Friday, March 7th
ADVOCACY DAY / Free
Filmmakers come have your Mr. Smith moment in Washington, DC. This is an opportunity for filmmakers
to converge on Capitol Hill for a morning of panels and individual sessions with the government
representatives from their respective states and a briefing focusing on issues of particular importance
to the industry. This is a unique opportunity for independent filmmakers and policy makers
to discuss and propose initiatives that will help to produce films in the United States.
* Location:Cannon House Office Building, room 121, First and C Streets, SE, Washington,
DC (Entrance is on opposite corner directly north of Capitol South Metro stop)
9:30 am - Informal meet & greet
10 am - Welcome - Introduction to the issues
10:15-11:30 am - Congressional Briefing to address, filmmakers, industry representatives and government representatives discuss industry related issues
Noon - Individual meetings with Members of Congress (DCIFF will organize meetings with Rep./Senator from the various states)
Speakers:
Carol Bidault de l'Isle, Executive Director and Founder, DCIFF
Deirdre Evans Pritchard
Alex Cox - Director (Repo Man, Sid & Nancy, Searchers 2.0)
Tod Davies - Producer/Writer ("Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas)
Saturday, March 8th
12:15 pm SEMINAR $25 (price for Part I & II)
Lights, Camera, Action: Voila, your first film! (Day 1)
Presenter: DC Filmmaker, Zhibo Lai
part 1 - In this two-day outreach workshop, DC Independent Filmmaker, Zhibo Lai will guide potential
filmmakers through pre-production and filming in a process that results in an actual short film.
Filmmakers will discuss the major roles of the crew, structure, and format of a pre-written, two minute
screenplay. Continues in Part 2 on the following day!
2:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Master Class on Directing: Alex Cox, world renown independent filmmaker
This is an opportunity to learn from one of the most renown independent filmmakers, Alex Cox (Repo
Man, Sid & Nancy, Walker, Searchers 2.0) about both the creative and business aspects of independent
filmmaking. Limited space, early sign up recommended.
4:15 pm SEMINAR $25
High Tech-Low Budget: bringing your vision to the screen
This class will bring together experts, including Award Winning Writer & Producer, Tod Davies (Fear
& Loathing in Las Vegas, Three Businessmen and Revengers Tragedy), and post-production experts
that will explain how to best produce high quality productions on a low budget.
Presenter:
- Carol Bidault, DCIFF Executive Director and Founder
Panelists:
- Tod Davies, writer /producer
- Tim Lorenz
Sunday, March 9th
12:15 pm SEMINAR $25 (included in Part I)
Lights, Camera, Action: Voila, your first film! (Day 2)
-Presenter: DC Filmmaker, Zhibo Lai
Part II - In this two-day workshop, DC Independent Filmmaker, Zhibo Lai will guide new filmmakers
through pre-production and filming in a process that results in an actual short film. Filmmakers will
discuss the major roles of the crew, structure, and format of a pre-written, two minute screenplay,
then it's lights, camera, action: voila-your first film!
2:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Distribution Panel (Independent Film)
Moderator & panelist: Bennet Fidlow, SCHRODER FIDLOW, PLC
Learn about what the marketplace is looking for, what they are really paying and how you can get
your film in the right hands to market it. Panelists to include: Michael Pabst, Cinemavault (international
distribution company) and Joe Sisto, international attorney.
4:15 pm SEMINAR $25
ANIME
Presenter: Christopher Wanamaker, president, DC Anime Club
Renowned animation experts, Steve Bennett and Sharvonique Renee Fortune will share their expertise
on the Japanese technique known as anime. Panelists will discuss their work, including how they
make their living and the impact of Japanese animation on their work. Learn vicariously through
their years of experience and specialized knowledge of character animation.
Saturday, March 15th-Business Seminars
12:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Finance Panel
Presenter: Adam Sledd and Temple Fennel
Moderator: Kirk Schroder, SCHRODER FIDLOW, PLC
The path to finding finance for independent filmmakers is a difficult on. This panel will discuss the
role of private equity investors, distributors and producers that make it all happen happen. Our panelists
will share how and when they get involved with independent filmmakers - from how they
choose their projects, approve realistic budgets, and build relationships with independent producers
that will deliver films for the marketplace. This is an essential panel for all filmmakers that are seeking
to produce feature films.
2:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Production Panel
Moderator: Bennett Fidlow, SCHRODER FIDLOW, PLC
Panelists: Jane Love, SAG, Rita McClenny, VFO, and Rosemarie Levy, IATSE
Meet the people that you need to know to produce films in the region –
from union representatives to film commissioners. These are the people that make it all happen.
4:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Distribution for Documentaries
Moderator: Kirk Schroder, SCHRODER FIDLOW, PLC
Washington, DC is the documentary capital of the world. All the major companies are here. Meet representatives
of the key companies: Discovery, National Geographic, PBS,
Sunday, March 16th
12:15 pm SEMINAR $25
Music Composition for Film
Moderator: Dave Mallen, Innovation Station Music
Panelists: Ken Kaufman, Entertainment Lawyer and Adam Johnson, Sound Designer/Composer
Learn the nuts and bolts of the music business and merging with film. The panel is divided into 2
parts: Part 1-the Music Business; Part 2-Working with filmmakers.
2:15 pm SEMINAR $25 (Free for DCIFF filmmakers past and present)
Finance and Distribution Workshop
Presented President, MediaFusion & Executive Director DCIFF: Carol Bidault,
From Private vs. Industry financing, to Hard vs. Soft Money, this workshop will focus on how to navigate
the world of private equity to finding a distributor. This workshop is geared towards filmmakers
that seek industry financing and distribution. Be prepared to discuss a summary of your project
4:15 pm SEMINAR Free
Legal Clinic – You have questions, our experts have answers!
This panel of top legal, finance and distribution experts answers all your questions and discusses issues,
including music that usually come between a filmmaker getting their film out in the marketplace
successfully. This is a very popular panel, come early for a seat.
