{spotlight} blog

The European Independent Film Festival (ÉCU) discovers, promotes and projects the BEST independent films from around the world every year in Paris, France. Next year the festival will be held from 13-15th March.

Approximately one hundred films will be selected to compete in thirteen categories including features, shorts, documentaries, animation, student films and experimental.

The selected films will represent the pinnacle of contemporary filmmaking talent from around the world and compete for twenty-two awards including the prestigious title of “Europe’s Best Independent Film”.

The early deadline for submissions is December 15, 2008 and the late deadline is January 15, 2009. Independent filmmakers are invited to submit their films at www.ecufilmfestival.com.

John Williamson from the Truth About Youth and Arabella Croft of Black Camel Pictures recently attended the Film Finance Summit in London and have kindly provided GFO with short reports. Check out our features section where you will find details of their experiences at this event.

What are your views? Feel free to add comment..

Cultural Enterprise Office is Scotland’s specialist business support and development service for creative and cultural industry businesses & individuals and they currently have a vacancy for a receptionist.

They are looking for an enthusiastic and efficient individual with an interest in or working experience of the creative sector to join their central office team based in the Merchant City.

Reporting to the Project Co-ordinator, you will act as the initial point of contact for the service. You will be directing telephone calls and visitors to the appropriate person within the organisation, managing incoming and outgoing post, inputting client data and website registrations and supporting the Project Assistant. This post will require you to implement various administrative procedures and to provide additional support to the Cultural Enterprise Office team relating to the efficient delivery of the service and partner projects.

For a full job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit the website www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk

The closing date for applications is 9am Monday 1 December 2008.
Interviews will take place the week beginning 8 December 2008 with a start date of early January 2009.

Academy Class Training with Adobe invites you to attend a very special CS4 Seminar in Glasgow on the 19th November.

See the all-new Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 in action and learn how to create ground breaking work across every medium. Discover shortcuts for designing, building and distributing amazing creative experiences in every media – print, web, interactive, rich internet applications, video and mobile.

Who Should Attend?
Graphic designers, print professionals, production and layout artists, web designers and developers, interactive designers and application developers, cable and network broadcasters, post-production professionals, corporate and event videographers, independent filmmakers, visual communication trainers and educators.

Register @ http://www.academyclass.com/events.asp Places are limited so please book as soon as possible to guarantee a place.

Congratulations to all the BAFTA Scotland Winners.

Feature Film: Summer
Acting Performance, Film: Brian Cox, The Escapist
Entertainment Programme: Gary’s War
Acting Performance, TV: Ken Stott, Hancock & Joan
Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Broadcasting: Peter McDougall
The Lloyds TSB Scotland Audience Award for Most Popular Scottish Presenter: Lorraine Kelly
Writing in Film or Television: Bryan Elsley, Skins
Directing in Film or Television: Kenneth Glenaan, Summer
Multimedia: Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar North for Rockstar Games
BAFTA Scotland Award for Craft (In Memory of Robert McCann): Morag Ross
Outstanding Contribution to Scottish Film: Mike Alexander & Mark Littlewood
Factual Programme: Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives
Factual Series: The Genius of Charles Darwin
News and Current Affairs Programme: Britain’s Protection Racket, Panorama

www.baftascotland.co.uk

The Old Guys is a brand new sitcom for BBC1 written by Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong (Peep Show) and Simon Blackwell (The Thick of It).

Roger Lloyd-Pack (Only Fools and Horses, The Vicar of Dibley) and Clive Swift (Keeping Up Appearances) star as Tom and Roy - two guys growing old disgracefully while lusting over their sexy neighbour Sally, played by Jane Asher (Alfie, New Tricks).

THE SERIES WILL BE RECORDED AT BBC SCOTLAND, PACIFIC QUAY, GLASGOW AT 7.00pm ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

Wednesday 19th November
Tuesday 25th November
Tuesday 2nd December
Monday 8th December
Monday 15th December
Sunday 21st December

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE STUDIO AUDIENCE, PLEASE EMAIL OLDGUYSAUDIENCE@BBC.CO.UK

(Please remember to leave your name and phone number and indicate which show(s) you would like to attend.

The Scottish Excutive has just announced Ewan Brown as the Chair of Creative Scotland, the new publicly owned limited company which will be established.

Working closely with the Joint Board of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and Scottish Screen (SS) over the coming months, Mr Brown will formally become Chair when the company is established. Creative Scotland will take responsibility for all the practical transition arrangements, including staffing, systems and processes.

For more details check out the Scottish Executive website

The deadline is fast approaching for submissions to the Glasgow Film Festival, all entries must be submitted by Friday 31st October 08.

The 5th Glasgow Film Festival will run from 12-22 February 2009 in venues throughout the city. The festival is the fastest-growing film event in Britain, attracting audiences of over 20,000 in 2008 when it played host to a bumper array of UK premieres including Lars And The Real Girl, Cassandra’s Dream, The Cottage, The Bank Job, Honeydripper and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

The festival has now started the submission process for 2009 and welcomes features, shorts and work in all genres. The festival is committed to supporting Scottish talent and providing audiences with the opportunity to see the best of world cinema. For more details on how to submit your film, check out the Film Festival website.

Scottish Screen are seeking applicants for their New Entrants Programme for Film and Television

A tiered programme of on-the-job experience and tailored short courses and mentoring. The NETS Programme develops skilled and creative practitioners for film and television in production, craft, design and technical areas of the industry. NETS trainees work with independent companies and broadcasters across feature film, TV drama, factual production, commercials and interactive.

NETS One: full-time for one year, seeking up to 8 people with entry level specialist skills and interest to progress their career in one of the following: Production Co-ordination for factual, drama or animation, Camera, or Art department.

NETS Advance: seeking 3 people to further develop existing professional skills for a 12-week full-time, fast track programme in Production, Art department or Camera.

You should be based in Scotland or willing to relocate; training allowance, expenses, and contribution for dependent and relocation costs provided.

To apply for an application pack call 0141 302 1705 between 10am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Strict deadline for applications 12noon Monday 3 November 2008.

Glasgow Film Office supported film ‘Summer‘ has been selected to screen at Rome International Film Festival (22-31 October 2008) in the Alice in the City (Alice nella città) category, the festival’s youth section. Glasgow based director Kenny Glenaan, writer Hugh Ellis, actress Joanna Tulej and Joe Doherty will all be attending the festival with the film.

The film tells the story about Shaun and Daz, two vibrant kids, wasted by their experience of education. All they have is their friendship and for Shaun, his first love Katy. From the moment Shaun steps into the world he is bound to lose. Labelled as a violent bully he destroys himself and takes Daz with him. Shaun has twelve years to reflect on an intense summer of love, sex and loyalty. But Daz’s imminent death forces Shaun to go on a journey to confront his past. This is the story of a man full of intelligence and promise struggling to reclaim his life.

For more information about the festival screening, please visit www.romacinemafest.it.