AF Downloadable Application Package 2013 (3)

7/29/2019 AF Downloadable Application Package 2013 (3)

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2013 FOCUS FEATURES AFRICA FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. PLEASE READ THE ENCLOSED OFFICIAL RULES CAREFULLY BEFORE

APPLYING TO ENSURE YOU QUALIFY.

2. Africa First is a filmmaker driven program, and while we accept applications from

Producers and Writers, we strongly encourage filmmakers to apply.

3. Applications must be POSTMARKED BY AUGUST 19TH, 2013 and

RECEIVED BY SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2013. This means that:

i. If your package is postmarked after August 19th, even if it is received in our

office by September 2nd, it will be disqualified.

ii. If your package is postmarked by August 19th, but received in our office after

September 2nd, it will be disqualified.

4. Recipients will be notified on or about OCTOBER 1ST, 2013 of their status and

must be available to travel to New York City for the Summit Weekend from

OCTOBER 24TH - 28TH.

5. PLEASE NOTE:

WE DO NOT provide confirmation of receipt of any applications. We

strongly recommend that applicants use a courier service so they can track

their packages.

WE DO NOT provide notes/feedback on applications.

WE DO NOT accept applications via e-mail. Any applications received this

way will be destroyed and not reviewed.

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REQUIRED MATERIALSApplication materials will not be returned. Please do not bind, spiral or package your

applications in folders. Each set of documents should simply be collated and stapled as such:

A completed application package (complete application, directors statement and

CVs) (2 copies)

Completed short film screenplay (2 copies)

Director Sample Work DVD (PAL or NTSC) (2 copies)

Signed Submission Release Form (1 copy)

All application materials should be submitted to: Focus Features Africa First ShortFilm Program c/o Focus Features 65 Bleecker Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10012

Enclosed Materials:

Application Form (5 pages)

Submission Release Form (2 pages)

Official Rules (5 pages)

If you have further questions, please email us at: [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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2013 FOCUS FEATURES AFRICA FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM

Applications must be completed in English. Applications are immediately disqualified if

applicants do not follow the Official Rules or do not send all of the required materials.

APPLICANT INFORMATION:

Country of Citizenship:________________________________________________________

Date of Birth: ________________________________

Role(s) (circle all that apply):

Director Writer Producer_____________________________________

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Name of Production Entity (if applicable):

___________________________________

Address:

____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________

City:________________________________

State/Province:________________________

Zip/Postal Code:_______________________

Country:_____________________________

First Name:_________________________________ Last Name:____________________________

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: _________________________________

Work Phone: ____________________________

Home Phone: ___________________________

Cell Phone: _____________________________

Fax: ___________________________________

BACKGROUND INFORMATION(optional)Gender: M ______ F ______

How did you hear about the Africa First Short Film Program? (indicate all that apply)

Word of Mouth _______________ Internet Search ___________________Africa First Website ___________ Trade Publication _________________Market ______________________ Festival _________________________Other (please specify) ______________________________________________________


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SHORT FILM INFORMATION

Film Title English ________________________________________________________

Film Title - In Native Language _______________________________________________

Brief synopsis of short:

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Length: (can be no longer than 30 minutes) __________________

Genre: (specify Drama, Experimental, Animation, Horror, etc) ________________________

Shooting Format: (specify 16mm or 35mm film, Beta, DV, HD, etc) ___________________

DIRECTOR STATEMENT

Attach a brief, 1 2 page treatment illustrating how the director will translate the script frompage to screen and his or her motivation for making the film; include theme, format,

structure, style and point of view. If there is no director attached, then the producer shouldwrite this statement.

PERSONNEL BIOS

Applicants must attach detailed biographies/CVs of the work of the producer, director andwriter. Bios of key other production personnel (editor, cinematographer, etc) can also beincluded.

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BUDGET INFORMATION

1) Budget Summary: Please fill in the amounts (in USD) you currently plan to spend in each

of the following budget categories or attach your own budget detailing the below(You canattach a separate page if necessary):

R&D/Pre-production: ___________________________USDCosts related to rights, writing a treatment, script, storyboarding, research and locations scouting, etc.

Production: ___________________________USDCosts for salaries of producer(s), director, writer, etc, including tax and fringe benefits; all production

personnel; all costs related to production (equipment, facility rentals, videotape, film, audio stock, props, sets,

etc.)

