Ever dreamed of being the next Bob Connolly (Rats in the Ranks), Eva Orner (Taxi to the Dark Side, 2008 Academy Award Best Documentary) or Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine)?
Got a great idea for a hard-hitting, investigative, or touching documentary film that wants to make a difference? Then you can’t afford to miss the one day master-class, ‘Making Documentaries and Factual Content that Makes a Difference’ at the Tasmanian Breath of Fresh Air (BOFA) Film Festival in Launceston, Tasmania.
Sponsored by Screen Tasmania, this full-day session will be held on Saturday, November 8 and will be hosted by Karena Slaninka, the Director of Screen Tasmania and lead by Trish Lake, executive producer and founder of Freshwater Pictures and Adjunct Fellow at Griffith University in Brisbane.
These industry leaders will take you through the entire process of making and selling a documentary film, from conception to exhibition, with the generous help of a few special guests along the way.
Hear golden, practical advice from these leading industry creatives and decision makers:
• Michael Cordell Principal of production company, Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (Go Back Where you Came From);
• Janine Hosking, independent director and producer (35 Letters, My Khmer Heart);
• Susan MacKinnon, COO of the Documentary Australia Foundation;
• Ray Pedretti, Executive Producer at Showrunner Productions;
• Malinda Wink CEO of GoodPitch Australia;
• Niall Doran, Director of The Bookend Trust, a not-for-profit education initiative.
These esteemed guests will cover all you need to know about creating documentary and factual content films, from the various documentary formats, genres and styles and how to choose the right one for your story, to financing your project and pitching your idea so that it gets picked up.
In the second half of the day, three Tasmanian documentarian hopefuls will get the chance to put their new found skills and knowledge into practice and make a trial pitch of their potential projects to an expert panel of three of Australia’s most influential documentary and factual film buyers. These are:
• Phil Craig (Head of Factual at ABC TV)
• Nick Batzias (Head of Production, and Licensing & Acquisitions at Madman Entertainment)
• John Godfrey (Head of Documentaries at SBS)
This is a remarkable and unique opportunity for three Tasmanian filmmakers to receive constructive feedback on the proposition of their pitch. Inspired filmmakers should contact BOFA Festival Director, Owen Tilbury directly on 0407 501 287 to discuss their project and the requirements of the pitch in order to be considered for selection.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be holding the documentary masterclass at BOFA 2014,” Tilbury said. “This year’s program has a particular emphasis on documentary films, starting with our incredible opening night film, Desert Runners and featuring documentaries on subjects such as euthanasia, endangered gorillas and internet data security. The master class could be just the place where the next generation of award-winning factual content and documentary filmmakers gets their start. Who knows, the films pitched at the master class might be the films featuring on the BOFA program in a few years time!”
Documentary and factual content filmmakers from all levels of experience, from all over Australia should be sure not to miss this incredible opportunity to learn from and network with industry leaders and fellow filmmakers. It just might be the first step you take towards making the film that makes a difference.
WHAT: BOFA Master class:
‘Making Documentaries and Factual Content Films that Make a Difference’
WHEN: Saturday November 8
9:30am – 4:30pm
WHERE: Architecture & Design Theatre, Inveresk Precinct
COST: $65.00
INFO: bofa.com.au
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