13 Film Schools in Two Cities Compete in 4th Annual Student Film Competition Featuring Both Miami and Shanghai Film Schools
Miami, November 6, 2013 – Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), produced and presented by Miami Dade College (MDC), announced today its 4th annual ‘CinemaSlam’ student film school competition will expand to a matchup between Miami and Shanghai film schools in Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam 2014. A component of MIFF’s Florida Focus program, Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam aims to discover, showcase, and celebrate the work of undergraduate and graduate students in Miami and Shanghai film schools.
The seven Miami film schools participating are Barry University, Florida International University, Miami Dade College, Miami International University of Art and Design, New World School of the Arts (University of Florida), St. Thomas University and University of Miami. The six Shanghai film schools participating are East China University, East China Normal University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Theatre Academy, and Shanghai University.
“We are very pleased to open doors for Miami film students to this cultural exchange platform with a cinema industry that is a rapidly growing and gaining international influence,” said MIFF’s executive director Jaie Laplante.
“Confucius Institute is honored to have this opportunity to help bring together two outstanding film festivals and film students from Miami and Shanghai. It will be a wonderful celebration of our student achievements as well as cultural exchange between youth in these two great global cities,” said Dr. Jim Yu, Director of Confucius Institute at Miami Dade College.
Showcasing the works of college-level auteurs, the dual-city film student competition crowns the best made-in-south Florida and made-in Shanghai short films created by undergraduate and graduate-film students attending each of the cities’ collegiate institutions. The top 10-12 films judged from Miami/Shanghai faculty heads at each participating Miami/Shanghai school will be selected to proceed to the final shortlist in each city.
The top six (6) films from Miami (3) and Shanghai (3) will be announced and screened during Miami International Film Festival’s 31st edition on March 7-16th, 2014, (time/date and venue TBA.) Audience members will have the opportunity to vote and determine the Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam Audience Award Winner.
Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is the largest and most prestigious film festival in China. Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam 2014 and follow-up screenings of the student award-winning films at SIFF in June 2014, will be the first US-China film student competition affiliated with two major film festivals in these two countries.
Introduced by Confucius Institute (CI), Chinese Academy of Art Industries and School of Film & TV Arts and Technology at Shanghai University, will lead and coordinate the participation of the Shanghai side in this project. The six participating schools in Shanghai include some of the most prestigious film and art schools in China and Asia.
MIFF’s Miami CinemaSlam Jury will determine the Miami grand prize-winning short “CinemaSlam Champion” as well the Best Director and Best Technical Achievement category awards. Shanghai CinemaSlam Jury will determine the Shanghai grand prize winning short “CinemaSlam Champion”, as well Best Director and Best Technical Achievement category awards.
The Miami CinemaSlam Champion will receive a complimentary Platinum Fast-Pass to MIFF 2014 (value $2,500), a handcrafted Artisan Award, automatic inclusion in the Shanghai International Film Festival program in June 2014, free Mandarin Chinese lessons from MDC’s Confucius Institute from March – June 2014, an invitation to attend the Confucius Institute’s Chinese Culture Summer Camp in Beijing, China (a 2-4 week program in July 2014, living expenses ONLY in China will be covered by Confucius Institute scholarship) and an in-kind prize. The Miami Category Award winners will receive a category Award Certificate, automatic inclusion in the Shanghai International Film Festival program in June 2014, a handcrafted artisan award and an In-kind prize.
MIAMI+SHANGHAI CINEMASLAM KEY DATES & DEADLINES
Submissions window: November 4, 2013 – January 3, 2014
Miami/Shanghai finalists announced: February 24, 2014
Winners will be announced: March 7-16, 2014 (during MIFF’s Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam Awards Ceremony — venue and show times TBA.)
· Competition Submission Requirements
Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), celebrating its 31st anniversary March 7 – 16, 2014, is considered the preeminent film festival for showcasing Ibero-American cinema in the U.S., and a major launch pad for all international and documentary cinema. The annual Festival, produced and presented by Miami Dade College, attracts more than 60,000 audience members and more than 400 filmmakers, producers, talent and industry professionals. It is the only major festival housed within a college or university. In the last five years, the Festival has screened films from more than 60 countries, including 300 World, International, North American, U.S. and East Coast Premieres. MIFF’s special focus on Ibero-American cinema has made the Festival a natural gateway for the discovery of new talent from this diverse territory. The Festival also offers unparalleled educational opportunities to film students and the community at large. Major sponsors of the 2014 Festival include Knight Foundation, Lexus and Miami-Dade County. For more, visit miamifilmfestival.com or call 305-237-MIFF (3456).
MDCulture is the Cultural Affairs Department of Miami Dade College (MDC). Comprising the Miami Book Fair International, Miami International Film Festival, Tower Theater, the Center for Literature and Theatre, Koubek Center, Freedom Tower, MDC Live Arts and MDC Galleries and Museum of Art + Design, MDCulture is committed to providing everyone the opportunity to come in contact with innovative thinkers, creators and tradition bearers from around the world. With each presentation, MDCulture offers a bridge between cultures and ideas, creating new opportunities for the increasingly diverse population of Miami to come together through shared live arts experiences. For more, visitmdculture.org.
Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) founded in 1993, is China’s only A-category International film festival accredited by the FIAPF. SIFF has devoted itself to building up an international platform with four main programs including Competition, SIFF Mart, SIFFORUM, and International Film Panorama, in an effort to promote the industry development and enhance cooperation with the rest of the world. Supported by the booming economy and rising international status, Chinese film has drawn attention from all over the world for its role in lifting the country’s soft power. Every June, SIFF is a must-see event for filmmakers and has established its reputation for its influence to present a multicultural film fair.
Confucius Institute at Miami Dade College, founded in 2010 and inspired by the ancient Chinese sage Confucius, enhances international education, cross-cultural understanding and global citizenship by providing Chinese language and cultural programming and serving Miami Dade College and south Florida community. www.mdc.edu/confucius
MIFF Contacts:
Tatyana Chiocchetti, (786) 390-4874, tatyana@miamifilmfestival.com
For more information about MIFF’s Miami+Shanghai CinemaSlam contact Carol Coombes, Associate Program Manager,carol.coombes@mdc.edu. For continuous updates, visit miamifilmfestival.com/program/cinemaslam or facebook.com/cinemaslam
MIFF Contacts:Tatyana Chiocchetti, (786) 390-4874, tatyana@miamifilmfestival.com