Deadline: 31 March 2008 (postmarked)

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

The application is in PDF format and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it. Click here for a free download of Adobe Reader.

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.

In past years, the program was restricted to alumni of the Los Angeles Film Festival and graduates of Film Independent’s Talent Development Programs – the Filmmaker Labs, Project: Involve, and the Spirit Award grant winners. Selected filmmakers would get a pass to the festival and one day of industry meetings. This year, we are opening the program to all filmmakers, both national and international, who have strong feature films seeking their financing.

This year, the program is being re-launched and greatly expanded to better serve filmmakers. The filmmakers chosen for the 2008 Fast Track program will receive:

• an Industry pass to the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival
• three days of intensive, high-level industry meetings
• a pass to the 2008 Financing Conference that takes place during the Festival
• a pass to the Filmmaker Forum, which runs in the fall of 2008.
• complimentary membership in Film Independent
• year-round support from Film Independent

“We initially designed Fast Track to help alumni of the Los Angeles Film Festival and our Talent Development Programs,” said Josh Welsh, Director of Talent Development. “But the program has been so successful that we want to open it to all filmmakers with strong features in search of financing.”

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?
The program itself is free to the selected participants. There is a $50 fee to apply to Fast Track. Also, Fast Track participants agree to thank Film Independent with an end credit when their films are made.

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), printed on 3-hole paper and fastened with brads
• 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
• 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
• $50 application fee (non-refundable check made payable to Film Independent)

Note: Feature-length documentaries are eligible. In place of a script, documentary filmmakers should submit a detailed treatment of their project as well as the other items listed above. You may also submit clip reels or edited segments of the documentary if it is a work-in-progress.

Submitted 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 12, 2008.

Send all materials by 31 March 2008:
Film Independent: Attention Fast Track
9911 Pico Blvd,11th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90035

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

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

The application is in PDF format and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open it. Click here for a free download of Adobe Reader.

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

Got questions? We've got answers.

Click here for Fast Track FAQs.