Paradigms are changing. The world’s population is on the move. Waves of immigration are felt in various parts of the world. Conversations about identity are increasingly common and differ according to ethnic origin, gender, ideology, technology, community and geography. How can we initiate dialogue on identity complexities in this era of profound change?
New Identities was created to establish alliances between artists, producers, designers and technologists from Israel and Canada. This partnership allows for the expansion of horizons and new audiences in order to foster the creation of new collaborations, beyond identities.
The Gesher Multicultural Film Fund (GMFF), the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films, the Haifa International Film Festival (HIFF), the Canada Media Fund (CMF), the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Hub Montréal and Xn Québec are proud to introduce the twelve candidates who will participate in New Identities, a series of workshops designed to foster conversations about identity and push the limits of new forms of narration.
The delegation is comprised of twelve candidates, six Canadian and six Israeli. Together, they will reinvent the stories that have been passed on to them and made them who they are today. The candidates will attend the Haifa International Film Festival from October 16 to 20, 2019 and Hub Montréal from November 18 to 21, 2019. At the end of this collaborative exchange, four projects will be funded through an international coproduction incentive fund.
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Gesher Multicultural Film Fund
Driven by the conviction that a powerful film can be a catalyst for social change, the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund (GMFF) is a unique fund in the landscape of the Israeli film industry. It invests in and fosters the development, production and distribution of feature films, documentaries and animation films of all genres that focus on social and cultural issues in order to contribute to the public discourse in Israel and around the world.
The GMFF promotes talented upcoming filmmakers at the start of their careers, including those from minority sectors that are geographically and socially removed. The GMFF provides expert professional guidance, a database, funding and innovative and creative initiatives, accompanying each project “from the idea to the screen.”
Working programs developed by the GMFF have been adopted by several organizations in Israel and around the world with great success. The films supported by the GMFF have gone on to be screened in the official competitions of the most celebrated international film festivals and have won a number of prestigious prizes.
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Makor Foundation for Israeli Films
The Makor Foundation for Israeli Films invests in the development and production of films, documentary series, narrative short films and animated shorts, and narrative works that explore new media and new technologies. The foundation aims to invest in works that explore the richness and complexity of the cultural, social and political identities within Israeli society and of the country’s ethnic and religious minorities. Its mandate is to provide indiscriminate support of emerging and veteran filmmakers of all religions, faiths, races, ages and cultural backgrounds, and to encourage creativity through the quest for excellence and the defiance of established and stereotypical perceptions.
The Makor Foundation has supported hundreds of films that have garnered both local and international acclaim, been broadcast on major Israeli and foreign television channels and screened in major international film festivals, museums and art galleries as well as in film festivals promoting the constant connection of the Diaspora with Israel. The foundation recently developed collaborations with broadcasters and other funds and foundations in Israel and around the world to broaden the scope of its investments and help filmmakers in the development and production phases of their projects, whether they’re working on documentaries, short films, animated films or digital works.
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The Haifa International Film Festival
The Haifa International Film Festival, the first such film festival in Israel, was inaugurated in 1983 and quickly gained a reputation as an important international cinematic event. The festival attracts some 300,000 visitors who attend the screenings of about 280 new films from around the world, live concerts and outdoor screenings for the whole family. The festival celebrates the artistic achievements in new Israeli cinema and its uncompromising, diverse character which addresses issues of Israeli society and pluralism. Some 300 guests from the Israeli and international film and television industry participate in the festival, meeting the audience, holding master classes and participating in industry workshops and competitions. Every year, the HIFF organizes a big international exhibition devoted to new media where it showcases the best narrative and artistic experiences in VR and AR and the latest Israeli virtual reality films. It also promotes films made by Israeli students and invites several guests to discuss their works with the public.
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About the NFB
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is one of the world’s leading digital content hubs, creating groundbreaking interactive documentaries and animation, mobile content, installations and participatory experiences. NFB interactive productions and digital platforms have won over 100 awards, including 21 Webbys. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca.
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Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, promotes, develops and finances the production of Canadian content and relevant applications for all audio-visual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content towards a competitive global environment through fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voice and promoting access to content through industry and private sector partnerships. The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite and IPTV distributors.
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Hub Montréal
HUB Montréal is a professional market that fosters digital creativity in the cultural, entertainment and experiential marketing industries.
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Xn Québec
The Digital Experiences Producers Association Xn Québec brings together the key players from Québec’s digital creation industry, namely more than 130 studios specializing in the production of content for various technological platforms.
Xn Québec is a catalyst for the development, consolidation and success of companies in the creative, media and cultural industries that are active across all forms of digital expression. It does this through various activities and events that foster networking and contribute to the growth of the industry.
Xn Québec brings the voices of digital creators together and amplifies the crossover of diverse networks and forms of expertise. It encourages the synergy of resources and knowledge in the production and broadcasting spheres.