Flame Tree Film Festival seeks entries

Producers of independent feature, short, and documentary films are invited to submit entries for the Flame Tree Film Festival, a key component of the 25th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival slated for April 27-30, 2006, on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

The Flame Tree Arts Festival is Micronesian’s largest annual arts and culture celebration. This year’s film festival will showcase motion picture work of regional filmmakers. Submissions are welcomed and encouraged from filmmakers throughout Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. In line with the overall Flame Tree Festival, the theme for this year’s film festival is “Connecting, Promoting and Preserving Cultures.”

“Since western cinema has tended to reflect a western perspective, it’s exciting to see Pacific Islanders make more films that reflect their culture and identity, as shown from their perspective,” said Film Festival coordinator Galvin Guerrero. “While last year’s Flame Tree Film Festival was limited to local entries, this year’s festival is open to regional filmmakers. We can’t wait to see what they submit.”

Films will be screened in the new Visitors Center at American Memorial Park on Saipan. In addition to film screenings, profiles of filmmakers and chronicles of the filmmaking process will be published in local newspapers prior to the festival. A panel discussion of local filmmakers will also be held during the film festival.

“Digital technology is making the art of film-making more and more accessible to more and more people around the world,” said Guerrero. “You no longer need to go to Hollywood or pay thousands of dollars for film school to give it a shot. Anyone with a great idea, a compelling vision and the will to share that vision can make a digital movie.”

The film festival will also award cash prizes to the top films in each of the four main categories: narrative, documentary, music video, and animation. All entries will be judged by a jury selected by the CNMI Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture. Entries will be judged according to adherence to theme and creativity in presentation.

For submissions, note the following:

* Submission deadline is 4:30 p. m., Monday April 24, 2006.

* A non-refundable entry fee of $25.00 must be paid upon submission, payable to CNMI Treasurer c/o Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture. In the memo section of the check, indicate that the payment is for the 2006 Flame Tree Film Festival.

* Each entry must be submitted on VHS or DVD format.

* Entry must be submitted with a completed and signed FTFF Submission Form.

* All entries must involve principals (writers, producers, directors, and/or actors) who reside or have resided in the past five years Micronesia, Polynesia, or Melanesia

* When submitting an entry to the festival, filmmakers should be sensitive to the family-oriented nature of the Flame Tree Arts Festival.

* Organizers of the FTFF reserve the right to reject and/or not feature any submission.

* Upon completion of the FTFF, each entered VHS or DVD will be returned to the individual or group that submitted the entry.

Requests for submission forms or submission of entries should be made to: Felix Fitial, Chamorro Carolinian Language Policy Commission, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Caller Box 10007, Saipan, MP 969650, 670-664-5321 (phone), or felixfitial@yahoo.com (e-mail). Inquiries may also be directed to Galvin Deleon Guerrero by email at galvin@itecnmi.com. (PR)