A new development platform for Mindanao stories has been created by the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) through the Southern Voices Film Lab (SOVOLAB). This is an opportunity to discover the diverse and unique stories and perspectives from the South and give them the chance to develop and find the path to become full-fledged projects.

The SOVOLAB, an intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers, is open to all filmmakers from Mindanao who are developing their first, second, and third feature films. Deadline of submission is on April 12, 2019.

Six (6) to eight (8) projects in the advanced stage of development will be selected. Over the course of eight (8) months, the chosen filmmakers will participate in three (3) workshop sessions in Mindanao and will be mentored by international and local experts to improve their screenplays.

The first session will be held in May, the second session will be in September, and the third session will be in November. Sessions include script consulting and talks by industry experts.

The fourth and final session will be the SOVOLAB Pitch Showcase, which is the participants’ final pitch to the Jury and Decision Makers in Davao City during the Mindanao Film Festival in December. Two (2) projects will receive a co-production grant worth one million pesos.

For more information, read the official guidelines below.

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SOUTHERN VOICES FILM LAB 2019 GUIDELINES

SOUTHERN VOICES FILM LAB

An intensive script and development lab for Mindanaoan filmmakers.

THE AIM OF SOUTHERN VOICES FILM LAB

SOVOLAB, the first film lab of its kind dedicated to champion regional cinema, envisions empowering the voices of the South and discovering diverse stories from Mindanao. Specifically, it aims to strengthen and promote quality filmmaking in the region by providing a platform for the advancement of scripts and development of projects.

SOVOLAB is looking for different stories—from indigenous to genre and everything in between, exploring a variety of themes and perspectives that best represent the voices from the South.

CONSULTATIONS AND SESSIONS FOR SELECTED PROJECTS

Six (6) to eight (8) projects in the advanced stage of development from first, second, or third-time filmmakers will be selected by the Southern Voices Feature Film Lab.

Over the course of eight (8) months, the selected filmmakers will attend three (3) sessions in Mindanao and will undergo consultations with international and local mentors and experts for eight (8) months to develop, polish, and enhance their screenplays and their feature film projects.

A fourth and final session will be held where the participants will deliver a short pitch to a Jury and Decision Makers. Two projects will be awarded a co-production grant worth one million pesos (P1 Million).

ELIGIBILITY

The Southern Voices Lab is open to all filmmakers from Mindanao developing their first, second, and third feature film projects only. Furthermore, they must satisfy the following requirements:

• The proponent must be the director of the project.
• The director must be a resident of Mindanao.
• Project must be at the minimum a first draft script available for evaluation. It must not be in pre-production or production during the course of the Lab.
• Project must have a director and a producer attached with a budget and a financing plan.
• Proponent must commit to attend all sessions within the Lab year, including the final pitching session.
• Applicants can only submit one (1) project per year.

SELECTION OF PROJECTS

• The submission materials of all eligible applicants including the full-length script will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. Projects will be shortlisted.
• Shortlisted projects will go through an interview process to choose the final participants.
• After the interviews, the Selection Committee selects the finalists. Each project will receive P100,000 development fund to produce their pitch trailer for the final pitch showcase.
• FDCP announces the final selection of six (6) to eight (8) projects by late April.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Logline (50 words)
• Synopsis (1 page)
• Treatment (Up to 10 pages)
• Feature-length script in English (Minimum of 40 pages)
• Director’s statement (Up to 2 pages)
• Producer’s statement (1 page)
• Director’s film biography (1 page)
• Screenwriter's biography (1 page)
• Producer's film biography (1 page)
• Production company profile (1/2 page)
• Budget breakdown in Pesos (Up to 2 pages)
• Preliminary cast and crew (Up to 2 pages)
• High-quality portraits of director/writer and producer (300 dpi, jpeg)
• Previous works of the director
• Secured online links to shorts and/or feature-length films on Vimeo or YouTube ONLY.
• Rights to adaptation. If the work is adapted, a document confirming the rights to the adaptation must be provided from the original creators.

There is no application fee of any kind to the film lab.

SCHEDULE

FIRST SESSION

May 2019

SECOND SESSION

September 2019

THIRD SESSION

November 2019

SOVOLAB PITCH SHOWCASE

December 2019

Davao City (Mindanao Film Fest)

2019 TIMELINE

March 12, 2019

Official Open Call for Entries

April 12, 2019

Deadline of Submission

April 26, 2019

Announcement of Selected Projects

May 2019

First Lab Session

- Individual script consulting sessions

- Talks by industry experts

September 2019

Second Lab Session

- Individual script consulting sessions

- Talks by industry experts

November 2019

Third Lab Session

- Final consulting and mentoring sessions

- Talks by industry experts

December 2019

- Pitch training for participants

- Final pitch to Jury and Decision Makers

- Awarding ceremony

SUBMISSION OF ENTRIES AND AGREEMENT 

Submission to the Southern Voices Film Lab constitutes agreement to all rules, regulations, and conditions contained in this document. Entries and all requirements can be sent to the

following:

Subject: Southern Voices Film Lab Submission - (Project Name)

To: [email protected]