- Cinema Extreme
- Cinema Extreme Green Lit Projects
- Cinema Extreme 2007 Workshop Participants
- Past Events
- Current Events
- CInema Extreme FAQ's
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Cinema Extreme was created in 2002 by the
UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and Film4 to seek out and
develop filmmakers with a distinctive directorial voice and cinematic flair. The UK Film Council and Film4 appointed The Bureau to manage the scheme.
Twenty-three films have been commissioned to date. They have
been shown at festivals around the world and won numerous awards including Best
Short at the Edinburgh International Film Festival for Duane Hopkins Love Me or
Leave Me Alone and the Oscar for Best Short Film for Andrea Arnolds Wasp.
Cinema Extreme is the only scheme of its kind in the UK, a place where serious filmmakers can explore their vision in partnership with major financiers who have the potential to finance their first feature. The scheme has catapulted many of the commissioned filmmakers to their first feature:
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Wasp director Andrea Arnold went on to direct Red Road which won the Cannes jury prize in 2006 and is currently directing her second feature Fish Tank.
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A Changed Man director Jens Jonsson went on to direct King of Ping Pong which won the Grand Jury Prize, World Cinema at Sundance Film Festival in 2008;
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Love Me or Leave Me Alone director Duane Hopkins and producer Samm Haillay went on to make Better Things which was selected for Critics' Week at Cannes Film Festival 2008;
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The Bypass producer Trevor Ingman went on to produce the feature documentary The Meerkats;
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Get the Picture director Rupert Wyatt and producer Adrian Sturges presented their first feature,The Escapist at Sundance Film Festival 2008;
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Soft director Simon Ellis and producer Jane Hooks collaborated again on Dogging: A Love Story;
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Dog's Mercury director Martin Raddich and producer Jane Hooks presented Martin's first feature Crack Willow at the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2008.
In 2008/09, the UK Film Councils
Development Fund and Film4 will offer one of the filmmakers
commissioned by Cinema Extreme the opportunity to develop their feature to
first draft.
Further information about the commissioned films can be found here .
A key focus of Cinema Extreme is our commitment to diversity. We aim to:
- source a diverse range of filmmaking talent and mentors;
- provide new opportunities to increase participation of groups currently
under-represented in the UK film industry such as writers, directors,
producers and actors who are disabled, female and/or from black and
visible minority ethnic groups. In support of this ambition, we will
be soliciting applications to encourage a greater degree of participation
by filmmakers from these groups. Section 47 of the Sex Discrimination
Act 1975 and section 37 of the Race Relations Act 1976 apply;
- encourage filmmakers to explore social issues of disability, cultural/ethnic
diversity and social exclusion through the content and range of individual
projects;
- create much-needed progression routes into the UK film industry for
identified filmmaking talent;
- provide an opportunity for and encourage established filmmaking talent to reinvest their expertise in the talent of the tomorrow.
The Cinema Extreme 2008 Guidelines can also be found here.
Film4 and the UK Film Council will
select and fully finance up to 4 shorts films. The maximum budget per short film
will be 50,000. This year we will be considering scripts and one page ideas.
There will be one
call for applications.
Call opens 21 July 2008
Call
closes 12 September 2008
Applicants notified whether or not they are on the shortlist: December 2008
Films commissioned: June 2009
By December 2008 we will select a shorltist of projects for further development. In June 2009 we will commission 4 short films. Final delivery dates will depend on the nature of the film but in general applicants will be expected to deliver their films within a maximum of six months from the date of commission.
III) THE TYPE OF FILM WE ARE LOOKING FOR
- Think about features. This scheme is for people who can already show the beginnings of that vision and are a step away from making the next distinctive and ground-breaking new British feature film.
- Think about story. Think about what makes a great short film, but equally think about how this film shows the vision that you would bring to a feature. What kind of stories do you want to tell? What kinds of stories are missing from British cinema? What kind of voice and vision do you want to have as a filmmaker now and in the future?