Post-production:

___________________________USDCosts for salaries for editor and other post personnel, including tax & fringe benefits; all costs associated with

post-production (editing facilities, film lab costs, titles and opticals, sound recording, and mixing, etc.); all

payments for rights and licensing of acquired footage, photographic stills, etc., include costs for visual and

music rights if applicable.

Other: ___________________________USDAny items that do not fit into the above budget categories.

BUDGET TOTAL: ___________________________USD2) Allocation of funds: Please describe in detail your proposal for using the $10,000 FocusFeatures Africa First Short Film Program award money to advance your project. Please be asspecific as possible about how you would allocate the money and why. (You can attach aseparate page if necessary)

3) Income to date: If applicable, please specify all confirmed/secured individual grantsources and amounts for your film. Please list the amounts, sources and year received. Forexample, if you have received $5,000 from Fonds Sud in 2011, you would list it as:

SOURCE AMOUNT RECEIVED(e.g) Fonds Sud $5,000 2011 _____________________ ______________________ ___________________________________________ ______________________ ___________________________________________ ______________________ ___________________________________________ ______________________ ___________________________________________ ______________________ ______________________

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TIMELINE

Outline the current status of the project and the timeline for completion. PLEASE NOTE:Ifyour project is in Post-Production, you must submit a work-in-progress sample in

order for your application to be complete.

Current stage of production (i.e., research & development, pre-production, production, post-

production): ________________________________

PRODUCTION STAGE ESTIMATED DATESResearch & Development: _______________________________Pre-production: _______________________________Production: _______________________________Post-production: _______________________________Completion: _______________________________

DIRECTORS WORK SAMPLE/ WORK IN PROGRESS SAMPLE

DIRECTORS WORK SAMPLE VIDEO: Include two (2) copies of a previously completedwork by the director of your short film in its entirety, with credits and English subtitles. Ifthe Applicant is not the director, please include two (2) copies of a work sample from theApplicant. Demo reels (reels containing clips of your past work) will not qualify.Label thespine and case with the applicants name and title of the program. Videos will not be

returned.

Title of Work Sample: ____________________________________________

Length: _________________________________________________________

Format (i.e., DVD PAL, DVD NTSC): _______________________________

WORK-IN-PROGRESS VIDEO: If the project is currently in post-production while seekingfunds, proposals must also include two (2) copies of a work-in-progress sample. The videocan be a full rough cut, a trailer, selects, clip, etc, but must be at least five minutes in length.

If the program is not in English, it must have English subtitles. Research footage will not beaccepted.Label the spine and case with the applicants name and title of the program. Videoswill not be returned.

Title of Work Sample: ____________________________________________

Length: _________________________________________________________

Format (i.e., DVD PAL, DVD NTSC): ________________________________

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AFRICA FIRST

SUBMISSION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

Name: (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial) Date of Birth: (DD/MM/YYYY)

Address: City:

State or Province: Postal Code:

Country: Citizenship:

E-mail Address: Phone Number:

Name of Project: Phase of Production: (circle one)

Pre-Production Production Post Production

I HAVE READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS SUBMISSION AGREEMENT AND

RELEASE. I represent and warrant that I am at least 18 years of age. As the sole owner and author

of the submitted short film project (the Project), I fully attest that the following is true and correct:

1) I have read, understand and unconditionally and fully agree to this Submission Agreement and

Release (the Submission Agreement) and the Official Rules (the Rules) for the Focus Features

Africa First Short Film Program (the Program) and hereby request that Focus Features LLC (the

Sponsor) and its representatives read, evaluate, and judge my Project.

2) I hereby state that the Project was created and is owned free and clear of all other interests only by

me and I have full right to submit the screenplay to Sponsor and to comply with this Submission

Agreement. I will fully reimburse Sponsor if Sponsor incurs any losses, damages, or expenses

(including lawyers fees) because any or all of the statements made by me in this release form are not

true.

3) I am not waiving, and this Submission Agreement will not limit, my copyright in the Project. I

retain all rights to my Project pursuant to and in accordance with the Rules.

4) I understand that Sponsor has no obligations to me (including any obligation to compensate or

make payments to me, unless it expressly agrees to do so whether in whole or in part), except for

those expressly stated in the Rules beyond its payment of a Program award if I am chosen as one of

up to five (5) Program award recipients. I further understand that any further obligation by Sponsor

to me will be executed by a separate written agreement.

