Press release from Limelight PR
The Melbourne International Film Festival’s MIFF Premiere Fund has today opened its application process for round ten with a call for submissions that closes on Friday 27 August 2010.
Commencing operations in September 2007 with an AUD$800,000 annual grant from the Victorian State Government, the MIFF Premiere Fund provides strategic minority financial supports to a range of local theatrical documentaries and narrative feature films that will have their premieres at MIFF. Round ten of the MIFF Premiere Fund seeks applications from projects that can premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival in 2011 or 2012. All funding decisions for this latest round will be announced on 6 October 2010.
The MIFF Premiere Fund co-financed this year’s opening night film The Wedding Party, MIFF 2009 opening night film Balibo, and MIFF 2008 opener Not Quite Hollywood. Other MIFF Premiere Fund films at MIFF 2010 included feature films Blame and Matching Jack and documentaries Mother of Rock and Machete Maidens Unleashed! Excitingly both Mother of Rock and Machete Maidens Unleashed! have been selected for September’s Toronto International Film Festival. Previous years MIFF Premiere Fund films include Blessed, The Loved Ones, Rock n Roll Nerd, Celebrity: Dominick Dunne, Bastardy and box office sensation Bran Nue Dae.
MIFF Premiere Fund production financing supports include completion/enhancement loans, mini-gap equity investments and matching marketing/distribution advances. The Fund accepts applications from market-ready feature documentaries and feature drama projects in advanced stages of financing. Submissions must demonstrate that they: have strength of connection to Victoria; can premiere at MIFF; have viable co-financing to enable them to go into production in time for a MIFF premiere; and will benefit in creative, industrial and/or distribution terms from MIFF’s financial backing. For guidelines and application forms, go to www.miffpremierefund.com
In addition to being offered production co-financing, successful applicants to the MIFF Premiere Fund also receive complimentary registration to MIFF 37ºSouth Market, MIFF’s film co-financing market that occurs in the opening weekend of MIFF. MIFF Premiere Fund co-financed titles also receive priority for 37ºSouth: Breakthru Screenings, showcasing films requiring sales and/or distribution to the market’s invited buyers. For more information on MIFF 37ºSouth Market, go to www.miff37degreesSouth.com