Cinema Canada (Nov 1981)

TORONTO — In announcing its intention to fund the Canadian ? Independent Short Film Showx case, the Canada Council hopes ro to get.innovative, quality shorts 4 . back into Canadian theatres. ae Open to independent Canac dian filmmakers, and to be ad7 ministered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema in close asso4 ciation with the Council’s film e section, the Showcase is a pilot FESTIVAL Mi FILM project for the 1981-82 which, if successful, will be established on a permanent basis. A jury of filmmakers, distributors, and exhibitors will select an estimated six or seven films from competition. The Council will award each winner a $2,500 honorarium, and will also pay costs of blow-up to 35mm and sub-titling where necessary. Each film will be —ETUDIANT held in the showcase on a non exclusive distribution basis for up to three years. All films will be offered to exhibitors across Canada free of charge, with distribution commencing upon receipt of a signed licensing agreement. To be eligible, a film must have been produced and directed by a Canadian independent filmmaker during the past three years, be 10 minutes or less in length, have a non-restrictive rating and complete copyright clearance, and have had no previous 35mm commercial release. The tentative deadline for entry is December 31, 1981, with jury screenings to take place in January 1982. The awards announcement will coincide with the Genie Awards in March, with ‘the winning films scheduled to be avail ~ CanadaCouncil hopesto bring back shorts to theatres able for commercial exhibition by late spring or early summer of next year. According to Francoyse Picard, the Canada Council’s film officer, the major Canadian theatre chains and independent distributors agree in principle with the program. Picard stated the cost ofinitiating and administering the program to be $10,000. New cinema fest bows in Montreal MONTREAL The Festival International du Nouveau Cinéma opens in Montreal Oct. 22Nov. 1, and is presenting an ambitious and _ interesting selection of new films and unusual films. The festival, once known as the 16mm Festival, has an equally impressive list of foreign guests. Marguerite Duras heads a list which includes Werner Schroeter, Daniel Schmid, Marcel Hanoun, Tim Burns, Bulle Ogier, Frans Zwartjes and Boris Lehman. There will be a section of punk and new wave films, and a selection of films from Quebec. For the first time, there will be a section called Video Presence, organized by various co-ops and organiza‘tions. Ron Levine Photographer for the Academy of Canadian Cinema at the 1981 Genie Awards STILLS PUBLIC RELATIONS Ron Levine e P.O. Box 687 e NDG e Montréal Québec e Canadae H4A 3R1 (514) 489-2236 Because of the stiff competition for festival funding, and _ the controversy which has surrounded this festival in particular, observers are watching this year’s presentation carefully. For the moment, the festival’s organizers, Claude Chamberlan and Dimitri Eipides have announced a budget of $60,000 with grants coming from the federal and provincial, and municipal governments. For the moment, the festival gets high marks for the number of films which will have their North American premiere, and for the quality of its guests. What with simultaneous evening screenings in three places and a seven day schedule, the Festival International would seem a model of economy. SPECIAL EVENTS . November 1981-Cinema Canada/®