Filmshop Exhibition: a curated online presentation of Filmshop member films
Mission and Goal:
In response to the recent uncertainty facing not only our members, but the larger arts industry, Filmshop Exhibition aims to be a source for engagement and community. By curating member films, we will provide an artistic outlet for the many who have lost screening and networking opportunities. By doing so we will introduce industry partners to a fresh slate of films from filmmakers who are diverse in their career experience and personal background.
Filmshop Exhibition is an opportunity for current members to submit a completed film with a detailed survey on both the project and the filmmaker’s own personal/career journey. Once submissions are compiled, industry professionals will be matched to a selection of films based on their own curation preferences. They will then curate a block (or roughly 90 to 120 mins run time) of films to be exhibited online for a limited viewing period.
The Details:
Every Filmshop member is eligible to submit one film for consideration. This should be a film in which the member held a chief creative role (writer, director, DP, editor, producer).
Exhibition:
In addition to the basic submission information, filmmakers are asked to include in-depth thematic, genre, and project life cycle details in combination with a comprehensive survey on their own career and background. The industry curator is then provided a separate survey to determine their preferences (genre, themes, filmmaker background). Based on their responses, they are sent a subset of submissions which they will curatefor final exhibition.
Films will be shown digitally as a block of films with a partner site or embedded within the Filmshop website. A curator bio and brief curation statement will be listed alongside the exhibited projects. A list of the films and filmmakers will be listed as well for reference. A Filmshop member will act as host via livestream on a social media platform of their choice and discuss the projects with their creators and participants. If the curator would like to provide a video statement that can be played during the program or to engage with a host during the live conversation, they may opt in to any of these options, but it is not required.
Why:
As artists, we’ve all known what it’s like to hit a creative wall or discover we aren’t where we’d hoped to be professionally. In those moments, it’s always been a comfort to focus on the one thing that is “going right” or upcoming. The Covid-19 pandemic has created much uncertainty in the day-to-day lives of filmmakers. Nearly all upcoming screenings, festivals, and projects have been halted, leaving us all in uncharted waters. Providing an opportunity to share work with industry experts who are also facing unprecedented circumstances provides a much needed sense of community, and sharing these projects with a broader audience deepens this connection on a larger scale.
Fundraising:
As an organization, Filmshop annually holds two large-scale events. In addition to those events, an auction, grants, and member dues allow Filmshop to operate. With greater demand on granting organizations to provide relief to those in the most extreme circumstances, large institutional events pushing to the end of the year and leaving fewer venue options at potentially higher prices, and the lack of income our members face in the coming year, we are raising funds to offset the cost of membership dues for upcoming seasons for those in need of financial aid and ensure our operations can continue at a high level.
Our Filmshop members look to their weekly meetings to provide stability, inspiration, and collaboration. With increased strain on our members’ and Filmshop’s revenue streams, quality support for emerging filmmakers may be affected. Viewers will be invited to make a donation during each screening.