP HERE
The Sequestered Screenwriters group, a series of virtual sessions for screenwriters to share their work, is ready to make its triumphant return!
The group meets online the last Tuesday 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. Sign up!
2. 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.
3. Work on your script and send it in to Henry by Thursday, November 21st.
4. Online Group Meeting! Tuesday, November 26th, 6 pm.
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. Write a new script each month, or work on something longer term! The group will be facilitated by members Tracy McNeil and Emma Boardman. If you have any questions, contact Henry: [email protected]
CARBON ARC HOSTS SCREENING FOLLOWED BY A Q&A WITH AWARD WINNING CANADIAN FILMMAKER, HARLEY CHAMANDY, THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Still from ALLEN SUNSHINE, screening with video-Q&A on Friday and Saturday
Carbon Arc Cinema is delighted to screen ALLEN SUNSHINE this Friday and Saturday (Nov 15/16). ALLEN SUNSHINE is the debut feature of 25 year-old Canadian filmmaker, Harley Chamandy, and the winner of the 2024 Werner Herzog Film Award, chosen by the legendary filmmaker himself. Previous winners of the award are Academy Award-winning directors such as Chloe Zhao and Asghar Farhadi.
Logline: A music mogul retreats to a remote cabin to mourn his famous wife's suicide. Amid the solitude of the Canadian wilderness he struggles with grief, until an unexpected encounter ends his isolation.
Learn more about the screening and purchase your tickets at carbonarc.ca!
Pictured is the vibrant crowd at Tara Thorne’s AIFF screening of LAKEVIEW!
THE ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS HIRING
Our friends over at AIFF are looking for someone to join their team in a full-time and permanent role as the Development Manager:
The Development Manager is responsible for fund development activities for the Atlantic International Film Festival including government grants, corporate sponsorships, in-kind community partnerships, donations and membership revenue.
Check out the full job posting here!
NEXT DEADLINE: December 1st, 2024
APPLY HERE
AFCOOP’s filmmaking grants support the production of local independent films through in-kind equipment and resources. There are grants that are open to the public as well as some that are only open to AFCOOP Full Members. For all grants, the individual applying must hold ownership and creative control of the project. Only Nova Scotia residents are eligible for grants.
If you have any inquiries please contact Henry: [email protected]
Applications will be accepted online only up until 11:59pm on December 1, 2024.
FIRST THING GRANT
Provides resources and training to make your first film including:
• $500 in-kind gear and facilities (valued at regular rates)
• “Intro to Filmmaking in Nova Scotia” workshop
• 2 x workshops of your choice
• Associate Membership
• 3 x 1hr meetings with an AFCOOP mentor
Eligibility: Open to all applicants including non-members. This grant is intended for filmmakers with little or no experience. If you have made a few shorts on your own but feel like you would benefit from this support then you are certainly still eligible
SUPER-8 BURSARY
Covers all costs associated with shooting a short Super-8 film including:
• Two rolls of colour or b&w Super-8 film from the AFCOOP fridge (exact stocks may vary, however we will try to accommodate specific requests)
• Super-8 camera rental (duration is flexible depending on the needs of the project)
• Shipping to and from the lab
• Film processing at a professional film lab
• Digitization (this will be done in house at AFCOOP unless the filmmaker wishes to pay extra for a professional frame-by-frame scan at the lab)
Eligibility: Open to all applicants including non-members. This grant is suitable for beginners as well as established filmmakers. Super-8 is an accessible entry-level analogue format and AFCOOP staff will provide a camera tutorial/refresher if needed.
FEEDBACK LOOP
Provides professional mentorship from an AFCOOP member or community member for a project you are developing. Examples of types of support you might request include: production feedback from a producer or production manager, script feedback from a screenwriter, or feedback on your rough-cut from an editor. Mentors will be selected from senior AFCOOP members and the community based on the nature of your project. You are welcome to apply with a specific person in mind, however, we can’t guarantee we will be able to match you with that individual.
Eligibility: Open to all applicants including non-members.
ANALOGUE FILM GRANTS
Provides resources for the production of a project involving analogue film (Super-8, 16mm or 35) including:
• $500 cash project support
• $2000 equipment in-kind gear and facilities (valued at regular rates)
• Ability to be covered under AFCOOP’s production insurance if needed
Eligibility: AFCOOP Full Members only.
INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS GRANT
Provides resources for the production of an independent film project including:
• $500 cash project support
• $2000 equipment in-kind gear and facilities (valued at regular rates)
• Ability to be covered under AFCOOP’s production insurance if needed
Eligibility: AFCOOP Full Members only. Please note that if this funding is being combined with other grants from Arts NS or Canada Council you will need to indicate if those grants are confirmed or pending and indicate how you would proceed with the project without that support.
FOR ENTRY + FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
November 15th: Arts NS Grants to Individuals
This program supports Nova Scotia’s professional, practicing artists in the creation and dissemination of their own work. The program also supports professional artists by helping them to develop their practice and skills in all disciplines including fine crafts, music, literary, visual, media, and performing arts.
Call for Submissions: Animation Festival of Halifax
Animation Festival of Halifax #14 • May 8-10 2025
Submissions are OPEN
They’re programming new animation, independent Canadian short films and international feature films. Learn more here.
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, December 3.
For more information on getting your film processed, email Cody: [email protected]
TRIVIA QUESTION
What year was FILM 5 started?
Answer to last week’s question: Argyle Street! Above what used to be the Seahorse Tavern, but is now the Economy Shoe Shop.
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.