Seminar: (17:30-19:00)

From Shorts to Features: How to make a successful multi-award-winning short film and turn it into a feature

So you have made a few shorts and now you are ready to take the next step to your first feature, or maybe you have a short that has done well and you want to turn this into a feature – what happens next? This workshop will offer a map that will guide you through what to expect on the road ahead from developing the short to a feature; developing a business proposal and avenues to explore for raising finance to make your film. What to avoid, what to be careful of, and how to identify your strengths. We will look at what you need to prepare during development, how and when to pitch, to whom and for what. How can labs and markets help you? You only get to make your first feature once so let’s make sure you do the best you can so you can make your next.

About the Speaker:

Athena is an award-winning filmmaker and a Lecturer in Film Practice at QMUL, whose journey began in theatre with the David Glass Ensemble. Her work has screened at festivals worldwide. Her feature film script XENOS won best script at Cyprus IFF 2018, selected onto the Torino Film Lab 2019 and shortlisted for Sundance Screenwriters Lab 2021. Losing Grace has been screened at over 50 IFFs, has won numerous awards and is being developed into a feature for 2022. Her short TWO SISTERS, selected for this year’s Pitch Lab in Drama, Greece and will be shot this year in Cyprus. She has three features in development.

Panel Discussion: (19:30 - 20:30)

Women in the Film Industry: How to make a start in the industry and build a successful long-term creative career

We will be talking to female industry professionals about their career paths, experiences and challenges, and address topics like female representation in film (both in front of and behind the camera), diversity, and the current industry landscape.

JOANNE REAY - Joanne graduated from the University of Cambridge and joined the BBC as a documentary producer before moving to BBC Films, where she originated, wrote and produced drama formats and feature films for Screen One. Joanne has currently produced seven films, six of which she co-wrote, including a family drama, a gothic western and a sci-fi mind bender. Her screenplays have attracted world-class talent such as David Bowie, Wesley Snipes, Sam Neill and Jean Reno. From 2012 -17 she headed up Red Bull’s cinema division, during which time she also produced the award-winning feature doc “The Ivory Game”. In 2020, Joanne made her directorial debut with the feature “This Is The Night Mail” which she wrote. She is currently developing her next directorial feature “Crewel Work”, an Elizabethan murder mystery with an interactive twist.

MANDY STEELE - Since 2002 Mandy has been casting across features, shorts, commercials, corporates and voice over casting for animation. She co-cast the BAFTA-nominated short TALKING WITH ANGELS (written and directed by Yousaf Ali Khan) and one of her features, English language Italian horror CRUEL PETER, had its World Premiere at the Taormina Film Festival 2019 and has been sold by Voltage Pictures (LA) to Netflix and Amazon. She also co-cast the juvenile leads in the upcoming feature, GIANTLAND, written and directed by Yousaf Ali Khan, which stars Hayley Squires, Josh Herdman, Goran Bogdan and Renu Setna. She is London based, a long time BAFTA & WFTV member and a member of the Casting Directors Association.

JENNIFER HANDORF - an independent filmmaker who has produced over a dozen feature films in the UK. Her career began as a short filmmaker in New York City. Working at the historic Kim’s Video, Jennifer met a group of fiercely creative directors from NYU and her own alma mater, Columbia film school. With them she produced a body of work that won awards at top tier festivals, from Sundance to Berlin. Shortly after receiving the Student Academy Award for one of these collaborations, she was invited to Los Angeles to participate in the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. In Los Angeles, Jennifer worked as an assistant for the Head of International Production at Fox during the day, while at night she attended classes for her master’s degree. Following graduation, Jennifer moved to the UK to work with her husband, award winning special effects artist Daniel Martin, and establish their company in London. She has since made a name for herself as a woman working in the horror genre, producing titles like Alice Lowe’s PREVENGE and cult favourite THE BORDERLANDS. When not in production, Jennifer can be found consulting for UK distributors, programming for international film festivals, or presenting workshops and panels at Universities and events around the world. She is currently working on her feature directorial debut, THE CHANGE, which she recently presented at The Frontières Platform during their program for the Cannes film festival.

Networking: (17:00 - 22:00)

Come along to meet and network with like-minded filmmakers, actors, film financiers and indie-film marketing specialists. Whether you’re on the hunt for cast and crew, new projects, or are looking to explore your financing and marketing options, this is the perfect time and place to discuss all your current and future projects, with a drink in your hand and some great company! We welcome everyone to attend, whether you’re a filmmaker with heaps of experience, a film lover, or are completely new to the industry.

Online Producing Course

If you're looking to learn how to fund and distribute your indie feature film then this is the course for you. Whether you are looking for private investors, government funding or crowdfunding backers we will show you all the different in depth strategies to raising funds for your film. Once the film is complete whether you are looking to distribute your film in cinemas, DVD or online we will give you all the tools necessary to promote and successfully release your film!

The course includes 14.5 hours of video lessons and is worth £130.

More Course Info Here

Find out more about Cine Circle here:

www.cinecircle.co.uk

You must be over 18 to enter the venue.

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