Film/Stage
The 2010 Spinning Wheel Film Festival:
A Call For Submissions
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival, now in its eighth year, is a celebration of films by, about and for Sikhs.
The Spinning Wheel hereby invites submissions for its 2010 season.
The 2010 SPINNING WHEEL FILM FESTIVALS (SWFF) are world-class events ranked as the very best of all the Sikh, Indian and South-Asian festivals of their kind in the world.
The first and the largest festival of Sikh films anywhere, it presents each year a new crop of screenings. It not only draws several thousand attendees, but also worldwide attention through extensive international media coverage.
As well, it has proved to be the inspiration for off-shoots around the world, and has become the source of films for a string of mini one-day festivals in far-flung local communities.
Awards are now offered to films which garner the best feedback from festival audiences.
The SWFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. Through the art of cinema, SWFF fosters a community that is more informed, aware and alive.
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival brings unique films from every corner of the globe to North American and international filmgoers in the diaspora. The Festival includes gala premieres, short films, sneak previews, documentaries, works-in-progress, feature films, seminars and workshops, musical concerts and a variety of art, photo and historical exhibits.
A true discovery Festival, a majority of the SWFF films include those still seeking release or distributionr, many of then from first- and second-time directors, meaning that SWFF audiences see films months before they reach wider distribution or circulation.
The Festival began as an event aimed at providing a showcase for films by and about Sikhs, and has now become not only a great testing ground for new films, but also offers a place where filmmakers can network with each other and with those in the community who wish to support film ventures. The Festival's maintaining its filmgoer emphasis, first and foremost, provides the films themselves with the kind of genuine audience response that has attracted the participation of so many filmmakers.
Come see for yourself.
Submit to The Spinning Wheel Film Festival today!
Films in all genres are welcome, including shorts, documentaries, features, archival and historical footage, and works-in-progress.
The length of each submission may vary - from a minute long to 180 minutes in duration.
The language preferred is English or Punjabi, but other languages are welcome if subtitles are provided in either of these two languages.
All may apply - submissions are welcome from every corner of the globe. Men, women and children may enter ... Sikhs and non-Sikh filmmakers are equally welcome.
Films made in the last twelve months are particularly welcome, though productions from past years may also be submitted and will be considered.
Any number of submissions may be made by any individual or filmmaker.
The criteria used to select the films to be screened will include quality of form and substance, a nexus with Sikh issues or interests, novelty of approach, and choice of subject matter.
We encourage submissions on the full gamut of subjects including children's films, education, music, art, sports, humour, politics, religion, current issues, women's issues, youth, seniors, racism, immigration, history, architecture, careers and professions.
Controversial issues are not taboo, as long as the thesis or treatment is logical, sincere, honest and not intended to create mischief. And the submissions must not be offensive, intentionally or otherwise.
Irreverence or "pushing the envelope" is also not taboo, again, as long as it is done within boundaries of good taste and decency.
We are now considering films for this year. Submissions should be sent forthwith by mail or courier to the following address - [PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS]:
T. Sher Singh
SWFF Film Selection Committee
170 Wellington Street EastP.O. Box 298
Mount Forest, Ontario N0G 2L0
Canada
[Packages already sent to old address in Guelph will still reach us!]
The preview copy should be in the form of a DVD or VHS tape, preferably in North American format.The applicant will hear from our staff no later than July 15, 2010, but ONLY IF THE FILM IN QUESTION HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR SCREENING. There will be NO notification if the film has not been selected. The preview copies will NOT be returned to the applicants. [They will be retained in the SWFF files for record purposes; they will be kept secure and confidential and not used for any other purpose.]
Once your film is selected, you will be requested for a presentation version of the film. Any and all formats are acceptable at that stage; nevertheless, you will be advised at that point of ideal specifications and preferable formats for optimum quality. At that point, we will also require some stills in hi-res for publicity purposes.
The choice of films to be screened will be solely at the discretion of the Film Selection Committee. No reasons for selection or rejection of any film will be provided.
Please provide full details of the filmmakers, as well contact information, including phone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc. Please also advise if you are available to attend any or all of the festivals where your film will be screened ... if invited, your travel and accomodation will be paid for by the host Spinning Wheel.
Please note: SWFF does not require any fee for submissions, even upon a film being selected for presentation. As well, no request for a fee to be paid to a filmmaker will be entertained by SWFF.
CAVEAT:
No other person, entity or film festival is authorized to solicit or receive submissions on behalf of any of the Spinning Wheel Festivals. The Spinning Wheel Film Festival [International Office in Toronto] takes full responsibility for the security and confidentiality with respect to each film received by it, whether screened or not, but will not be responsible for any submissions sent to anyone else. All submissions must solely be sent to the address given hereinabove. This call for submissions is for the screening of films in each Spinning Wheel chapter around the world.
January 7, 2010
Updated April 27, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Shane Gill (U.S.A.), February 28, 2009, 3:30 AM.
I am currently in the process of creating a short film that deals with Indian music. I was wondering what is the deadline for the film submissions? [Editor: June 30, 2009. You can also advise them of your plans at TSherSingh@GMail.com]
2: Tarsem Singh (Delhi, India), June 20, 2009, 1:15 AM.
I happened to see one Spinning Wheel Film Festival about two/three years ago in Toronto. This festival is meant for, about and for sikhs but in that festival, I saw two films, one about Sant Bhinderawale and the other about Partition (Hai rubba hun ki kariye); both these films were far away from the truth and completely against the Sikh psyche. I would request the Festival admin to thoroughly screen the films before they are put on public view. Thanks.
3: Bir singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), January 09, 2010, 2:41 AM.
I discovered The Spinning Wheel Film Festival in late 2009 and unfortunately could not attend. I look forward to attending the 2010 festival.