SØRFOND is up-and-running
With film funds all over Europe facing financial turmoil, the future looks brighter for the newly established SØRFOND - the Norwegian South Film Fund. 38 filmprojects from southern countries have applied for support for 2012.
SØRFOND, the South Film Fund, grants support to producers/directors from eligible countries on the OECD DAC-list (developing countries). By supporting film productions that is not easily completed for political or economical reasons, SØRFOND hope to contribute to a greater cultural diversity on the international film arena.
Important features in the guidelines includes a.o. a requirement for a Norwegian co-producer. No other spending in Norway is required. Freedom of speech have been specified as a special feature in the SØRFOND guidelines being something the jury will give considerable attention in the applications submitted.
- The jury will make an open and integral consideration of the productions' quality. Production requirements, the financing plan and the quality of the producer will be important in the consideration, but we will also evaluate experience and artistic originality, says Køhn.
European financial turmoil
Some of SØRFOND's european partners, like World Cinema Fund (Germany) and Hubert Bals Fund (Netherlands) are facing threats of governmental support being decreased. Swedish Gothenburg International Filmfund experience a serious cutback last year and the situation on a whole is difficult. There are some hopes that the EU commissions new Creative Cultural Programme will offer some new support.
SØRFOND is now up-and-running and hope to contribute in an important way. There are hopes that the Films from the South Festival 2012 will harvest some of the grants being distributed by screening completed films at this years edition of the festival.
- This is big!, says artistic director at the Films from South Foundation Lasse Skagen.