KonKhmerKounKhmer

Tree{s} of Life: Seeds of Change

16 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment

by konkhmerkounkhmer in Uncategorized Tags: competition, documentary, film, seeds of change, southeast asia, trees of life

Competition Outline:

SEADocs – The Southeast Asian Student Documentary Award is a competition to encourage the art of documentary filmmaking in the region as a platform to engage with pressing social and environmental issues.

The 2011 competition invites students aged 18 – 28 in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to submit a portfolio of their work and a motivational essay on making a film under the theme “Tree{s} of Life: Seeds of Change” by September 2, 2011.

A jury of film, television and forestry experts in each country will make a selection of three students based on a portfolio of their work and a motivational essay. The national shortlisted students will then receive expert guidance during the 8 week production period of their competition film.

During the production period, the film ideas of the students will be explored and developed under guidance of a consultant and the students will receive a budget grant of US$ 300 to produce a short documentary film (maximum 10 min. in length) in relation to the theme, which must be submitted by November 11, 2011.

The three regional winners are selected by an international jury and receive a cash prize of US$ 500 each. Furthermore, the first place winner receives a grant of up to US$ 5,000 to produce a feature length documentary.

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Theme Outline:

Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity with the livelihood of over 1.6 billion people dependent on forests. It is more than simply a rich ecological system, it is integral to life on this planet and to human survival. Our connection with the forests of this world is profound and multifaceted – covering cultural, medicinal, economic and ecological relationships. This essential bond is why the United Nations designated 2011 as the International Year of Forests and why it is the focus subject of SEADocs 2011.

It is a widely known fact that forest habitats are under threat in Southeast Asia and around the world as a result of human activity, whether through deforestation, industrialization or the ecological effects of accelerated climate change. However, individuals and communities are finding innovative ways to meet this challenge. They are not satisfied with merely identifying the problem, but pursue creative solutions – often on their own terms. SEADocs 2011 is not about forests purely as isolated biospheres, but as a precarious meeting point where the natural world and the modern world collide. The news usually speak of the negative consequences of this encounter, but dedicated individuals and groups of people around the world and in Southeast Asia are also becoming active to do their part in healing the relationship between forests and people, they are sowing seeds of change.

We are asking students in Southeast Asia to view the diverse and complex relationships between individuals and communities and the forest habitats of this region through their unique filmmaker’s eyes. The competition challenges aspiring documentary directors to look beyond the obvious and to seek captivating stories under the motto of “Tree{s} of Life: Seeds of Change”.

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Submission Guidelines:

1)     Eligible applicants are students aged 18 – 28 before the application deadline. Only one student per film. Professionals in television and film are not entitled to enter the competition.

2)     The online application form must be filled out at www.goethe.de/sciencefilmfestival with acknowledgment that the submission guidelines have been read and understood. Submission deadline is September 2, 2011.

3)     Eligible entries must include a portfolio of past work on DVD or Data DVD as well as a motivational essay of approximately 500 words in English.

4)     Entry materials must arrive by September 5, 2011 or earlier.

5)     Mail all entries to:

META HOUSE: GERMAN CAMBODIAN CULTURAL CENTER

SEADocs Competition

#37 Sothearos Blvd.

Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon

Phnom Penh

6)     Entry materials submitted will not be returned to the entrant. SEADocs is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

7)     Three shortlisted candidates per country are selected by a national judging panel of film & television professionals and forestry experts.

8)     Shortlisted candidates will be informed on September 9, 2011 by e-mail and will also be listed on the website www.goethe.de/sciencefilmfestival.

9)     Shortlisted candidates receive guidance throughout the production period from an experienced documentary film specialist.

10)  Shortlisted candidates receive a production budget grant of US$ 300 to shoot their film (maximum 10 min. in length), which must be submitted with either English subtitles or with precise time-coded script in the national language no later than November 11, 2011. The production budget is paid out 50% advance and 50% on delivery of film with English subtitles or time-coded script.

11)  Regional winners are selected by an international judging panel of film professionals and forestry experts. The winner and runner-ups are announced on November 27, 2011. All entries are given equal consideration.

12)  The three regional winners each receive a cash prize of US$ 500. The first place winner additionally receives a budget of up to US$ 5,000 to produce a feature documentary in 2012. The winner’s production budget grant is paid in two installments: 50% advance after submission of a production calculation and film treatment and the remaining balance after completion and submission of the final film with English subtitles.

13)  By entering SEADocs, contestants agree to accept and be bound by the decisions of the competition and its judges, which are final and binding in all matters. The entrant agrees to be bound by all terms of these official competition rules and regulations as established herein.

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Schedule:

September 2, 2011                    Deadline for Submissions

September 9, 2011                    Announcement of Shortlisted Candidates

November 11, 2011                   Submission of Competition Films by Shortlisted Candidates

November 27, 2011                   Announcement of Winners

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