DARKLIGHT FESTIVAL 2006 CALL FOR ENTRIES

*NB Please read entire contents of this page before filling out the entry form*

DARKLIGHT FESTIVAL is Ireland 's premier festival for filmmakers, animators and artists whose work explores the convergence of art, film and technology.

Digital filmmaking techniques have become increasingly universal, they have revolutionised contemporary filmmaking practice and contributed hugely to the liberation of animation. In response to this the Darklight programme has become focused on work that challenges; concepts, visual aesthetic, narrative, access, methods of production and dialogue through these contemporary filmmaking techniques.

Darklight exhibits work that pushes these boundaries and displays creative excellence. Our mission is to nurture new talent and to create new possibilities for the imagination.

STRAYLIGHT is a visual art exhibition whose curatorial vision promotes work that connects with us on levels that represent technology's wide influence on our culture.

DARKLIGHT SYMPOSIUM series is a forum for filmmakers and artists, informing and initiating debate on all aspects of contemporary art and filmmaking, from practice and technology to copyright, distribution and education.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

DARKLIGHT FESTIVAL 2006 IS RETURNING TO AN EARLY SUMMER DATE

Check the website for date and venues

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS MONDAY 20 th MARCH 2006

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

In addition to this, we are particularly interested in the following for Darklight 2006:

1. Work by artists who are using animation in their practice. As part of the festival in 2006 we will explore the growing significance of animation culture, history and techniques within contemporary art practice with a series of screenings and talks.

2. This year we are celebrating the art of motion graphics with screenings and talks, so send us your projects for inclusion in this programme.

3. Darklight is currently researching a programme which will investigate the richness and rawness of films originating in community orientated creative projects. The proliferation of these projects is extensive and the work tends to explore, through both humour and drama, the exclusion of people through poverty, immigration, addiction, homelessness, and incarceration, issues that are pertinent to contemporary Ireland.

We are accepting films that have been produced in such projects and would like hear from artists working collaboratively or in residencies within a local arts environment.

4. Darklight has been screening films aimed at minority communities for the past few years with a view to addressing growing multicultural audiences in Ireland. Once again we are seeking out and including film and artworks in the programme from countries where refugees and immigrants have come to make Ireland their home including India, China, Nigeria, Romania, Latvia, Bosnia, Poland and Russia.

In 2006 we also wish to greatly expand our activities to nurture new talent and are actively seeking films made within minority communities in Dublin and Ireland.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The range of work we show at Darklight is very broad. At Darklight 5 (2004) we screened films as varied as ‘Rook', a 1 second long piece by Slovakian filmmaker Mladen Stropnik to ‘Route 181', a 28 hour long work charting the filmmakers' (Eyal Sivan and Michel Khleifi) journey along the 1947 UN demarcation line for Palestine. We also brought ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars' animated series to the big screen for the first time in Ireland, while at the same time showcasing over 150 short works from emerging and established artists, filmmakers and animators.

The Darklight programme for 2006 will focus on work that challenges; concepts, visual aesthetic, narrative, access, methods of production and dialogue through contemporary filmmaking techniques.

Eligible for entry are feature films, documentaries, all CG animation (Flash, 3D etc.), experimental works, music videos, commercial work, motion graphics, game sequences, live action shorts, student work, films shot on camera phones and films from outreach and community projects . There are no restrictions on genre, length or number of submitted works.

In addition to this, we are particularly interested in the following for Darklight 2006:

1. Work by artists who are using animation in their practice. As part of the festival in 2006 we will explore the growing significance of animation culture, history and techniques within contemporary art practice with a series of screenings and talks.

2. Darklight is currently expanding its community orientated programming, collaborating with individuals and organisations working with youth, community and art therapy to explore the exclusion of people through poverty, immigration, homelessness, and incarceration, issues that are pertinent to contemporary Ireland.

We are accepting films that have been produced in community and outreach projects to include in this programme.

We are also broadening our outreach to actively encourage and showcase pre-university/third level filmmakers.

