31 March 2006 - 0 Comments

Andrew Adamson, Peter Jackson, Martin Campbell, Roger Donaldson, Niki Caro, Andrew Niccol … New Zealand directors with films currently raking in millions worldwide. But everyone has to start somewhere and where better than the Wellington Fringe Film Festival, currently calling for entries for this year’s event to be held from 12th–15th July.

Ex Fringe Film Festival participants include Niki Caro whose latest film, North Country, made over US$18 million in its US release and Glenn Standring, whose second feature Perfect Creature is the first film funded by the NZ Film Commission to secure a US distribution deal with a major studio – 20th Century Fox. Both directors had short films in the Fringe which went on to screen at Cannes where Standring’s Lenny Minute and Caro’s, Sure to Rise were selected in competition in 1993 and 1994 respectively.

Comments Standring: "For filmmakers, the Fringe Festival is an essential first fuel stop on the road to the international festival circuit; filling them with the confidence and tools they need to take their work to audiences outside of New Zealand."

This year’s deadline for short film entries is 19th May 2006. Films must be completed after April 2005 to be eligible and for the first time, the festival will charge $20 per entry to cover the costs of having the films rated for screening in public. Applicants will be notified by 3rd June 2006 and if not selected, filmmakers will have their $20 refunded.

Drama, animation and experimental projects should be no more than 15 minutes in duration, with a 30 minute limit for documentaries. A condition of entry is also that the director must attend their film’s screening in Wellington in order to participate in the question and answer immediately following. This is an integral part of the festival and in many instances will be the first time a director has been asked to define their vision and receive open and honest feedback from industry professionals. For further entry requirements please visit http://www.fringefilmfest.co.nz/rules.htm.

The 19th Wellington Fringe Festival, which takes place at the Film Archives Mediaplex in Wellington, is also calling for films for this year’s Special Competition with the theme “Hop, Skip and Jump”. Entries must contain a reference to this subject and run for no more than 3 minutes including credits. The entry deadline is 5th June 2006 and this section of the festival is free to enter and can be submitted on DVD-R only. Results will be judged by the Festival’s mentors who are particularly looking for originality and innovation. All entries will be screened, providing they meet the rules for registration in this category and attendance is not compulsory as directors are not required to undertake a Q&A. They will however receive a filmmaker ID granting them access to all Fringe Events. Prizes will be awarded after the screenings on 12th July 2006.

The Festival culminates in the Kodak Music Clip Awards, an annual ceremony celebrating the craft of music clip making, with prizes generously donated by equipment suppliers, film labs and production houses. Every entry is judged by renowned industry professionals for all categories - Best Video, Runner Up, DOP, Editor, Best Animation and The Knack award which celebrates the success of grand ideas over small budget. Winners will be announced and all finalists shown on the large screen at Bar Bodega on Saturday 15th July from 8pm. The deadline for entries is 2nd June 2006.

The Wellington Fringe Film Festival is kindly supported by the New Zealand Film Commission.

Thanks to www.fringefilmfest.co.nz for this story.

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