Thank you for your interest in the Sundance International Feature Film Program. You are invited to apply to two of our signature programs for International filmmakers. The January Screenwriters Lab and the Sundance Institute Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award are designed to support emerging filmmakers through comprehensive creative and strategic guidance. By submitting this application with the accompanying materials, you are applying for both programs. There is no need to submit another application. While the Feature Film Program offers the same creative and strategic support to International projects as it does US projects, there are some differences in the application procedure and in eligibility. Please read through them carefully to determine if you are eligible. The Screenwriters Lab is a five-day writer's workshop that takes place in January just before the annual Sundance Film Festival. The program offers selected participants the opportunity to work intensively on their feature film scripts with the support of veteran filmmakers. Participating writers have one-on-one story sessions with Creative Advisors, engaging in individual dialogues that combine life lessons in craft with practical suggestions to be explored in the next drafts. Each year, the Feature Film Program accepts 6-8 international projects. Screenplays are selected by staff and an advisory committee of filmmakers, writers and independent producers. The Sundance Institute Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award recognizes and supports emerging independent filmmakers from four different regions annually. Winning filmmakers each receive a cash award of $10,000 and attendance at the Sundance Film Festival for a specially curated five-day program, which includes custom tailored meetings with creative advisors (established screenwriters/directors) and with the key members of the industry. Following the festival, Institute staff and creative advisors provide ongoing creative and strategic support, which may also include the opportunity to participate in one of the Sundance Institute Creative Labs in Screenwriting, Directing, Composing, and Producing. This application is for filmmakers eligible for both the Screenwriters Lab and the Sundance Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award. There is no need to submit a separate application.
The lab is for either a writer/director or a writer-director team. Participants are selected on the basis of their past work and the submitted script The lab is for the development of first or second feature films only. The lab does not develop short films, documentary projects or TV series. Candidates must submit COMPLETED SCREENPLAYS (no treatments). A hard copy and electronic copy of the script should be provided. Filmmakers should submit a DVD of a previous dramatic short film or feature as a sample of his/her work. If the work is not in English, it must be subtitled in English. Unless you have been in direct contact with the FFP staff about submitting, applications are accepted only from Filmmakers from a region of focus (Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, Central America, Northern Africa). If you live outside the regions of focus, please send a letter of inquiry to ffpinternational@sundance.org. You will need to include the following: Biography or CV for the writer and director Brief description of the project Brief Artistic Statement All applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from a film professional written in English or with an attached English translation. See below for further specification. Typically the budgets of participating projects have been between US$ 100,000 to $3 Million. We will consider projects outside this range only on a project-by-project basis. There is no entry fee for International applicants. SUBMISSION PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE: Application Form Letter Of Recommendation and Recommendation Form (see last page) with the recommender s signature. Letters of recommendation must be from working industry professionals (for example: a producer, filmmaker colleague, school dean, etc.) of any nationality. Their letter should demonstrate that they are familiar with your work and can comment about your talent. Printed hard copy of script. We accept scripts in English only. This must include a title page with (at a minimum) the project title and name of writer. Please make sure that the pages are numbered. Script must be fastened by brads or other easily removable fasteners. DO NOT BIND YOUR SCRIPT. Electronic copy of the script. Please email a PDF document of the script to ffpinternational@sundance.org. Logline (One line sentence description of the project). Synopsis of script (not more than one page).
Artistic Statement - Please describe your vision and creative approach to the project. Biographies / Résumés of the screenwriter, director, producers and any other cast and crew already attached. One copy of director s work: 1 copy in DVD (preferably NTSC) in English or with English subtitles of the director s previous short film(s), feature, or other film/video work. DVD should be of a sufficiently high quality to duplicate for the selection committee. ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS NEED TO BE IN ENGLISH. SORRY, APPLICATION MATERIALS WILL NOT BE RETURNED If you have any further questions, please contact the program administrator at ffpinternational@sundance.org before sending in your application. Please send your submissions package to the following address: Feature Film Program, International Attn: Matthew Takata Sundance Institute 5900 Wilshire Blvd, 8 th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90036 USA
August 15, 2013 (for the January 2014 Lab) Script Title Screenwriter s Name Previous Work Title(s) of sample submitted Length (in Minutes) Nationality of Screenwriter Screenwriter 's Address Street: City: Country: Zip/Postal Code: Phone # Fax # E-Mail Name and Nationality of Director (if different from screenwriter) Status of script (first draft, shooting script, etc.) Name of Producer (if attached) Other cast or crew attachments (if any) Please feel free to attach any additional information about your project or its status that you think might be of interest.
Project Title Recommender s Name Company: Title: Phone #: Fax #: E-Mail: Direct Relationship to project (if any) Screenwriter s Name Director s Name (If different) Comment briefly below on your reasons for recommending this project. Please also feel free to include any additional information that might be of interest in our evaluation of this project (please attach letter of recommendation to this form). Signature / Date