International
Italian film fest to celebrate excellence in visual arts in May 2002
The International Festival of Films on Art and the Lives of Artists, the event that critically evaluates the latest productions in cinema, television, video and infographics dedicated to the world of visual arts, kicks off in Asolo, Italy, on 2 May, 2002.
The ‘Asolo Project’, that organises the annual four-day film fest, has invited global entries for the competition. The eligibility criteria for the entries stipulates short, average-length and long films, with or without a subject, produced between 2000 and 2001. Films in both 35 and 16 mm with either optic sound track or with magnetized tape will also be admitted. The deadline for submissions is 28 February, 2002, according to an official release.
The festival, being held each year since 1973, aims to develop a well-thought out critical perspective by focussing on the positive confluence and combinations of the diverse communicative visual forms. The five sections in the festival comprise –
·Films on Art for audio-visuals, on subjects such as painting, sculpture, architecture, music, cinema, theatre, dance and any other form of artistic expression;
·Video Art and Computer Art, for works using electronic and computer audio-visual means as direct artistic expression;
·Computer Net Art, for works of art on the web that are transmitted via internet;
·Experimental cinematographic, television, video and info-graphic productions made in specialised courses of cinema schools and special institutes of higher education.
An international jury comprising five luminaries from the cinema and art world will award prizes for the best art work in television and video, the best film on art, the best film on the life of an artist, the best film of artists or of video art, the best production conceived for online viewing, best experimental cinematographic for television and video, the best info-graphic production made in specific courses for cinema or other specialised institutes of higher education, and the best sound track. The jury will also note any works deserving particular merit that would not otherwise be recognised, the release says.
More details about the festival can be had from www.artfilmfestival.com.
International
Council of Europe to unveil new TV and streaming co-production convention
Series Mania Forum to host landmark signing to boost global TV collaboration
LILLE: The small screen is getting a big policy push. At this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille, Alain Berset will take centre stage to chair the opening ceremony for a new international convention aimed at reshaping how television and streaming series are co-produced across borders.
Set for March 26 at the Théâtre Marie Curie in Lille Grand Palais, the signing marks the debut of the first legal framework dedicated specifically to the independent co-production of series. In an industry where stories travel faster than ever, the move aims to make collaboration smoother, fairer and more transparent.
Backed by the Council of Europe, the convention is designed to strengthen cultural ties, give independent producers a firmer footing, and bring greater clarity to deals in a rapidly evolving content landscape. With streaming platforms fuelling a surge in global storytelling, the timing feels deliberate.
Council of Europe secretary general Alain Berset, underscored the cultural heft of series today, noting how they carry voices and viewpoints across borders. He called on member states and countries beyond Europe to sign on, framing the initiative as a way to turn culture into a tool for cooperation and democratic exchange.
For Series Mania founder and general director Laurence Herszberg, hosting the signing is both symbolic and strategic. She described the convention as a step that could widen the range of stories reaching audiences, staying true to the forum’s long-standing mission of championing diverse storytelling.
The ceremony will unfold alongside the Lille Dialogues, a high-level summit that gathers policymakers and industry leaders to debate the future of Europe’s audiovisual sector. Berset is also set to deliver the opening address there, adding political weight to a week already rich in creative ambition.
In short, as screens multiply and borders blur, Europe is putting a framework in place to ensure that storytelling keeps pace, collaboratively and coherently.
