A
FESTIVAL RAG EXCLUSIVE
10.28.2003
(NEW YORK CITY) : Thanks to the Vail Film Institute,
rights to the music of George and Ira Gershwin is available
to independent filmmakers for the price of...well, for a song.
The Gershwin
Foundation announced this week a short film contest worthy of
its namesake: The Gershwin Showcase, to be presented
at the 2004 Vail Film Festival.
George and
Ira Gershwin wrote many of the most popular songs of the last hundred
years, and selected recordings of these songs, by a mélange of
artists, have been released for this short-film contest. Music rights
have been granted to allow filmmakers to create short films inspired by,
and showcasing the Gershwin tune of their choice.
Following
submission to the contest, the films will be reviewed by the Gershwin
Showcase Jury, who will bestow perpetual music rights upon the
films that meet their approval. Cash awards of over $7,000 will be given
to the first- and second-place winners. A shorts program will then be
assembled from the best films and given their world premiere at the first
Vail Film Festival (April 1-4, 2004 in Vail, Colorado).
"The
Gershwin families are very excited to be involved with the inauguration
of the Vail Film Festival," says L.J. Strunsky,
the Director of Marketing for Gershwin Enterprises. "The fusion of
film and music was instrumental in the careers of George and Ira, and
in introducing their songs nationally and internationally: We’re
just happy to be able to give back to the film industry in some way."
The judging
will be based on the integration and use of the music within the film's
structure. With the exception of music videos, all genres are accepted.
All films must be under eight (8) minutes in length, and must not have
been shown publicly prior to April 4, 2004.
Here's a list of the
eligible recordings from the Gershwin catalogue:
I Got
Rhythm, Robert Palmer (featuring Larry Adler)
Bidin' My Time, Johnny Hartman
Foggy Day, Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Gem)
Embraceable You, Duncan Sheik
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis
Armstrong
Fascinating Rhythm, Antonio Carlos Jobim
Little Jazz Bird, John Pizzarelli
(MP3s of
each song will be available on the VFF website as of November 6th)
The
Gershwin Showcase is an unprecedented opportunity for
filmmakers - in addition to cash prizes and worldwide publicity, it's
a golden ticket to music rights that up until now, indie filmmakers could
only dream of (or steal). So, choose your inspiration, fill out a submission
form, and pick out your song.
Oh, yeah – don’t
forget to make the film.
For more
details and submission forms, go to www.vailfilmfestival.org
and click on Gershwin Contest 2004. Also go to www.gershwin.com
and do something there.
The Festival Rag, a new online periodical dedicated to
true independent filmmaking and filmmakers is broadcast to thousands of
media-industry subscribers.
Advertise
on the Rag. We're a great resource. Use us.
http://kemek.com/indie-film/the-festival-rag/rate-card.htm
THE
PREMIERE ISSUE OF THE FESTIVAL RAG : NOVEMBER 3rd.
Neither
rain nor sleet nor spam: The Festival Rag is delivered to your inbox the
first Monday of every month.
|