The 13th edition of Kino Otok – Isola Cinema International Film Festival (Slovenia) in collaboration with Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), FVG Audiovisual Fund (Italy), Institute Motovila/Creative Europe Desk Slovenia, Slovene Association of Cinematographers and Association of Slovenian Film Production Designers, Costume Designers and Make up Designers, proudly present new international training and networking event for emerging film professionals across Croatia, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Slovenia:
PRO Otok: FOCUS on Cinematography and Production Design
Izola, Slovenia, 2–4 June 2017
Call for Applications
The FOCUS training and networking event, the first of its kind in the region, has been developed as a series of annual events that will take place in Izola, Slovenia, during the international film festival Kino Otok – Isola Cinema. It celebrates filmmaking as a collaborative art form, which draws on a creative mix of talents and professional skill sets: screenwriters, directors and producers work closely together with cinematographers, production designers, editors, sound designers, makeup designers, costume designers and others. In 2017, the focus will be on emerging cinematographers and production designers from Croatia, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Slovenia. In the years to follow, the focus will shift to other film professions that enjoy less visibility in the context of cinema exhibition and vocational education, and the scope of eligible countries will potentially be extended.
The participants will enjoy three inspiring days of intense lectures, talks, public presentations, and individual feedback from trainers. The overall objective of the event is to facilitate a direct exchange of knowledge and experience among the 12 selected participants (2 cinematographers and 2 production designers per country), as well as to spark cross-border co-production collaboration in the near future. Furthermore, the FOCUS event will provide opportunities for participants to reflect on their own method, to learn from renowned senior colleagues, and to publicly showcase their vision through their work to the audience of directors and producers.
OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPATION – deadline 24 April 2017
The event starts on Friday, 2 June, and ends on Sunday, 4 June 2017. Participation in the FOCUS event is free-of-charge for selected candidates from Slovenia, Croatia and Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy). Accommodation, meals, and festival passes will also be covered by the organizers. It is essential for all participants to be fluent in English.
Who can apply?
- We are calling for emerging cinematographers from Croatia, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Slovenia with moderate previous filmmaking experience. A degree from a film academy is not obligatory, while a cinematography credit on at least two short films or one feature film is expected.
- Additionally, we are calling for emerging production designers from Croatia, Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Slovenia with moderate previous filmmaking experience. A degree from a film academy is not obligatory, while a production design credit on at least one short or one feature film is expected.
Application procedure
The deadline for applications is 24 April 2017. The participants selected by the committee consisting of the project team and the representatives of respective professional associations will be notified by e-mail and publicly announced by 11 May 2017. To apply, please submit the following documents in English to pro@isolacinema.com:
– Completed application form (available below / in attachment).
– CV
– Letter of motivation: Why do you want to participate in the FOCUS event? Max. 1 page.
– Online link to selected filmography: at least two short films (cinematographers) or one short film (production designers).
The FOCUS event will be introduced as a new training and networking event within the PRO Otok professional programme at the 13th edition of the Kino Otok – Isola Cinema International Film Festival, which has been taking place in the charming Mediterranean town of Izola since 2004. A genuinely creative, yet relaxed atmosphere is what attracts international guests and audiences to one of the most important film festivals in Slovenia, Kino Otok – Isola Cinema. As a boutique international film festival set in the picturesque Izola at the beginning of June, it presents around 100 films of all genres (most of them national premieres) to an audience of 8,200 viewers. It follows a “no red carpet” policy, and thus enables its audience, the filmmakers, journalists and other film professionals to connect in a highly personal way.
The main objectives are to enhance film culture within the general audience, and connect and educate film professionals while reflecting on film and society through world cinema in all its diversity. With a high-quality selection by its international programme board, the festival continuously aims to present relevant international films that may have been overlooked in distribution, with a special emphasis on contemporary European filmmakers.
Kino Otok – Isola Cinema aims to empower its audience to become active participants and critical thinkers. It is well-known for implementing high ethical and professional standards when combining films with a wide range of workshops, open panels and discussions about film. The youngest audience gets its own educational section Submarine, while a highly successful platform for emerging young film professionals was created with the Video on the Beach section. The festival’s efforts are thus aimed at diversifying the existing and reaching new audiences, increasing the number of festival guests, including attracting more professionals from the European film industry.
Its potential has been widely recognized by numerous Slovenian public bodies, such as the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovenian Film Centre, and, in the previous year, also by EU’s Creative Europe MEDIA sub-programme. In its relatively short history, the festival has built an enviable network of international partners.