Join the Green Revolution with ECO Film Lab
March 28 – April 7, 2024 |Sundarban, Khulna, Bangladesh
Welcome to ECO Film Lab, where we believe in the power of film to change the world for the better. 15 days long ECO Film Lab is an Internationational Film residency for filming in nature.
About ECO Film Lab
Film residency is a highly popular filmmaking education program in both Europe and America. This is basically outside-of-classroom, non-formal “learning by doing” filming education. We are going to arrange an eco-friendly film residency program titled “ECO Film Lab” in SUNDARBANS, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world.
We will explore the local environment, culture, human nature, and climate change effect and action through this residency program. In this 15-day intensive filming residency, filmmakers will get international-standard mentoring from global film professionals with a hybrid learning pedagogy. They will produce independent content and group short films as part of this customized training. Abroad, filmmakers will get a unique experience with different natures and cultures.
At a Glance
Theme: Nature – Human – Climate
Duration: 15 Days (5 days online and 10 days in-person)
Participant: 09 Max (Local & Abroad)
Mentor: 10 Max
Content: 06
Production: 03 Max
Location: Sundarbans
Objectives
To promote cultural exchange and diversity. Explore the creative voice of filmmakers from all over the world and spread awareness of climate change.
JPA module – Mentors & individuals or groups will have an interactive session every day to explore visual storytelling based on location.
LD module – Understanding Film Language as well as Film Literacy from Idea to Screen.
MM module – Ability to write something with film literacy (Logline, Synopsis, Treatment & Script) with the intention of using the material to make a film.
CC module – By facing challenges navigate yourself for critical thinking to make your film more unique.
IC module – Must engage yourself in your group for instructional conversation to explore the maximum output.
27 March 2023
8 – 10 PM (BD time)
Heinz Hermanns, Germany
Dramaturgy and Aesthetics in Short Film
28 March 2023
9 – 11 PM (BD time)
Samuel Rubin, USA
Catalyzing Social Impact through
Climate Storytelling
29 March 2023
9 – 10 PM (BD time)
Birgit Heidsieka, Germany
Green Filming
30 March 2023
7 – 8 PM (BD time)
Asim Altokhais, Saudi Arab
Story Structure
30 March 2023
10 – 11 PM (BD time)
Erica Elson + Harry Winer, USA
Sustainable Production: Idea to Script
30 March 2023
11:15 PM – 12 AM (BD time)
Julia + Zsofia
Case study on Sustainable production
31 March 2023
11:00 AM (BD time)
Herman van Eyken, Australia
One 2 One about Story
31 March 2023
3:30 – 4:30 PM (BD time)
Xavière Farrer Hutchison, France
Sustainable Production
31 March 2023
10:00 PM (BD time)
Gabrielle Kelly, Ireland
How to write the Short Fiction Narrative
01 April 2023
10 – 11 AM (BD time)
Joe Petricca, USA
Short Film Script format
05 April 2023
9 – 10 PM (BD time)
Laurence Johnson Film London, UK
Sustainable Production
06 April 2023
11:15 AM (BD time)
James Currie, Australia
Sound Design
Before starting the journey towards residency location, participants will get a number of online sessions with mentors about residency guidelines. Before starting the journey, we will make 3 groups with 2 members in each group.
Day 1 & 2:
Location observation and story outline
Day 3:
Scripting & finalize the 3 group members
Day 4:
Pitching & Pre-production for shooting.
Day 5,6 & 7:
Shooting for 3 groups
Day 8:
Additional shooting
Day 9:
Footage evaluation
Day 10:
Closing session with gala night dinner
1. Every fellow will create his or her own content for short based on “HUMAN BEING & NATURE”
2. Mentor will select 5 (five) contents out of 15 (fifteen) 5 (five) productions based on the voting process.
3. Every fellow should pitch his or her Logline, Synopsis, Treatment & Script.
4. All content should be in the English language. If required then IAFM will provide assistance for translation.
Production –
1. In the pre-production stage, every group should present their PitchDec to mentors.
2. Each group will make 1 (one) fiction short film based on location with available resources.
3. Each short film duration will be around 14 min.
4. Film dialogue (if) must be in Bangla language. But on the script & screen will be the English language.
5. Group members (3) will make this film with the support of technical hands. And everybody will get DIRECTOR credit in the title. But the script will be his or her own name.