- Think about audience. Think about what works with an aud ience sitting in a darkened room and who that audience might be. Think about what have become over familiar in short films and try something new. Think about how to engage an audience in your world on screen. Surprise and excite us.
Cinema Extreme is a
"director-led" scheme and all applications must be made by the
director.
You can apply with your preferred producer attached. If you do not have a producer and you are commissioned we will work with you to find the right producer for your film.
Directors can submit:
- one script;
or
- one script and up to two one pages ideas;
or
- one to three one page ideas.
Please note that we are looking for original works. We encourage original ideas but where work is adapted from previous existing source material, permission to use that source material should be in place at the time of application. You will be required to provide evidence of such with the application.
We do not want applications which have already received development finance from another source.
We do not want applicants to bring co-finance to the productions, unless that is in the form of in-kind support.
A key focus of Cinema Extreme is to incorporate a level of diversity in both the projects and the filmmaking talent attached which corresponds to the UK Film Council and Film4s respective diversity objectives. As there is an under-representation of filmmakers who are disabled, female and/or from black and visible minority ethnic groups, we particularly welcome applications from these groups. Section 47 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and section 37 of the Race Relations Act 1976 apply.
You are eligible to apply to Cinema Extreme if :
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you are an individual aged 18 years and over;
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you are a national or resident of the UK or another country of the European Union or European Economic Area;
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your short film will be predominantly in the English language and has main elements (e.g. producer, writer, director, location, story) which are substantially British in nature;
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you have a demonstrable track record in filmmaking.
Please note this is not a scheme for
inexperienced or first-time filmmakers.
The Cinema Extreme programme should provide filmmakers with a level of experience and expertise so that the next step in their careers will be making their first feature film. Examples of relevant experience are: directing short films that have been shown at significant international film festivals, or directing single drama or documentaries for a network broadcast. We encourage filmmakers crossing over from other disciplines (such as visual arts or theatre) to apply, but will expect applicants to demonstrate how they will make a successful transition into cinematic storytelling, and how this film will enable them to take the step into directing features.
Please complete an application form. These can be
downloaded from the UK Film Councils website
or here (as
PDF) (as
DOC).
All points are mandatory. Please fill in the application in bold, clear, capital letters. The Bureau will reject applications that are incomplete, invalid or unreadable.
You will also find the guidelines and FAQs on the
websites.
All applications must include:
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A completed Cinema Extreme application form
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an additional information form:
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2 copies of your script and/or idea(s)(unbound)
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2 copies of your director's notes for your script and/or idea(s)(unbound):
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2 copies of your cv and the cvs of any other people who are attached (e.g. producer, DOP) (unbound)
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2 copy of your director's show reel. Please avoid edited reels when possible. Try to include full films that show how you can tell a story. If there is more than one film/programme/commercial, etc, on your reel feel free to indicate what you would like us to watch.
- If you are submitting a script:a short synopsis of that script ( 100 words max).
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If your script is a resubmission: a maximum of 1 A4 page of resubmission notes indicating what changes have been made to the script and/or creative team.
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If you are submitting an idea or script adapted from previous existing source material evidence of permission to use that source material.
In addition you can send:
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Supporting material, for example storyboards.
Clearly label everything with your name and the project title(s).
None of the material submitted will be returned. Please do not include things you might need.
All documents should be unbound (no
staples, no plastic sleeves, no binding).
Once completed and signed the application form, equal opportunities monitoring form and supporting materials should be sent to:
Cinema Extreme
The Bureau Film Company
PO Box 62697
London
EC2P2FE
VI) HOW WILL APPLICATIONS BE ASSESSED ?
Film4 and the UK Film Council will be commissioning the productions with the assistance of The Bureau.
The Bureau will assess your application against the criteria in section III) TYPE OF FILMS WE ARE LOOKING FOR. Assessment will primarily focus on the script and/or idea(s) and the show reel submitted. Additional supporting materials may be considered if necessary for the proper assessment of the project.
