a b o u t t h e f o k u s f i l m f e s t i v a l
The FOKUS Film Festival showcases the most creative video content created by students in the McGill community. Now in its 7th year, the screening of student films will be held at Cinema du Parc theatre located on avenue Du Parc and Prince Arthur. Films are divided into 5 categories: Fiction, Documentary, Animation, Experimental, and 72 Hour. Last year’s three-hour screening boasted over 25 original submissions.
OUR THEME
The theme for this year’s festival events, BLACKLISTED, plays on the aesthetics of 40s and 50s Hollywood. Set against the political climate of the Cold War, many filmmakers accused of association with the Communist Party were subpoenaed, kept out of work by intimidated studios, and sometimes even jailed. During this year’s festival, we’ll celebrate the films produced by blacklisted filmmakers in this period.
SCHEDULE
Student Film Screenings
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/518508914867439/
Cinema du Parc, 3575 Avenue du Parc
Thursday, March 21st, 6PM-9PM
Price: $6 in advance, $7 at the door (CASH ONLY)
Festival Kickoff Party
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/152812231546548/
Gert’s Bar, 3480 rue McTavishMonday, March 18th, 9PM
No cover, donations will be accepted for our associated charity, Wapikoni Mobile
Get psyched for Thursday’s screening of student films and celebrate the wrap of the 72-Hour Filmmaking Competition by coming to Fokus’s kickoff party to meet the festival’s filmmakers and organizers. Live music to swing by from Cool Hat and a DJ after. Come for the censor-photo booth and stay for the Marxtinis!
BLACKLISTED: A Film Screening and Discussion, with Professor Ara Osterweil
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/492120430825450/
Wednesday, March 20th, 6:30PM (doors at 6:15)
3475 Peel, room 101
We will be offering a screening of Salt of the Earth (1954), a film created almost entirely by filmmakers who were blacklisted by the Hollywood establishment during the Red Scare of the 1940s and 50s. The blacklist essentially evacuated Hollywood of all leftist political content–a legacy that arguably persists to this day. This screening will celebrate the work of these banned and censored filmmakers.
TICKETS
Tickets will be available in advance for $6 starting Monday morning, March 18th from:
→ TVM Office, 3480 rue McTavish, room B-28
→ AUSnax
→ from TVM Executives – check the Fokus Facebook event wall to see who has tickets
→ at the TVM General Members Meeting at 5:30 on Tuesday 3/19 in room B-30 of the SSMU Building (3480 rue McTavish)
s u b m i t t i n g a f i l m
Submission period: Tuesday, February 19th to Monday, March 11th at 5PM
Guidelines for submission:
→ Four categories: fiction, documentary, experimental, animation
→ Films must be under ten minutes (there is no minimum length)
→ Each film must have at least one McGill student on its crew
→ A fifth category will open for registration on Feb. 25th: this year’s 72-Hour Film Competition
→ Filmmakers may submit multiple films
→ There is no fee to submit films
SUBMISSION FORM:
Fokus FIlm Festival Submission form (due March 11)
1. Download the form and print it out.
2. Fill out the information requested about your film. Please provide reliable contact information to be associated with your film. Write a short synopsis for your film. If it is accepted, this synopsis will be printed in the program.
3. Read the agreements and sign the form.
5. Turn the form in to the TVM Office, located in the basement of the SSMU building (3480 rue McTavish), room B-29. Inside the office, there will be a white bookcase along the right wall, and in that bookcase will be a box labeled “Fokus Film Festival”. Leave your form there (along with your DVD).
SUBMITTING YOUR FILM:
Please choose either digital or DVD submission:
Digital Submission
1. If the file for your completed film is less than 2GB, feel free to submit your film digitally. Check to make sure it is under 2GB in size, that it is a .mov, .mp4, .mpeg or .avi file. Also, double check to make sure it’s the right version of your film!
2. Go to www.wetransfer.com. Upload your file by clicking “add file.” Under friend’s email, enter vpexternal@tvmcgill.com (my email!). Enter your email, and make sure it’s the same as the email you provided on your form. Please enter your name, the name of your film, and its category in the “message” box. Click “transfer” and make sure your upload and transfer finishes!
3. You should receive a confirmation from wetransfer that your file was uploaded. You will also receive an email when I download your film. Then, I’ll send you a confirmation email from me (vpexternal@tvmcgill.com) letting you know that your film was properly submitted. If you don’t receive a confirmation email from me, there is a problem and I haven’t received your film!
4. I’ll let you know whether it’s been accepted into the festival by March 14th. Thank you!
DVD Submission
1. You are also free to turn a DVD in with your submission form. You may either burn the disc with a standard definition version of your file, or format your DVD as a “data disc” and save your file onto it. Make sure your film is in either .mov, .mp4, .mpeg or .avi format. Double check to make sure you’re submitting the right version of your film!
2. Label your DVD with your name, contact information, the title of your film, and its category. Put it in a sleeve or envelope and turn it into the TVM office with your form.
3. I’ll send you a confirmation email letting you know that your film was properly submitted.
4. I’ll let you know whether it’s been accepted into the festival by March 14th. Thank you!
7 2 – h o u r f i l m m a k i n g c o m p e t i t i o n
72-Hour Filmmaking Competition registration form
The competition, held annually as part of the Fokus Film Festival, will run from March 15-18 this year. Groups of McGill students can assign up for the opportunity to plan, film and shoot a short film in 72 hours or less. At noon on Friday, March 15, we will announce the “secret element,” which must be incorporated into each film. By noon on Monday, March 18, you’ll turn in a finished film along with all the other registrants. They’ll be screened at the Festival at Cinema du Parc on March 21, and a winner will be chosen from among them.
To sign up for the competition, visit the link above and fill out the online form above. You’ll receive an email from me, confirming that you’re signed up, and we’ll continue to contact you with updates about the competition!