SCREEN DIRECTORS GUILD OF IRELAND announce 3rd US Distribution Showcase for Irish Director
The Screen Directors Guild of Ireland, in association with the Directors Guild of America, is offering an opportunity for an Irish director to showcase their film to the US film industry as part of the 3rd Annual Directors Finders Series 2007, the application deadline for which is 12th July 2007.The purpose of the Directors Finders Series is to spotlight works of fiction, documentary or drama submissions from Irish directors who have not secured US distribution for their films. Initiated by the Independent Directors Committee of the DGA chaired by Steven Soderber, it has, since its inception, screened more than 75 independent films, approximately a third of which, have gone on to secure distribution in the US.
An international panel of experts including a representative of Pathe UK will select the winning film. The film & the director will then travel to LA where an official screening will take place on 28th September 2007. This year, the SDGI will also launch the winning film on 23rd August in Dublin at a special awards ceremony hosted by internationally acclaimed director Jim Sheridan.
Last year, 15 Irish directors submitted their films and 'Small Engine Repair', by Niall Heery was chosen as the winner. Niall travelled to LA, where he had meetings with highly regarded destibutors, studios and agents. He then presented and screened his film in the state-of-the-art Director's Guild of America Theatre, Sunset Boulevard, LA, to an audience of American distributors.
The award is supported by The Irish Film Boad, The DGA, The Arts Council, Culture Ireland and Screen Training Ireland.