The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland has announced the opening of applications for the 5th Annual Directors Finders Series 2009. Applications are being accepted until 27th April 2009.
Along with the Directors Guild of America and the Irish Film Board, SDGI will present the Directors Finders Series Award to an Irish director who will get the opportunity to showcase their film to an audience of American distributors and industry professionals at Director's Guild of America Theatre, in L.A. The Directors Finders Series targets works in the genres of fiction, documentary or drama from Irish directors who have not yet secured U.S distribution for their films.
The winning director is selected from an international panel, including a representative from Pathe UK who will then have their film officially screened in L.A on Friday 7th August. The film will be launched at an awards ceremony to be hosted by directors Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan on Thursday 16th July in The Morrison Hotel.
Last year’s winner, Tomm Moore, screened his debut feature animation ‘The Secret of Kells’ in LA for sales agents and distributors and was followed by a Q&A session chaired by director, Paul Quinn (This Is My Father). Since winning the Finders Series, he has gone on to win the Director of the Year at Cartoon Movie, as well as ‘The Secret of Kells’ being named Best Irish Film at the JDIFF and is currently on nationwide release.
Tomm was recently invited back over to the US to screen the film at the Pixar Studios and has said of the award: “Even though I’ve been working within the film sector for the last 10 years or so, SDGI, with The Directors Finders Series has opened a door to a whole new world & to opportunities which I would never have got otherwise.”
The Annual Directors Finders Series 2009 is supported by The Irish Film Board, The DGA, Culture Ireland, American Airlines, Paulaner and The Morrison Hotel.
Applications are available on www.sdgi.ie/