A long list will be drawn up by The Bureau. Long listed applicants may be invited for an interview with Film4, the UK film Council and The Bureau.
Film4, the UK Film Coucil and The Bureau will then draw up a short list. You will be notified by e-mail at the beginning of December 2008 whether or not you are short listed. Short listed applicants may, be invited to attend a development workshop and will be invited to develop one/several of their projects.
Film4 and the UK Film Council will then make the final selection of 4 films to be commissioned based on the same criteria. You will then be notified within one week of the final commissioning meeting.
VII) HOW WILL THE SCHEME BE MANAGED?
The Bureau will oversee the selection and production processes.
If you are commissioned, then you and your producer will be expected to attend meetings with the Executive Producers for Film4 and the UK Film Council, the Business Affairs and Legal Departments of Film4 and the UK Film Council and The Bureau.
The Executive Producer for Film4 is Jo McClellan; the Executive Producer for the UK Film Councils New Cinema Fund is Rebecca Mark-Lawson; the Executive Producer for The Bureau is Matthieu de Braconier. Matthieu will also be responsible for managing the scheme.
If you are commissioned your producer/production company will receive a production finance and distribution agreement. This agreement will be between the financiers and your producer's production company.
Your budget, production schedule, shoot schedule and cashflow will need to be approved by internal committees at Film4 and the UK Film Council prior to you receiving any production finance.
The main conditions of finance are as follows:
Budgets must include:
- a contingency of 10%;
- provision of customary production insurance;
- provision for all delivery materials requested by the UK Film Council and Film4;
The cashflow will be subject to a holdback of at least 4% until full and complete delivery to the UK Film Council and Film4.
b) APPROVALS:
The UK Film Council and Film4 will require approval of:
- key elements such as writer, director, individual producer, screenplay, principal cast, all HODs and principal crew including but not limited to editor, director of photography, composer, sound designer, costume designer, hair & make-up designer, sound recordist, 1st AD, production manager;
- approval over the agreements for the services of cast and crew;
- music and related clearances (see section VII.d 'Contracts and Clearances');
- production budget, cashflow schedule and production schedule;
- insurance policies;
- all cuts of the film including rough cut, fine cut and picture lock.
c) CONTRACTS AND CLEARANCES:
Producers will be required to clear all rights in the film in all media and in perpetuity.
Producers and directors are strongly advised to avoid using any pre-recorded music, as the costs of clearances can often be prohibitive and can use up a disproportionate amount of the budget. Music will only be approved by the UK Film Council and Film4 if a signed agreement to clear all rights in all media and in perpetuity is reached in advance of principal photography.
Production companies will be expected to contract crew in accordance with the BECTU agreements and contract actors in accordance with the PACT/Equity Cinema Film Agreement.
d) DISTRIBUTION:
Please note that Film4 will require first transmission rights in the UK within 12 months of delivery of the films.
Film4 will requires:
- licence of the exclusive right to undertake or procure the broadcast of each film by any means of television in the UK and Eire, including (but not limited to) free, pay, pay per view, video on demand and near video on demand;
- the right to make each film available by means of the
internet (exclusive for first 12 months and non-exclusive thereafter). Half of
the Film4's investment in the budget (being the sum of GBP12,500) will be paid
by Film4 as a licence fee, and will not be recouped by
Film4.
Film4 and the UK Film Council will require:
- the non-exclusive right to exploit the films by means of direct exhibition
to non-paying audiences throughout the world in perpetuity;
- that all other rights to licence the distribution and exploitation of each film, to be licensed back to the respective production company in perpetuity, subject to key terms to be agreed with the UK Film Council and Film4 (relating to fees and commissions), which the producer will be required to incorporate into any sales agreement entered into for distribution and exploitation of the film.
Once the UK Film Council and Film4 have each recouped 50% of their respective investments in the film, all further revenues from the exploitation of the film will be shared with the Producer as to:
UK Film Council: 33.3%
Film4: 16.7%
Producer: 50%