Dear Contact at Association of Icelandic Film Producers:

Call for Below ZERO

Documentary projects on life above the Arctic Circle

Below ZERO is an international pitching session for documentary projects focusing on life above the Arctic Circle. No matter where you are based you are welcome to submit your documentary projects concerning all aspects relating to this subject matter. Below Zero takes place on January 20-23 in Tromsø, Norway. The deadline for submitting your project is on November 19, 2009.

Below ZERO seeks a wide range of documentary projects on all subjects related to life above the Arctic Circle. These can be projects focusing on culture, environment, resources, politics, climate changes and indigenous peoples as well as general human stories.

Filmmakers from all over the World are welcome to submit projects for Below ZERO. Stories with a broad international market appeal are preferred. From the submitted project proposals a maximum of 12 projects will be selected for participation. The working language will be English.

Below ZERO was initiated last year in order to bring together filmmakers, producers, financiers and organisations whose common interest is documentaries thematically rooted in the Northern Polar region. Building on the success of the first edition of Below Zero, this second edition will further strengthen and develop the international network for documentaries made around or focusing on the Arctic region. Below Zero is set in Tromsø, Northern Norway, during the last days of the polar night.

The programme for Below ZERO will consist of:
- a pre-pitching workshop where the selected projects will be developed under guidance from experienced international experts from the documentary business. The workshop will focus on how the projects can be developed in the best possible direction and how the presentation of the project can be optimized
- a pitching session where each project will be pitched in seven minutes for a panel of international financiers and possible future collaborators. The pitch will be followed by a brief round of feedback from the panel and individual meetings between filmmakers and financiers.
- networking events to encourage future collaborations between organisations, financiers, producers and filmmakers.

How to Participate
In order to apply for Below ZERO please submit a 2-page presentation no later than November 19. Your project presentation must include the following elements:
- title, name of producer, production company and director, length, format & production plan/time of delivery
- short synopsis
- treatment with visual approach & reflections on the narrative
- the total budget amount and a brief financing plan
- short CV & filmography of company and director

Submissions are now open and must be sent digitally by email no later than November 19th. Please submit your 2-page presentation to:
EDN Film Consultant
Ove Rishøj Jensen
ove@edn.dk

We prefer getting applications accompanied by visual material either in the form of a short promo/trailer on the submitted project, previous films made or photographs illustrating the project proposal. Visual material will be accepted if it is sent by post no later than November 19th, 2008. Please post visual material to:
EDN
Att: Ove Rishøj Jensen
Vognmagergade 10, 1 floor
1120 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Participation Fee
Each selected project pays a participation fee of 300 Euro, which includes one participating person. Every other member of the pitching team pays an individual fee of 200 Euro.

Participating as Observer
For Below ZERO a number of observer seats will be available. When participating as an observer you will take part in all sessions on equal terms with the pitching participants. Only exception is not having a concrete project developed and pitched. Observers pay 200 Euro for participating.

Below ZERO is organised by EDN. The event takes place in the framework of Tromso International Film Festival. Below ZERO is made possible by the support from Nordnorsk Filmsenter AS, TIFF & FilmCamp.
Here you can read more about Below ZERO