What is Greenhouse? Greenhouse is a professional programme for developing feature length documentary scripts and production film packages geared towards the big screen. This innovative incubator offers 365 days, 24 hours a day of personal online tutor advice, as well as 3 professional seminars per year.
Why Feature Docs? We believe documentaries belong on the big screen. The growing market for commercial screenings of documentaries has proven to be successful internationally in the past years and should be encouraged in the MEDA countries as well.
Why MEDA Filmmakers? This is the first project held in this region for MEDA filmmakers only. We find it highly important to train new filmmakers and extend their dialogue and networking with the international markets and community of filmmakers.
Where should the films be shot? The films can be shot anywhere, depending on the scripts. Greenhouse is open to MEDA filmmakers only, and therefore will accept any cinematic story that interests filmmakers from this region.
How will the films be financed? The filmmakers will be carefully guided in order to find sources of finance for their projects. Greenhouse's budget is for the development of the production packages only.
What style of filmmaking and what kind of stories is Greenhouse looking for? Greenhouse does not force any specific style, and it accepts any and every kind of story. The only goal is to reach the big screen.
How will the project work? A call for applications and a deadline for submissions will be published through our website, newspapers ads, brochures and mailing lists. 8-12 projects will be selected, and custom made programmes for each and every one of them will be tailored.
How can I benefit from Greenhouse? Greenhouse's main goal is to professionally train upcoming documentary filmmakers from MEDA countries so that they will be able to enter the world of documentary filmmaking targeted for theatrical release. Participation in a one-year training scheme will prepare the filmmakers for their first day of shooting. They will have a full production file and will be able to make the necessary contacts for financing and broadcasting their projects. This one-year training scheme will guarantee the participants' maximum readiness to produce their project and that they have the professional support to do so.
What are my obligations towards Greenhouse? The participants of Greenhouse must attend all 3 seminars and perform all tasks given to them for the period in between the seminars. Greenhouse is entitled to use the various projects' names in order to promote them and each film must mention the Greenhouse project in the final film credits, as specified in the agreement which will be signed between Greenhouse and the participating filmmakers. Greenhouse reserves the right to cancel the participation of any project at any stage, if Greenhouse's requirements are not met, as specified in the project's agreements.
What will the website include? In the near future our website will work as a forum and as an interactive support station. It will also work as an information centre and will include additional studying material.
Who can access the website? The website forum and information centre will be accessible to everyone. The interactive support area will be open to Greenhouse participants only.
Who can apply? Any filmmaker who is a citizen of one of the MEDA countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey) and has the passion and accessibility for making a feature length documentary geared towards the big screen.
What are the submission requirements? The submission should include 6 copies of: 1. The application form. 2. A synopsis of 1-3 pages.* 3. Director's statement. ** 4. Initial budget & financial support. 5. The applicants' CVs. 6. Two references from a professor or a professional (for each team). 7. Previous cinematic work (if applicable) DVD/VHS tape only.***
*applicants may submit a fully developed treatment or script if available. ** The director's statement should include the director's personal motivation for making the film, and why he should be the one to do it. *** Previous cinematic work of any style or length.
If I have a fully developed treatment, should I send it, even if it is not a requirement? You may send any available materials connected with the project, even if it is not a requirement if you think it will help to understand your application.
Must I submit previous work? No. You do not have to submit previous work.
Who is involved?/Who operates Greenhouse? Greenhouse is an international project funded by the EU, in the framework of the EuroMed Audiovisual II Programme. It was initiated by the New Foundation for Cinema and Television in Israel, and has partners in, Turkey, Spain and the Netherlands.
What does the project include? Greenhouse includes 3 seminars per year and 24 hour a day, 365 days a year tutorial support through the Greenhouse website.
How many projects will participate? 8-12 projects will be selected and a maximum of 24 participants (2 per project: producer & director) will attend the seminars.
Can only teams of director and producer participate? Greenhouse is aimed at two team members – a director and a producer for each participating project, and will cover the costs for both team members. If the project only has a director and has not got in touch with a producer yet, or vice versa and in case the director also serves as the producer – they may register as one team member.
Who are the tutors? Greenhouse tutors are carefully assembled each year, according to the projects' special needs. Each project will be monitored by leading professionals in the field of documentary film directing, scriptwriting, producing, marketing, distributing and financing, accordingly. The names and titles of the tutors for the first programme will be published separately in the near future.
How long is each seminar? Each seminar will be 4 days long.
What will the seminar programme include? Each seminar will include the following: one on one tutorial sessions; custom made tutorial and personal coach sessions, theme group sessions; film case studies, in the presence of the film's leading cast members; workshops or master classes; cultural activities and a meeting with members of the local film industry.
May I submit a project that has been rejected for this year's programme, to the following year's programme? Yes. You may re-submit the project if there has been progress on it in this period of time. On the entry form you must note that this project has already been submitted to Greenhouse and indicate the changes that have since been made to it.
What happens between seminars? The seminars are followed up by personal online tutorial support through the website for each of the projects. Specific assignments will be given for each project to be fulfilled until the next seminar.
What happens after the one year programme? The Greenhouse team will be available to support the filmmakers and to answer any of their questions or give professional advice and will closely monitor the progress of the films during production and marketing.
What is a custom made programme? By custom made we mean that the filmmakers will have their own tailored personal programme to develop the artistic and financial needs of their projects.
How much does it cost? There is no submission fee and the seminars are free of charge. Greenhouse participants will enjoy accommodation and flights to and from the locations of the 3 seminars per year, as well as 365 days, 24 hours a day tutorial support through the website.
When are the deadlines? The deadlines for submission each year will be published separately. The submission deadline for 2007: July 15, 16:00.
What is Greenhouse?
