NEW INITIATIVE FOR EUROPEAN FILM PROJECTS

THE EUROPEAN Film Institute (EIKK), based in Germany are launching a new initiative, entitled EUR*USA, aimed at improving collaboration between filmmakers from Europe and the US.
The new initiative is spilt into three strands. The first EUR*USA will see US film-makers visiting Europe to participate in Film Festivals and other industry meetings as guests and tutors to share their experience.
The second strand will send professional European film graduates to work on commercial film productions in the US. There will be particular emphasis on managerial and pre-production skills as well as script development and new technologies.
The final strand will open EIKK’s continuing Student Placement Programme to US film students to find them internships on commercial film production shootings in Europe.
Part of the finances for the US film-makers visit to Europe will be donated from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences which will assist EIKK in selecting the filmmakers through their Visiting Arts Programme.
EIKK recently won a $95,000 subsidy from MEDIA 2 to last until the end of 2001. This brings their total budget to approximately $200,000 enabling it to fund 16-20 internships in Europe and the US.
However, the Brussels sourced funding will not be spent on bringing American students to Europe.
(CMcL)