Polar Film Festival becomes LIFF

__________________________

The Polar Film Festival in Sweden has followed its director Erich Schultz to London and joined forces with London Independent Film Festival.

The LIFF will be composed of a number of elements, which will grow and change with each yearly festival. The goals of the first LIFF will be:

(2) LIFF Main Competition

The aim of the LIFF would be to showcase:

· films shot by first and second-time directors
· films shot on budgets under £100,000
· independent films of quality that are unlikely to receive distribution through regular channels.
· films that capture the cutting-edge spirit of independent filmmaking

(3) London Music Video Awards

One evening of the festival would be dedicated to a UK Indie Music Video Awards, where the year's top UK indie music videos would be shown and judged, and prizes awarded. This will be London's only indie music video awards competition, and would serve to increase the visibility of the LIFF festival.

(3) Seminars and Workshops

Filmmakers flock to film festivals because there's so much to learn there. A rich program of workshops and seminars where new filmmakers can learn from experienced filmmakers is one of the most important features of independent festivals like Slamdance and Raindance. We expect to host one lecture by a distinguished filmmaker, several panel discussions on such topics as fund raising and post-production marketing of independent films, and workshops run by working filmmakers on the nuts and bolts of the industry.

(4) Social time

Filmmaking is a collaborative enterprise. Independent film festivals play an important role in being the place where filmmakers can meet other filmmakers. Earning a reputation as a place where you can make contacts is vital to the long-term success of an independent film festival, and serious effort and planning will be put into providing pub and entertainment venues, social get-together spaces, and mingling parties.