ARTIVIST FILM FESTIVAL- Hollywood, California

ARTIVIST FILM FESTIVAL
Hollywood, California - USA
October 8 to 11, 2009



In the Spotlight this week is the 6th Annual ARTIVIST FILM FESTIVAL, presenting socially-conscious films in Hollywood, California and touring internationally to raise awareness, instill hope, and inspire action.

Since its inception, the Festival has showcased over 280 films representing more than 45 countries, including the work of Academy Award nominees and winners Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman (BORN INTO BROTHELS), Morgan Spurlock (SUPER SIZE ME), and Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman (GOD SLEEPS IN RWANDA).

The Festival culminates with a spectacular Awards Gala, honoring the year's winning films alongside artists who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to activism. Past celebrity honorees have included Joaquin Phoenix, Matthew McConaughey, Daryl Hannah, James Cromwell, and Ed Begley, Jr. All exhibiting filmmakers are invited to the red carpet event.



UPCOMING DEADLINE
June 1, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 off this deadline

MISSION AND OBJECTIVE
The mission of the Artivist Film Festival is to strengthen the voice of international activist artists ("Artivists") while raising public awareness and funds for social global causes.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Films will be presented at the historic Egyptian Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, and then will tour various cities around the world, allowing Artivist selections to reach international audiences. Past Artivist screenings have taken place in Washington DC, Lisbon, Mexico City, Tokyo, and also in London, where films were screened privately for Parliament.

Artivist seeks films that raise awareness about a particular issue or topic such as human rights, children's rights, animal protection, and environmental preservation, or that explore the work of individuals or organizations that are inspiring positive change. The Festival screens narrative, documentary, animated, and experimental features and shorts as well as music videos.

In the words of Morgan Spurlock after his screening at Artivist, "One person with one idea and one camera can make all the difference in the world." If your film seeks to inspire action and raise awareness, submit to Artivist Film Festival today!

Filmmaking Seminars in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles seminars on May 14th & 16th will be packed with essential filmmaking knowhow. And a bonanza of top-shelf software for drawings.

Gorilla Pro has just been added to our long list of sponsors. That's IN ADDITION to thousands of dollars worth of awards and software from ArcSoft, Baseline Systems, BTL News, Entertainment Partners (yes, we'll be handing out EP Scheduling and EP Budgeting), NTI, Showbiz Budgeting, ShowStarter and the amazing image correction software from vReveal.

Learn the rules that can get your film into production and get your production funded. If your film is still on the shelf, you'll want this information.

• How to Break Down a Script
• Eight Rules to Successful Scheduling
• Picking the RIGHT Budgeting Program
• Negotiating Your Way to Better Budgets
• Writing a Business Plan that Sells
• Preparing the Investors' Cash Flow
• Creating Legal Financial Offerings
• Five Minutes to Pitching with Power

Thursday, May 14th – http://514.eventbri te.com/
Thursday, May 16th – http://516.eventbri te.com/

Every class includes a download of the complete course PDF plus 50MB ofsupport documents, essential industry information and freeindustry- standard programs.

It's going to be one fine day and I sincerely hope you can there. This is a much larger event than the recent NY session. But if you can't be in Los Angeles this time, be sure to tell your West Coast friends. They'll want to know. If you'd like to tune into the session online, let me know.

Norman

Norman C. Berns
norman@reelgrok. com

Arts Action Alert- President's Budget Released

President Obama today released the final details of his FY 2010 budget
request to Congress which includes the nation's cultural agencies and
programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute for Museums and Library
Services (IMLS), and the Department of Education's Arts in Education
program. Write your members of Congress and tell them to support
funding for these cultural agencies:
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /KYICKLIUWD/ 3311283706

As Americans for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch noted in a
press statement, "The president's proposed funding of $161 million
would take the NEA to its highest funding level in 15 years and will
help continue the upward trend of budgetary growth that Congress
established several years ago. In contrast to the previous
administration, this year's budget includes funding for the Arts in
Education program at the Department of Education at $38.16 million. We
hope that Congress will build on these initial budget requests to
secure even higher funding levels to address the needs of the arts and
arts education community."
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /HNKGKLIUWE/ 3311283706

On Arts Advocacy Day, artists Wynton Marsalis, Linda Ronstadt and Josh
Groban joined Americans for the Arts and over 550 arts advocates from
around the country to testify on Capitol Hill and to meet with
congressional leaders to request $200 million for the NEA and $53
million for arts education. These requests are just some of the
legislative priorities for the nonprofit arts community in 2009:
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /ECXOKLIUWF/ 3311283706

A breakdown of the President's budget request is as follows:

Federally Funded Arts Program: FY 2009 Enacted Appropriations (in
millions); FY 2010 President's Budget Request (in millions)

*National Endowment for the Arts: $155, $161

*National Endowment for the Humanities: $155, $161

*Institute of Museum and Library Services: $274.8**, $266
**includes $11 million in Congressional earmarks

*U.S. Dept. of Education's Arts in Education: $38.1, $38.1

Next Steps
As you know, the President's budget is the first step in the
appropriations process. While it serves as an important framework,
Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these
funding levels. That's where you come in.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their members of
Congress and urging them to support funding for arts and culture
through the NEA and increase funding for arts in education programs. We
have provided you with a customizable letter, as well as several
talking points to help you craft your message. We recommend you add
your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to you
and your community.
http://capwiz. com/artsusa/ utr/1/BETPKLIMSL /JSPTKLIUWG/ 3311283706

Please help us continue this important work by becoming an official
member of the Arts Action Fund. Play your part by joining the Arts
Action Fund today -- it's free and simple:
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Hamptons International Film Festival

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The 17th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival is set to take place October 8 - 12, 2009. Film submissions are now open. For more information, please visit our website, www.hamptonsfilmfes t.org

NY Film Academy Invites you

IFP invites you to join us



Thursday, May 14th
6:30PM
NY Film Academy
100 East 17th Street, 3rd Floor, NY
RSVP:rsvp.ifp.org


With more and more films vying for less and less slots on festival slates, it’s become more difficult than ever before for filmmakers to find their place and reach audiences on the traditional festival circuit – and beyond. Luckily, film festivals are popping up daily– online, in your hometown and by niche audiences the world over which help filmmakers promote their work, cultivate fan bases and get their work seen. But how do you decide which ones are right for you?

Navigating the myriad of traditional and new media festival options available can be confusing, expensive and time-consuming, especially without a strategic plan in place. Hear from filmmakers, festival programmers and technologists about how these new opportunities will shape the “festival circuit” in the years to come and what steps filmmakers can take to maximize these new venues to their advantage

Panelists:
Jennifer Grausman – ‘Pressure Cooker’ – Co-Director
Joe Mauceri – NYC Horror Film Festival – Programming Director
Michael Sladek – ‘Con Artist’ – Director
Bridget Stokes – BEV Pictures – Founder
Basil Tsiokos – Sundance Film Festival – Programming Associate

Networking and drinks to follow panel.

Long Island Screen Writers Meet

The next Long Island Screenwriters Group meeting will be held on
Thursday, May 14th, at 6:30 PM.

If you'd like to attend the meeting please e-mail
liscreenwritersgrou p@gmail.com for more information about the group.

Have a FREE lunch on Oprah

Click here for a FREE lunch @ KFC!!!!