TIFFCOM, MPA, and DHU are jointly sponsoring the “Master Class / Seminar & Pitching Contest 2024” for young filmmakers. July.25.2024

TIFFCOM, MPA, and DHU are jointly sponsoring the “Master Class / Seminar & Pitching Contest 2024” for young filmmakers.

Application deadline: Monday, September 9, 2024

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and TIFFCOM, in conjunction with TIFFCOM, which will be held as a parallel market during the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival, and in collaboration with Digital Hollywood University (DHU), will host the “MPA/DHU/TIFFCOM Master Class Seminar & Pitching Contest 2024” on Friday, November 1, 2024 (planned) at the TIFFCOM venue.

This seminar and pitching event, which is being held for the 6th time annually this year, was created to provide young film makers with a platform to expand overseas.
In conjunction with the event, we will begin accepting submissions for the pitching contest. Themes are open, but we will evaluate works that appeal to the international market. Please start by submitting a summary in the form of a synopsis of no more than 2,000 words. The deadline is Monday, September 9, 2024.

■ Event Overview
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024, at the TIFFCOM venue (planned)
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center Hamamatsucho Pavilion (1-7-1 Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Contents: ・Master class and seminar by a prominent international filmmaker (about 1 hour)
・Pitching contest by young filmmakers who have passed the first round (about 2 hours)

We will listen to an internationally acclaimed filmmaker.
Alex Boden, who has produced numerous productions on the international stage, including the crime drama series “Tokyo Vice” starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, will be speaking at the event. Mr. Boden, who specializes in international co-productions and is active in all regions, will share his production stories and views on his work.

Mr. Alex Boden, TV/Film Producer
A British film and television producer and executive producer.
Specializing in international co-productions, he has extensive production experience in the U.S., Germany, and Asia since founding Pistachio Pictures in 1999.
His recent works include Seasons 1 and 2 of (HBO) Max’s crime drama series “Tokyo Vice” starring Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe, and all seasons of the groundbreaking Netflix series “Sense8” directed by the Wachowski sisters and Tom Tykwer. In 2019, he was nominated for a Producers Guild of America Awards for Sense8.

His other films include the Netflix fantasy/adventure series “Cursed” created by Tom Wheeler and Frank Miller; Terrence Malick’s latest film starring Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Mark Rylance; “Cloud Atlas,” an epic fantasy film starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry; and “Pulp: A Film About Life, Death & Supermarkets,” a music documentary featuring Pulp.

Fluent in English, French and German, he is a board member and past chair of the Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB) and a board member and mentor for Stowe Story Labs, Vermont, USA.
He is also a voting member of BAFTA (British Academy Film Awards), the European Film Academy, PGA (Producers Guild of America Awards), and the Television Academy. He enjoys traveling, music, yoga, and supporting various charitable organizations including the Woolf Institute.

The authors of the five projects selected from among the submissions will be asked to make their pitch.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a trip to the Global Film & Television Immersion Program in November 2025 to see how film and television business is conducted in Los Angeles.

This program includes a 5-day course, round-trip economy class airfare from Japan to Los Angeles, and accommodations. (No interpreter will accompany the tour).
The Excellence Award winner will be invited to attend the Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA) to be held on the Gold Coast, Australia in November 2025.

The award includes round-trip economy class airfare from Japan to Australia, accommodation, and participation in the Asia Pacific Screen Forum. (No interpreter will accompany the tour).
*In the event that various circumstances make it difficult to award prizes, such as international travel or difficulty in hosting a destination event, The Motion Picture Association reserves the right, at its discretion, to substitute alternate opportunities for all or part of the prizes. These cannot be redeemed for cash. Thank you for your understanding.

■Details on Entering the Pitching Contest
Entry format: Synopsis of 2,000 words or less
Theme: Any; however, we will evaluate works that are likely to appeal to the overseas market, taking into consideration the purpose of the event.
Data format: Microsoft Word or PDF, including the title of the work and the author’s name in the data
First round: Synopsis screening
Final round: Evaluation of a 5-minute presentation (on the day of the event)
Jury: Professionals involved in the film and video industry

For the final screening, please develop an attractive presentation that “makes us want to see the work made into a video”.
You can enter works that have already been announced, but only works for which the rights belong to the applicant. You may enter regardless of your age, or whether you are a professional or an amateur.

Only those selected will be notified of the results of the initial screening at the end of September 2024 to the e-mail address provided at the time of application. We do not respond to inquiries regarding screening.
・Application Deadline: Monday, September 9, 2024 (entries received by the end of this day will be accepted)
・Copyrights to the submitted works: Copyrights to the works belong to the authors. Sponsors, etc., will not seek any rights.
・Announcement of first round results: Late September 2024
Pitching Contest Date: Friday, November 1, 2024 (planned)

■How to Enter
Please use the following link to provide your address, name, age, gender, occupation, phone number, email address (no cell phone email addresses), title of the submitted work, and how you found out about this call for entries. Please also include your C.V. (any format), as well as a synopsis (max. 2,000 characters). Please be advised that we are not accepting applications by mail. The synopsis can be in any format (Word, PDF, etc.), but please be sure to include the following three items in the data: (1) title, (2) author’s name, and (3) a synopsis of 2,000 words or less.
Entry form: https://www.secure-cloud.jp/sf/business/1719818759sSWALTwh

■Inquiries
Film Workshop Executive Office
pitchingcontest@jimca.co.jp (There will be no response on weekends or holidays.)