5) I understand that because there is always the possibility that any material in the nature of story

ideas or otherwise which I may submit to Sponsor may be substantially similar to ideas, formats,

stories, suggestions or other material from other sources which Sponsor may have previously used or

which Sponsor may hereafter wish to use and that I will not have any claim under such

circumstances.

6) I understand that Sponsor may use my name and the title of the winning Project for advertising or

marketing purposes of the Program.

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7) If Sponsor or I transfer, assign, or license any rights under the Rules and this Submission

Agreement, the person making the transfer, assignment, or license will still be responsible for

performing his/her/its obligation under them.

8) I agree that in no event shall I seek to enjoin, restrict or obtain any form of court order blocking or

interfering with Sponsors development, production, distribution, marketing, advertising or other

exploitation of any motion picture, it being acknowledged that my rights and remedies in connectionwith the material are limited to those set forth in Paragraph 9 below.

9) IMPORTANT. PLEASE READ. GENERAL RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.

By entering the Program, I agree that: (i) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out

of or connected with the Program, or any Program awards, shall be resolved individually, without

resort to any form of class action; (ii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to

actual out of pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Program, but in no

event will attorneys fees be awarded or recoverable; and (iii) under no circumstances will I be

permitted to obtain any award for, and I hereby knowingly and expressly waive all rights to seek,

punitive, incidental or consequential damages and/or any other damages, other than actual out of

pocket expenses, and/or any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.

I acknowledge and agree that Sponsor is not responsible for any costs, injuries, losses, or damages of

any kind arising from or in connection with: (i) incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or illegible entries

or for failure to receive entries due to any cause, including without limitation human, transmission, or

technical problems, failures, or malfunctions of any kind, whether originating with sender, with

Sponsor, or otherwise, that may limit my ability to participate in the Program; and (ii) any injury or

damage resulting from participation in the Program and/or the use of any Program award (including,

without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death,

damage to, loss or destruction of property, or any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages related to

or based on the entrants rights of publicity or privacy, or the entrants claim that he or she has

somehow been defamed or portrayed in a false light).

I hereby acknowledge that I have read, fully understand and unconditionally agreed to both

this Submission Agreement and the Rules and that Sponsor has made no other representation,

oral or written, of any kind to me.

_____________________________________

Signature

Dated as of __________________, 2013.

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FOCUS FEATURES AFRICA FIRST SHORT FILM PROGRAM

OFFICIAL RULES

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM. The Focus Features Africa First Short Film Program (the Program) is sponsored by Focus

Features LLC, Building 9128, Second Floor; 100 Universal City Plaza; Universal City, CA 91608

(Sponsor). The Program provides those who participate (the Filmmakers) with a chance to beawarded one of up to five (5) awards of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) (the Awards) in financingfor their short film project (the Project). The Award is described below in greater detail.Submissions will be accepted by mail (international couriers such as Federal Express, UPS, and DHLare also acceptable) beginning at 12:01 p.m. EST on June 10, 2013 and ending at 11:59:59 p.m. ESTon August 19, 2013 (the Submission Period). Submissions postmarked during the SubmissionPeriod and received prior to August 29, 2013 will also be eligible for consideration. By participatingin the Program, each Filmmaker unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with these officialrules (the Official Rules) and the decisions of Sponsor. This Program is subject to provisions of allapplicable local, state, provincial, federal, and/or international regulations and is void in and toresidents of countries currently subject to U.S. embargo or on the United states list of state sponsorsof terrorism and where prohibited by law.

2. WHO MAY ENTER. The Program is open only to Filmmakers of African nationality who are at least the age of majority in

their jurisdiction of primary residence at the time of entry and who have resided in an African countryfor a minimum of two years at any time preceding the Submission Period. Filmmakers must beconsidered independent producers, which means that they (i) own the copyright to their Project; (ii)have artistic, budgetary, and editorial control of their Project; and (iii) are not regularly employed by apublic or commercial broadcast entity. Additionally, Filmmakers must establish that they have sometelevision or film experience in a principal role (e.g., producer, co-producer, director or co-director)by submitting a sample reel of previously completed work alongside their completed Programapplication materials.

Sponsor and Completion Films, along with their directors, officers and employees, and each of theirrespective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents or representatives (collectivelyPromotion Entities) and the immediate family members and/or those living in the same householdof each are not eligible to apply for or be awarded the Award.

