Filmmakers – Open Call for Doc-Challenge 2011

The great Doc-Challenge is on again! Register now to participate in the 5 day filmmaking frenzy that will take place as part of the Doc Aviv 2011 documentary film festival in Tel Aviv.

The challenge is to create a 4 – 7 minute documentary on a given subject within 5 days. The theme for this year’s competition is “Another Way” and the deadline for registration is April 19, 2011. Register on the Doc-Challenge site: www.docchallenge.co.il.

12 – 15 applicants will be selected to participate in the challenge. Each participant will put together a filmmaking team and will be given support in all aspects of production to film and edit their documentary. At the opening briefing, the teams will receive a specific subject within the general theme, and a documentary genre (biography, music, etc) that will define the direction of their film.  The teams will be able to film in HD this year, as part of the production support that is made available to all participants without charge.

Films selected as finalists will be shown on May 18, 2011 at the DocAviv 2011 festival at the Port of Tel Aviv, with additional screenings at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. Prizes for the winners will include a development grant and production package. The films created by finalists will be shown on the Second  Authority for Television and Radio Channels 2 and 10, the DocChallenge website, and will be distributed on DVD.

The competition is open to filmmakers who have made at least one documentary or feature film, either short or full length. Students in their final year of film or television studies at an accredited institution of higher learning are also eligible to participate.

4 – 7 minutes doesn’t seem very long, but a look at Next Stop, Life, the winner of last year’s challenge, directed by Manara Nivron, makes it clear that the short format can be very effective, the film can be viewed on this link.

Doc-Challenge Artistic Director Ari Davidovitch is the initiator of the competition in Israel, and it is created in collaboration with DocAviv, the Rabinovich Fund, The Second Authority of Television and Radio, Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, and Pyramid Productions.