Interchange is a programme for teams of writer/director and producer from Europe or the Arab world working at a fiction feature film and film professionals interested in script editing training. The programme is also open to 3 trainee script consultants from the Arab world.

The Interchange 2012 call for applications is open, apply now!

Deadline for applications: March 4th, 2012.

The aim is to build cooperation between film professionals from Europe and the Arab countries (Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen), selecting 12 teams of writer/director + producer and 3 Arab trainee script consultants, and bringing them together for 2 residential 5-day workshops, one in Torino at the end of May/beginning of June and one in Dubai in December.

The training is designed to match the needs of experienced professionals who want to develop their skills through concrete work on their projects – under the expert guidance of international tutors – and who are ready to share their ideas with colleagues and engage themselves in discussions in order to improve and increase their knowledge. The trainee script consultants will be trained as story editors working each on 4 of the 12 selected projects.

Interchange is run by TorinoFilmLab, the Dubai International Film Festival and EAVE and it is supported by MEDIA Mundus.

Who can apply?

Teams of writer/director and producer applying with a fiction feature film project: writers and producers must come from Europe or one of the listed Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The producer applicants should have a demonstrable track record of producing in their own country and perhaps internationally. This could include the production of feature films, documentaries, music videos, advertising.

European applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear relationship to or involvement with the countries indicated above and proposed projects should come from or be related to them.

Arab film professionals interested in story editing training: film professionals applying as story editors trainee must come from one of the above listed Arab countries, and have a good knowledge of Arabic.

The working language of all Interchange workshops and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate.

How to apply?

Teams of writers/director and producer applying with a project need to send:
-application form A
-full Curriculum Vitae (all applicants)
-synopsis (1 page maximum/only for writers)
-treatment (10 page maximum/only for writers)
-letter of motivation for doing Interchange (1 page maximum/all applicants). For European projects, the producer should also explain in which way the project is related to the Arab countries which are part of the Interchange Programme.
-development/production timetable (for producers)
-detailed budget, incl. development budget (for producers)
-financing plan (Euro currency): please include detailed info about the funds in the country of origin, region of interest and their relevant deadline, and mark any funds already obtained (for producers)
-one previous short film or extract of previous materials, (not mandatory/only for writer-directors): the video must be uploaded by following the link: http://tfl.museotv.com and signing up. Only 1 video per applicant; showreels will not be accepted;

Film professionals applying as trainee script consultants need to send:
-application form B
-full Curriculum Vitae
-letter of motivation for doing Interchange (1 page maximum)

All applications have to be sent to interchange@torinofilmlab.it in English and PDF format.

Only entries with complete form and materials, in English and PDF format, will be accepted.

Participation cost
There is no entry fee.

TorinoFilmLab covers participants’ accommodation expenses (hotel and meals) during the workshops.

All the travel expenses during the programme have to be covered by the participants but will be reimbursed up to 1.000 Euro per team of writer and producer, up to 500 euro per trainee script consultant. The reimbursement concerns only the travel to/from the city, and not the local transportation in the city such as taxi, car rental or parking. In order to receive the refund the participants need to send all the original travel tickets to TorinoFilmLab office no later than December 20th, otherwise the reimbursement can not be guaranteed.

Workshops & on-line sessions

Participants’ activities take place across 6 months as follows:

May / June:  1st four-day residential workshop in Torino with tutors: development and pitching workshop with group sessions, lectures and case-studies

August – September: 1st online/Skype/e-mail development session with tutors: assessment, consulting, task-setting

October – November: 2nd online/Skype/e-mail development session with tutors: assessment, consulting, task-setting for writers/ directors/ producers

December:  2nd five-day residential workshop in Dubai: final script assessment, project advice, pitching training, producers’ coaching, case studies;
Pitching event and one-to-one meetings at Dubai Film Connection with film industry professionals from EU and Arab regions.

More details on Interchange events.

The training of writers/ filmmakers/ producers/story editors trainees will be carried out simultaneously in both workshops and the curriculum will be designed around two central concerns: project development and co-production strategies.

Participants will continue working online between the 2 workshops and will receive feedback on project development through a schedule of Skype/email consultations.

A head producer will supervise all 12 teams. Each team’s project will also be analysed in depth with supervision and guidance by 3 professional tutors working in smaller groups.