Training

21st July 2009

The Cream of European Film-Making Talent Comes to Cardiff…

The Film Agency for Wales has today announced that Cardiff has been selected to host the European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) road-show in November 2009 and is now inviting applications from film producers for ‘A Taste of EAVE’.

100 of Europe’s film-making elite will be in Cardiff for a week of high-profile workshops, networking, screenings and associated events, meeting the cream of Welsh film-making talent to explore co-production and international film-making opportunities. Due to be held at St David’s Hotel, the event will climax in a series of industry pitching sessions, when Europe’s leading film financiers, distributors, established producers and market representatives come face-to-face with some of Europe’s most promising producers, including a contingent from Wales, and the talent they’re working with.

EAVE is one of Europe’s leading media training and project development agencies, with a range of industry-led programs for European and international audiovisual producers. Supported by a variety of international funding partners, including the EU MEDIA program and Film Fund Luxembourg, EAVE has been running for over 20 years - and can name some of the world’s leading film-makers amongst its alumni - like the producers of Cannes Palme d’Or winner ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’, Oscar-winning ‘The Last King of Scotland’ and ‘The Counterfeiters’.

At the centre of EAVE activity is the EAVE Producers Workshop, a year long professional development programme for producers who wish to take their professional skills to a European level and to develop a co-production network of knowledge, contacts and partners.

Supported by the Film Agency for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government, Creative Business Wales, Skillset Cymru, Cardiff City Council and Welsh Producers Alliance (TAC), this is the first time such an ambitious, large-scale, high-profile event has been brought to Wales, with tailored opportunities for Welsh producers.

Running from 16th – 22nd November, the intensive EAVE programme includes a flagship producers’ workshop that will involve some 50 European producers from more than 28 countries in Europe. The delegates will undergo an intensive project development process across the course of the year, culminating in an intense Pitching Session, where their EAVE projects come face-to-face with the market-place: in the form of 40-50 industry “decision-makers” from the European media scene - financiers, broadcasters, film fund chiefs, distributors and sales agents.

As well as bringing Producers from all over Europe to Wales in November, EAVE will also be hosting Mini EAVE an additional event entirely focused on and for the local industry that will include tailored workshops specifically addressing the needs of the film industry in Wales.

Working with the Film Agency for Wales, Skillset Cymru and Northern Ireland Screen, EAVE have developed a unique and additional bespoke event, “ A Taste of EAVE” which gives Welsh and Irish Producers the opportunity to work with an Eave mentor while developing a feature length project. The culmination of this exciting programme will see the participants of “A Taste of EAVE” joining the participants and decision makers when EAVE arrives in Cardiff in November. Welsh producers will be able to apply to the Skillset Cymru Freelance training fund.

“This is a prestigious event that represents an invaluable shop-window for Welsh production companies to establish and develop relationships in the European and international co-production market-place, affording them a unique opportunity to raise their profile and build upon their longer term business ambitions,” comments Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency for Wales.

The Film Agency for Wales is funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the UK Film Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, via Creative Business Wales, the latter of which was set up to support, encourage and increase the range and number of films being produced in Wales and to foster the abundance of creative talent in Wales. Funding for the development and production of feature films is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales.

For application details for ‘A Taste of EAVE’ please see www.filmagencywales.com/training.php or call Anne-Marie Margerison on 029 2046 7484. The deadline for applications is 12 noon Wednesday 5th August.