Deadline: 2 March 2009
$55 Film Independent Members
$75 Non-members

WHAT IS FAST TRACK?

Designed to help filmmakers move their current projects, narrative as well as documentary, forward, Fast Track is a film financing market that connects them with financiers, production companies, and other industry professionals. This highly selective program is open to established as well as up-and-coming filmmakers with exceptional projects still seeking funding.

Fast Track Fellows receive:

• a pass to the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival
• three days of intensive, high-level industry meetings
• a pass to the 2009 Financing Conference that takes place during the Festival
• a pass to the Filmmaker Forum, which runs in the fall of 2009.
• complimentary membership in Film Independent
• year-round support from Film Independent

Previous Fast Track projects include Courtney Hunt`s Frozen River, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival; Sterlin Harjo`s Spirit Award nominated Four Sheets to the Wind; Jennifer Westfeldt`s Ira and Abby; Jessica Sanders` award-winning documentary After Innocence; Chris Chan Lee`s Undoing; and Scott Prendergast`s feature Kabluey, which had its world premier at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival.

WHAT SELECTION CRITERIA ARE USED IN EVALUATING FAST TRACK SUBMISSIONS?

We are looking for talented filmmakers who have feature length film projects, narrative fiction films as well as feature length documentaries, that are compelling and original, and are seeking financing. We prefer projects that have directors and at least one principal producer in place. We do not require that the project have any financing in place, but want to see evidence that the creative team has given serious thought to the budget and can articulate why they have budgeted the film at a particular level. We are looking for compelling, original projects that demonstrate a filmmaker`s uniqueness of vision.

Writers who are chiefly interested in selling their screenplays or securing representation will not be considered. Strong preference is given to filmmakers who are seeking financing for films they are attempting to direct and/or produce.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

Aside from the application fee, there is no tuition to attend Film Independent`s Fast Track Program.

Film Independent also asks for the end credit "Developed with the help of Film Independent" to be run along with the Film Independent logo.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

In order to be considered for Fast Track, you must submit:

• one completed application form
• one feature length script (the project you are presently trying to get made) OR a detailed documentary treatment
• a cover letter indicating the current status of your project and what, specifically, you would hope to gain from the Fast Track program;
• short synopsis of script (no more than 2 pages), with logline and genre (narrative only)
• biography/filmography of director and producer(s), as well as any other key personnel attached to project
• director`s statement
• budget outline and finance plan
• dvd of director`s previous work and/or clip reel for documentary works in progress
• application fee

Submitted DVD materials will not be returned unless filmmaker includes SASE.

You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been accepted into the program by May 25, 2009.

Deadline: 2 March 2009
$55 Film Independent Members
$75 Non-members

For more information, please contact Jennifer Kushner at 310.432.1275 or JKushner@filmindependent.org

Got questions? We've got answers.

Click here for Fast Track FAQs.