3. Darklight has been screening films aimed at minority communities for the past few years with a view to addressing growing multicultural audiences in Ireland . Once again we are seeking out and including film and artworks in the programme from countries where refugees and immigrants have come to make Ireland their home including India , China , Nigeria , Romania , Latvia , Bosnia , Poland and Russia .

In 2006 we also wish to greatly expand our activities to nurture new talent and are actively seeking films made within minority communities in Dublin and Ireland .

SUBMISSIONS

Darklight submissions will be processed on-line and applications can be made through the entry form available on our website at ../../index.html.

On submission of an entry, you will receive a NUMBER, this is your PERSONAL SUBMISSION NUMBER and should be quoted on all enquiries and correspondence concerning your entry.

Please print this number clearly on your VHS tape, DVD, or CD submission. A printable label is included on the site and this should be attached securely to your entry. This label must be completed in full with the following details:

SUBMISSION NUMBER, TITLE OF WORK, RUNNING TIME, CONTACT NAME, EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER.

A separate entry form is required for each piece submitted.

For entry level we accept only VHS (NTSC or PAL), DVD at preview quality (approx. 320 x 240 or greater), QuickTime, AVI, WMV and MPEG files on CD, or a URL pointing to your movie.

Please note we will be viewing work on a PC.

Along with your labelled film and completed entry form we require the following:

1. At least one still image from your film on CD, 300dpi JPEG or TIFF

2. Photo of the film director on CD, 300dpi JPEG or TIFF

3. Electronic version of synopsis (approx 100 words) and one line description of piece. This can be included on CD with images.

4. If you wish to have your submission tape/DVD/CD returned, please include a stamped addressed envelope (or bank draft/money order for equivalent in euro)

5. Any relevant promotional material may also be included

If you have any questions please contact us by email at:
queries (at) darklight-filmfestival.com

CONDITIONS AND DEADLINES

• The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is MONDAY 20 th MARCH 2006 . While the tapes must reach us no later than the specified date we would appreciate submissions in advance.

• If accepted for selection we will need your BETA SP tape, DV PAL exhibition tape or broadcast quality film on un-encoded DVD or CD by FRIDAY 21 st APRIL.

• We cannot guarantee to show work if it has not reached us by then. Any exhibition tapes received after this date may be withdrawn from the festival – exhibition tapes from outside Ireland must be postmarked by TUESDAY 18 th APRIL.

• This exhibition copy will be returned after the festival at the organiser's (Darklight) expense.

• Notification regarding the selection decisions will be issued by MONDAY 3 rd APRIL.

• Due to the volume of entries to be considered, we are unfortunately unable to supply individual explanations for our decisions.

• By submitting a work, you agree that film clips (not more than 3 minutes long, or 2/3 length of original piece, whichever is shorter) and still images may be used for festival publicity, marketing and related materials (including TV, brochure, poster, programme and web site).

• All legal rights and copyright remains with the producer of the work.

• If your submission is accepted, you grant Darklight permission to showcase your submission in Dublin , Ireland at the Darklight Festival 2006 and at various screenings throughout the year as part of the Darklight Touring Programme.

POST & CUSTOMS

• Transportation costs of submitted materials will be borne by the applicant.
• Applicants shall be liable for all customs duties outside Ireland and shall be bound to abide by customs rules.
• Darklight will only accept packages from abroad whose customs declarations have been completed correctly.
• Each package should have a clearly marked inscription stating its value and information that it is not for commercial value.
• Every precaution will be exercised with the entries, but we cannot assume responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted during post or handling.

POSTAL ADDRESS:

Darklight Festival,

69 Dame Street ,

Dublin 2,

Ireland .

Please write your submission number clearly on the envelope.

If you have any questions please contact us by email at:
queries (at) darklight-filmfestival.com

TAPE RETURN POLICY

Preview submission material will not be returned and will be kept in our resource library unless a stamped addressed envelope with sufficient postage (or bank draft/money order for equivalent) IN EURO is included with your entry. Material will not be returned until after the festival.