APPLICATIONS

CALL FOR APPLICATION IS NOW CLOSED

APPLICATIONS FOR THE CLOSE UP 2023-2024 PROGRAM WILL OPEN IN JUNE 2023.

REQUIREMENTS

FILMMAKERS FROM THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY:

Afghanistan • Algeria • Armenia • Azerbaijan • Bahrain • Egypt • Georgia • Iran • Iraq • Israel • Jordan • Kuwait • Lebanon • Libya • Morocco • Oman • Palestine • Qatar • Saudi Arabia • Sudan • Syria • Tunisia • Turkey • UAE • Yemen

Workshops and tutorial sessions will be held in English, so the participants must be able to communicate in this language.
Participants will have to participate in a full series of three week-long workshops within 9 months. Workshops will be taking place in the months of December, March and June.
The project submitted may be in a stage of development, pre-production or production.
Submitted projects must have an international relevancy.
Eligible are filmmakers at early to mid career, who have made at least one short film.
Applicant may act as a director or producer of a project.
The selected filmmakers should be ready to collaborate during the program with an international co-producer.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Selected filmmakers will be awarded a complete grant covering tuition fee, flight ticket(s), accommodation, and meals during the workshops.

Filmmakers work very closely in groups and one-on-one with Close Up mentors, professionals at the top of the documentary industry: John Appel, Bruni Burres, Gitte Hansen and Nino Kirtadze. They will also receive workshops from editing consultants and other special industry experts.

Our annual program consists of three week-long workshops each year in December, March, and June, along with individualized work and assignments in between. We train and support documentary filmmakers to develop a full co-production package, including a trailer, which is presented at our final workshop in the framework of a pitching forum.

Prestigious awards, cash prizes and residencies are awarded to Close Up filmmakers at our pitching forum by leaders in the documentary industry. Decision makers present at past pitching forums come from IDFA, Sundance Institute, The Guardian, SWR, ARTE France, MDR Germany, FIPADOC, Chicken & Egg Pictures, The Guardian, Catapult Film Fund, Silver Sun Foundation, Blue Ice Docs, Docs Up Fund, 2M Morocco TV, MEDIMED Film Market, Jacob Burns Film Center, Movies That Matter, and more. You can find more information on the previous guests at our Pitching Forum here.

APPLICATION FORM

PLEASE NOTE:

Applications must be submitted in English
For additional information contact us at: info@closeupinitiative.org

PROJECT TITLE

DIRECTOR

Full Name:

Date of birth:

Email:

Native language:

Other Language:

Nationality:

Address:

City:

Country:

Phone number:

PRODUCER

Full Name:

Date of birth:

Email:

Native language:

Other Language:

Nationality:

Address:

City:

Country:

Phone number:

How did you hear about Close Up:*

Short synopsis (up to 100 words):*

Project status (research, development, pre-production, production):*

Finance secured:*

Online streaming link to a previous cinematic work:*

Online streaming link to self-presentation video describing connection to the film and motivation to take part in Close Up program (max 3-4 minutes):*

Online streaming link to visual materials of the submitted project - a teaser/scenes/footage (with English subtitles):*

Please attach a photo of the Director & Producer

WRITTEN PROPOSAL (Single PDF):*

Written proposal requirements:

Synopsis (max 2 page)
Director's Statement (1 page)
Narrative Structure & Visual Approach (if applicable / max 3 pages)
Project Status
Short Bio Director
Short Bio Producer/Co-Producer (if applicable)
Top-Sheet Budget & Financial Plan in EUR or USD
3 still images that represent the project

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