Call for Applications | New identities: An Israel/Canada international coproduction partnership in digital creation

The Gesher Multicultural Film Fund (GMFF), the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films, the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) the Haifa International Film Festival (HIFF), Hub Montréal and Xn Québec wish to push the limits of new forms of narration and foster new conversations about identity.

Traditional definitions of identity are being questioned on both the individual and collective fronts. From political, technological, cultural and economic points of view, paradigms and identities are undergoing significant change. Conversations about identity have multiple anchors and differ depending on ethnic backgrounds, gender, ideology, technology, community and geography. 

The aim of this project is to invite candidates to question the narratives that have been passed on to them and which have forged their identities, with a view to reshaping them to create new identity stories. These stories will favour an approach that is at once individual, collective, local and international. In so doing, the Israel/Canada partnership will help broaden horizons and engage with new audiences.  

This first phase of delegation aims to bring together artists, producers, designers, artisans and technologists from Israel and Canada, to foster the creation of new collaborations. Candidates from each country will be part of a delegation and will participate in a series of workshops during the Haifa International Film Festival and Hub Montreal.

At the end of this first phase, they will be invited to submit a project proposal for funding. The top four projects will be funded through an international co-production incentive fund.

Each of the projects will be based on a story with a defined narrative (documentary, animation or an experimental approach). They could use several different media (360, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, mobile, social media, etc.). 

The coproduction is a joint venture between both countries on the financial, executive and communications fronts. Transportation, lodging and per diems during the delegation phase when travel is required will be covered for the twelve candidates. The total budget of the production phase is 200,000 euros, and it will finance the four projects supported by the incentive fund.

Who can apply?

Among other things, we are looking for Canadian creative directors, creative technologists, designers, coders, filmmakers, photographers, sound designers, screenwriters, and producers who want to create or deepen creative professional relationships with members of the Israeli digital community. 

Eligibility criteria

• This offer is open to professional artists in all disciplines.
• Israeli candidates must be Israeli citizens or permanent residents. They may be incorporated or registered.
• Canadian candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. They may participate in the delegation phase as individuals, but for the production phase they must be incorporated, with  their head office based in Canada. 
• All candidates must have a good understanding of spoken and written English.
• All candidates must be eligible to travel in both Israel and Canada, and they must be available during the Haifa International Film Festival (Israel, October 12-21, 2019) and Hub Montréal (Canada, November 18-21, 2019).

To submit an application

The proposal must include:

1. A presentation page that includes the name of the artist
2. A condensed CV and/or portfolio of the artist, including the presentation of previous projects or links to those projects
3. A letter of intent of maximum 1 to 2 pages complete with the artistic motivations and intentions.

Each proposal must be supplied as a single copy, measuring 21.6 cm x 27.9 cm (8½ inches x 11 inches), and sent by email only. Only the required documents will be transmitted to the members of the evaluation committee.

To submit your proposal, please send us a single email with the required documents by August 15, 2019 at 12 pm (EST). 

• Canadian candidates must send their proposal to the following address: newidentities@nfb.ca. Canadian submissions must be written in French or English.
• Israeli candidates must submit their application online on the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films website. Israeli submissions must be written in Hebrew and English.

Evaluation process

The call for submissions will bring together twelve Israeli and Canadian artists (six candidates per country). The candidates will be selected by a jury composed of members of the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films and the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund on the Israeli side and members of the CMF, the NFB, Hub Montréal and Xn Québec on the Canadian side. Once selected, the candidates will be part of a delegation, and they will be invited to workshops.

Following this process, the candidates shall submit a project proposal. The four best projects will be selected by an international jury composed of representatives from each of the partner organizations and funds, and they will be financed by an international coproduction incentive fund. 

Schedule

• Call for submissions opens: June 25, 2019
• Submission deadline: August 15 at 12 pm (EST)
• Finalists chosen by the selection committee: August 30, 2019
• First delegation to the Haifa International Film Festival: October 12-21, 2019
• Second delegation to Hub Montréal: November 18-21, 2019
• Coproduction teams (made up of Canadian and Israeli candidates) submit project proposals for the production phase: January 2020
• International jury selects the four best projects for the production phase: February 2020
• Launch of the four final projects: May 2021

Intellectual property

The selected artist remains the rights owner of the project proposal submitted during the delegation phase. All selected candidates grant the National Film Board of Canada the definitive rights of first negotiation and first refusal for the exclusive production rights of the project with the aim of developing and coproducing the project following the delegation phase in accordance with the conditions to be negotiated in good faith with the artist.

For Canadian submissions: Questions may be asked in French or in English and can be sent to newidentities@nfb.ca.

For Israeli submissions: Questions may be asked in Hebrew or in English on the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films website.