Mprojekts Creative Group, Gnd launches the Grenadian Filmmakers Incentives program (GFIP), an initiative geared towards empowering and promoting emerging and seasoned Grenadian filmmakers, storytellers, and talent, locally and in its diaspora.
GFIP will offer a submission fee discount waiver, workshop subsidies, and a discount on a portion of other festival-related costs incurred by Grenadian filmmakers to participate in the third annual 12°N,61°W Film Festival (1261 Film Festival) in October 2021.
The introduction of incentives for Grenadian filmmakers and creators comes on the heels of the UNESCO grant received by the festival for programs to support the development of the film industry in Grenada.
Meschida Philip, Managing Director and Founder of 1261 Film Festival, explains that their partners and stakeholders make significant investments to help their festival offer the best regional and international industry developmental resources and networking for local creatives otherwise unavailable in Grenada.
In turn, their 1261 team continues to work intensely to design programs and opportunities to promote ‘Our Stories, Our Culture,’ filmmakers and creatives to a global network and market.
This initiative is the newest element added to the 1261 Film Festival portfolio, supporting the festival’s mission to develop a creative ecosystem by creating visibility, sustainability, and opportunities for filmmakers, producers, music video directors, drone photographers, and other creatives in Grenada.
The 1261 Film Festival programming categories cover short or feature scripted and unscripted works from all the genres—children’s films, family-friendly films, animation, experimental, music videos, mobile phone films, and drone films.
According to Meschida Philip, “filmmaking is open to anyone regardless of background or means. Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique have a rich vault of untapped stories and world-class innovative talent, and we are excited to help our creatives share their stories and reach their full potential. All you need is the vision and the talent to make a film. It’s not about being able to afford the right equipment or securing a big distribution deal; it’s about getting the story out.”
The festival has expanded its categories to be more inclusive around music videos, mobile phones (smartphones) films, and drone films to accommodate the tools filmmakers use in Grenada and worldwide, especially over the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This enables greater access, innovation, and diversity in the works submitted by our local filmmakers. However, filmmakers must consider certain things when making their films, including the story, picture, and audio compositions; those elements are still essential when using mobile phones to make a film.
The festival is open for entries until August 31, 2021. All films or music videos must be submitted online via https://filmfreeway.com/
The third edition of the 12°N,61°W Film Festival takes place from October 30-November 7, 2021. If you are interested in partnering or supporting the festival and our filmmakers visit 1261filmfestival.com.