3. HOW TO ENTER. To participate in the Program, each Filmmaker must visit the Program website www.

focusfeatures.com/africafirst (the Website) to download the Program application, which includes,among other things, the Submission Agreement and Release Form and these Official Rules.Filmmakers who wish to participate in the Program will be required to carefully read, complete andsubmit to Sponsor two (2) copies each of the following Program application materials in English: (i)

fully completed, signed Submission Agreement and Release Form; (ii) Project synopsis; (iii) finishedProject screenplay (English translations acceptable); (iv) biographies of key production personnel; (v)directors statement (1-2 page maximum); (vi) production budget, including sources of financing andamounts committed to Project; (vii) production schedule; (viii) a reel showing previous film(s) ofFilmmaker on DVD (PAL or NTSC format) and (ix) all other Program application materials and/orforms specified in the Program application. If the Filmmaker is in the production or post-productionphase of developing the Project, then rushes, dailies, selected scenes, and/or a rough cut of the Project

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(the Post Production Materials) must also be submitted. If the Post Production Materials are notin English, then the Filmmaker must include English language subtitles.

Filmmakers must mail two (2) complete sets of their completed Program application materials to thefollowing address no later than August 19, 2013.

Focus Features Africa First Short Film Programc/o Christopher KoppFocus Features65 Bleecker StreetThird FloorNew York, NY 10012USA

Program application materials must be postmarked (in the case of Federal Express, UPS, and DHL, atime stamp is acceptable) before the end of the Submission Period (i.e. no later than August 19, 2013)and received by August 29th, 2013 to be eligible for consideration. Faxed, electronic, and handdelivered application materials will not be accepted.

The materials entered into the Program must meet the Submission Requirements set forth below.4. SHORT FILM SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS. Filmmakers are limited to submission of one (1) Project only. The Project may be in the pre-

production, production, or post-production phase of development. Each Project entered into theProgram must meet ALL of the Submission Requirements set forth below to be considered (aproject that meets all such requirements will be referred to as a Short Film Submission):

a) submissions of any genre other than documentary films will be considered;b) if the submission is based upon a true story, contemporary events, or history, such information

should be noted in the Program application form;

c) Projects must be filmed in continental Africa and contribute to the local filmmaking communitythrough the use of local production staff and facilities;

d) all Program application documents must be written in the English language; however, if theoriginal language of the screenplay was not English, an English translation of the screenplay isacceptable.

e) the screenplay must be written in so-called industry standard screenplay format; be no less thanfive (5) pages and no more than twenty five (25) pages in length; and yield a finished Projectwhose running time is between five (5) and twenty five (25) minutes;

f) the Project must be the submitting Filmmakers original, previously unpublished and unproducedwork (please note that an adaptation from source material or based on other works will notconstitute an eligible Short Film Submission for purposes of these Official Rules);

g) the Project may not have been previously optioned, sold, or produced, in whole or in part;h) no substitutions of new drafts or corrected pages for screenplay entries or application forms will

be accepted under any circumstances once the original documents are submitted forconsideration;



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i) the Project must be finished either (i) in the English language or (ii) if not in the Englishlanguage, with English language subtitles in 16mm, 35mm, HDTV, DigiBeta, or Beta; and

j) submissions that are made without the Program application materials listed above may bedisqualified. Submissions that are postmarked after the Submission Period or that are notreceived by Sponsor by August 29, 2013 will not be considered under any circumstances.Submissions that are obscene, pornographic, libelous or otherwise objectionable will also bedisqualified.

5. AWARD RECIPIENT SELECTION. The final selection of up to five (5) Program Award Recipients will be made by representatives of

Completion Films and Sponsor. Considering such factors as originality, creativity, quality, and artisticcontribution to African filmmaking, representatives of Completion Films and Sponsor will select upto five (5) of the Short Film Submissions and deem them the 2013 Focus Features Africa First ShortFilm Award Recipients (the Award Recipients).

Award Recipients will be notified by phone or e-mail on or about October 1, 2013, but in any eventwithin ten (10) business days of the selection of Award Recipients. In order to receive the Award(described in detail below), Award Recipients will be required to complete and submit to Sponsor a

signed copy of the Award Recipient affidavit (the Affidavit). In the event that any of the AwardRecipients is unable to complete the Affidavit and return it to Sponsor within fourteen (14) days ofreceipt of the award recipient notification e-mail, that Award Recipient will be disqualified from theProgram. Under such circumstances, Sponsor and Completion Films may, at their election, deem analternate Short Film Submission an Award Recipient (the Alternate Award Recipient), subject tothe Alternate Award Recipients ability to complete and sign the Affidavit within fourteen (14) days ofnotification.

