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WF APPROVES LATEST FEATURE FILM
This April the Washington Filmworks Board of Directors approved funding assistance for one feature film. The project is slated to go into production late spring. This increases the number of projects approved after renewal to 17, totaling 88 projects approved through the standard program since 2007. WF has also approved five Innovation Lab projects since 2012.
This month WF Executive Director, Amy Lillard, also paid a visit to Los Angeles for a series of meetings with filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs. Several meetings addressed potential incentive productions coming to Washington during the busy summer filming season. Stay tuned for more information.
WF is still accepting applications for this year. Please contact staff at (206) 264-0667 with inquiries.
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THERE’S A FLY IN THE OINTMENT AT SIFF
WF is pleased to partner with the Seattle International Film Festival to once again produce the Fly Filmmaking Challenge. The program challenges local independent filmmakers to complete a short, with only three days to shoot, five days to edit, and three days of post-production. This year’s Fly Filmmaking Challenge is a true partnership of the area’s creative communities; the undeniable talents of the 2012 fellows from Artist Trust serve as the inspiration behind each script, and Seattle’s most iconic neighborhood locations supply the backdrop of an incredibly entertaining program. Creative hurdles, coupled with “video postcards” from the most promising local educational filmmaking programs, form the whole picture that highlights Washington’s filmmaking community.
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WF AT FMI HAPPY HOUR MAY 29
Information is power. This spring film industry workers across the state participated in a jobs survey designed to gather information about how film professionals create their careers in Washington State. The information collected paints a compelling picture about how film professionals create year round work and how the film industry contributes to the larger creative economy. Amy Lillard, Executive Director of Washington Filmworks, will present the results from the jobs survey and an overview of the first annual report on the state of Washington’s film industry at the May Film + Music + Interactive Happy Hour, Wednesday, May 29.
Take control of your career and come find out more about how we can work together to create a vibrant sustainable film industry in Washington State. The monthly Happy Hour is a meet-up for leaders in film, music, and interactive industries to make meaningful business connections. Please mark your calendars and join others in this great networking event at Spitfire in Belltown.
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JOIN WF AT NORTHWEST FOLKLIFE MAY 26
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NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR TALENTED YOUTH WRAPS
The National Film Festival For Talented Youth (NFFTY) wrapped over the weekend in Seattle. NFFTY Opening Night kicked off on Thursday, April 25 and Washington Filmworks enjoyed taking in the sights at the seventh annual festival.
More than 10,000 attendees were expected over the extended weekend.WF participated in the NFFTY Speed Networking event. Youth filmmakers met with entertainment industry experts to learn more about breaking into the business. This year’s film program was first-rate as well. “If you just walked into these screenings you’d have no idea they were youth made films, you would just think they are phenomenal shorts,” said Lindsey LeDuc, NFFTY Managing Director. Closing Night and the NFFTY 2013 Awards Show rounded out the festival on Sunday. Congratulations to NFFTY on another amazing year!
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