6. If any member plays his or her role as a CAMERA person then he or she will get extra credit in the title.
7. Every group will get a maximum of 1 (one) day for total shooting.
8. Every group should present their own project teaser during the closing session.
Film Screening –
1. Every night we will arrange a movie screening before production.
2. Every fellow / every group should attend this screening session.
3. Every fellow should present their own notes on the screening movie to the mentor
In residency notes –
1. No plastic allows during residency.
2. Limited access to digital devisees
3. Eco-friendly approach all time
4. During the residency we will provide organic food to all
5. Every time before swimming must wear a lifejacket
6. Limited access to Mobile phone
7. Obviously, everybody due time is bad & raises
Participation requirements –
1. Applicant should have at least 2 (two) films in his/her own direction
2. Age limit 25 – 45 only allowed
3. Good in English in reading, writing & speaking
4. Everybody or every group should have their own laptop & DSLR
5. In the application everybody should write artistic notes on his or her film journey (1 page)
6. Applicant expectation from this residency (100 words)
7. Residency fee should be paid before orientation class
Copyright –
1. Intellectual copyright of all content will be reserved on their own.
2. Every film copyright has to IAFM but artistic copyright will get each group.
3. To submit the film to any festival/s by person/group should be concerned with IAFM authority
Green Filming approach –
1. Sustainability with a minimalistic approach during production
2. Maximum use of local natural resources from idea to production phage
3. Save electricity as well as limit the use of electronic devices
4. Use of recycled materials during residency
5. Animal preservation
6. Avoid synthetic fabrics & textile
7. Eco approach to production design & set design
8. Reduction & disposable waste management
9. Energy consumption
In residency –
1. No plastic allows during residency.
2. Limited access to digital devisees
3. Ecofriendly approach all-time
4. During the residency, we will provide organic food to all
5. Every time before swimming must wear a lifejacket
6. Limited access to Mobile phone
7. Obviously, everybody is on time in bad & raises
8. No DRUG no ALCOHOL & no smoking in the camp area
9. Everybody will stay in his or her selected room
10. Everybody will maintain his or her everyday stuff
We will try to maintain GENDER EQUALITY in the selection process of participant engagement. In the mentorship selection process, we try to engage more female mentors.
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The Sundarbans
The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000 ha), lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site inscribed in 1987. The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.
In-Person Mentors
Mr. Pushpender Singh, India
Internationally acclaimed Indian Filmmaker Former HoD Screen Acting FTII
Natalia Posnik
Residency DoP, Lodz Film School, Poland
Online Mentors
Joe Petricca, USA
Filmmaker and educator.
Former Executive Vice Dean of the American Film Institute – AFI
Peter Markham
Author, Consultant, Educator Former HoD, Direction, AFI Conservatory
Marcin Malatyński
Faculty, Producing Department Deputy Director and Head of International Relations, Lodz Film School
Elliot Grove
Author, Producer, Screenwriter Founder, Raindance Film Festival, UK
Larry Engel
Associate Professor, American University Associate Director, Center for Environmental Filmmaking
Christoph Thoke, Germany
Award-winning Film Producer
Gabrielle Kelly, Ireland
Script Consultant & Script Lab expert. Faculty, American Film Institute
Asim Altokhais, Saudi Arabia
Award-winning screenwriter and novelist. Co-Founder and General Manager of 3rd action.
Green Mentors
Jennifer M. Lynch, USA
Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility & Internal Communications PARAMOUNT PICTURES, Hollywood
Birgit Heidsiek, Germany
Founder & CEO, Green Film Shooting Magazine Green Cinema Consultant of the German Federal Film Board (FFA)
Erica Elson, USA
Digital Course Producer Sundance Collab Chair, Green Film School Alliance
Harry Winer, USA
Associate Arts Professor Director of Sustainable Production Kanbar Institute of Film and Television NYU/Tisch School of the Arts
Laurence Johnson, UK
Sustainability Manager Film London
Become a sponsor
> Eco-friendly environment to learn Hand-on filmmaking
> Cultural diversity and cross-culture experience with mix-group from locally & abroad
> International mentorship from global film professionals from all over the world.
> The idea to Screen experience under mentorships
> Free license for the Screenwriting software WriterDuet to write their Lab script.
> Create their own film portfolio with this short production
> Global film networking & collaboration.
> During Lab 24/15 with incredibly helpful information and insights for your career.
> Access to amplify their skills in crafting cinema artistically with a sustainable approach
Screenwriting software support by:
Scriptation (Paperless filming initiative)
Cinematography & Cinematographer support by:
Lodz Film School, Poland
Post-production support by:
American Film Institute, USA
Lodz Film School. Poland
Don Bosco International Media Academy, France.
One year full free scholarship by:
Sundance Collab, USA (Feature film development, Idea to Script)
Fellowship:
Don Bosco International Media Academy, France (Filmmaking)
Raindance Film Institute, UK (Filmmaking)
Festival des 3 Continents, France (International co-production feature project development)
Film Grant:
International co-production grant for selected feature film/s
Get in Touch
ECO Film Lab: An International Film Residency program initiated by the International Academy of Film and Media (IAFM) to amplify Cinematic storytelling.
International Academy of Film and Media (IAFM)
Senpara Parbata, Mirpur -10, Dhaka.
Dhaka – 1215; Bangladesh
Cell: + 88 01731683677 (What’s App)
Email: iafm.bd@gmail.com