All Award Recipients must attend the Africa First Summit Weekend, which takes place in NewYork, New York from October 24, 2013 to October 28, 2013. In the event that an Award Recipient isunable to attend the Africa First Summit Weekend, Sponsor reserves the right, in Sponsors solediscretion, to disqualify such Award Recipient.

7. AWARD. Sponsor shall provide each of up to five (5) Award Recipients with Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)in financing for their Projects. Sponsor will also provide each Award Recipient with (i) roundtripcoach air transportation between his or her country of residence and New York City, New York and(ii) accommodations for three (3) nights in New York, in order to attend the Africa First SummitWeekend (collectively, the Award). The estimated retail value of each Award is FourteenThousand Dollars ($14,000).

No more than one (1) Award will be given in connection with each Short Film Submission regardlessof the number of Filmmakers involved in such Short Film submission. Awards are non-assignableand nontransferable. No Award substitutions will be allowed. Award Recipients are solely

responsible for the reporting and payment of all applicable taxes on the Award.

8. COPYRIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS OF AN AWARD RECIPIENTS SHORT FILMS. Award Recipients will retain full ownership of the copyright to their Projects as well as all

distribution rights throughout the world except for the North America Territory (as described below);however, for and in consideration of the Award, Award Recipients shall grant to Sponsor (i) the



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exclusive right in perpetuity to distribute and otherwise exploit the Project in the North AmericaTerritory (which as used herein, means the United States and Canada, their respective protectorates,commonwealths, territories, trusteeships and possessions [including, without limitation, the U.S.Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico]; Bermuda and the Bahamas; United States and Canadian militaryinstallations and embassies; ships and plans flying the flags of the United States and Canada, andforeign aircraft, cruise ships and oil rigs (ARAMCO), wherever located whose principal licensingoffices are in the North American Territory), in any and all media whether now known or hereafter

discovered (including, without limitation, via video-on-demand and/or via the Internet, includingwithout limitation the right to upload the Project to websites and to permit visitors to view the Projectvia download, streaming, technology, or otherwise); (ii) the non-exclusive right in perpetuity to theexploit the Project outside of the North American Territory via video-on-demand and/or via theInternet, including, without limitation, the right to upload the Project to websites, and to permitvisitors to view the Project via download, streaming technology, or otherwise; and (iii) the right offirst negotiation for derivative production rights in and to the Project such as sequels, prequels,remakes, and other adaptations.

9. DATES & DEADLINES / ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF PROGRAMANTS. Because of the unique nature and scope of the Program, Sponsor reserves the right, in addition to

those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Official Rules

or otherwise governing the Program. Sponsor cannot accurately predict the number of Filmmakerswho will participate in the Program.

10. INTERNET PROVISIONS/FORCE MAJEURE.Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to betampering with the entry process or the operation of the Program or the Website; to be acting inviolation of these Official Rules; or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or withthe intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Program, or to annoy, abuse, threatenor harass any other person. Entries will be deemed VOID if incomplete or illegible. In the event thatSponsor is prevented from continuing with the Program by any event beyond its control, Sponsorshall have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Program.

11. INVALIDITY/HEADINGS.The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validityor enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid orotherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall beconstrued in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not containedherein. Headings and captions are used in these Official Rules solely for convenience of reference,and shall not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of these Official Rules or anyprovision hereof.

12.GOVERNING LAW.

The Program, these Official Rules, and the rights and obligations of the parties will be governed byand construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the United States.

13.PRIVACY POLICY. Information collected from Filmmakers is subject to Sponsors Privacy Policy, which is available at:

http://www.focusfeatures.com/privacy_policy.html.

14. PROGRAM RESULTS.Official Rules 2012.doc

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After the end of the Program, the name(s) of the Award Recipient(s) will be posted to the Website.15. SPONSOR. The Sponsor of this Program is: Focus Features LLC, Building 9128, Second Floor; 100 Universal

City Plaza; Universal City, CA 91608.

[End of Official Rules]


AF Downloadable Application Package 2013 (3)

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