A call to new filmmakers

CEBU, Philippines - Nine million pesos worth of grants are up for grabs at the Quezon City Film Development Commission’s (QCFDC) Circle Competition and DoQC International Documentary Competition.

The competition, which is open to all new filmmakers, is part of the 2015 QCinema International Film Festival.  Eight narrative feature films will be funded one million pesos each as part of the QCinema’s Circle Competition for New Filmmakers. Five full-length documentary films will be funded 200,000 pesos each as part of the QCinema’s DoQC International Documentary Competition.

The organizers also announces that the rights for the completed film output belong to the filmmaker.

However, QCFDC, as executive producers, reserves the right to screen the film during selected events.  Commercial, non-commercial and/or film festival screenings of the films must also have prior permission from QCFDC.  The films must also have its Philippine premiere in QCinema 2015.

The QCinema’s Circle Competition  is open to filmmakers who have not made more than three feature films under his or her credit. To join the competition, the filmmaker must submit a completed QCinema 2015 application form; a profile of proponents, including the director, writer and producer; a soft copy in PDF format and hard copy of the one-page synopsis, the director’s statement, sequence outline and complete screenplay (preferred); and a sample of director’s works in DVD format. Also needed are the proposed budget outline in the format of pre-production, production and post-production.

 Screenplay must have a minimum of 60 sequences and an estimated running time of not more than 100 minutes. Submitted film output must be in AVI format with English subtitles. Co-financiers may be involved in the project as long as the overall budget is pegged at a maximum of three million pesos.

For the QCinema’s DoQC International Documentary Competition, only filmmakers who are Filipino citizens are eligible to join. To join the competition, the filmmaker must submit a completed QCinema 2015 application form; filmmaker’s profile; a soft copy in PDF format and hard copy of the concept paper,  director’s statement and topic outline; director’s reel and sample works in DVD format; and proposed budget outline in the format of pre-production, production and post-production.

Documentary projects currently in production are preferred but not required. For projects currently in production, a maximum of 15 minutes footage must be submitted in DVD format.

Completed film output must be a minimum of 45 minutes total running time, with a maximum of 90 minutes total running time. Submitted film output must be in AVI format with English subtitles.

Organizers also remind all filmmakers that the use of original literary sources, music materials and film footage must have proper clearance from its respective copyright owners before it can be used in the final film output.

Submitted film output must have its Philippine premiere in QCinema 2015, which will be held from October 22 to 31, 2015. The films will be eligible to compete for the Pylon Awards where cash prizes are also at stake.

Application forms may be downloaded at www.facebook.com/QuezonCityFilmFest.  Completed forms and all attachments may be submitted at VPF Creative Productions Office at Unit 207, PM Bldg., #24 Matalino St., Central, Quezon City. Deadline of submission for the circle competition March 6, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.  Deadline for the DoQC International Documentary Competition is March 20, 2105 at 5:00 p.m. (FREEMAN)