IFFS to add excellence awards
The International Film Festival Summit (IFFS) are all set to institute their IFFS Excellence Awards in Europe from 2009. Stockholm International Film Festival Director Git Sheyniyus was an honouree in the International Category in 2007.
IFFS President and co-founder Waco Hoover said, “The awards will honour and pay tribute to the dedicated professionals and executives managing film festivals.” From 2009, the IFFS will add on a certification programme where film festival professionals will undergo training and be awarded a certificate at the end of it.
Hoover was present at the just concluded 2nd annual IFFS Europe that took place in London. Participants were heads of film festivals and festival professionals from across Europe and Asia. Festivals represented included the London Film Festival, Clermot-Ferrand, Glasgow, Dublin, Cambridge, Milan, Stockholm, Dubai, Monaco, Raindance, the European Independent Film Festival and Dubai.
In addition, festival related businesses like Withoutabox, Indiepix, Filmfestivals.com, Datakal, The Film & Festival and Babelgum also participated in the interactive sessions. Modules during the summit included European Cinema and the World – Status and Future, Funding Your Film Festival, European Programming and Alternative Distribution.
Sundance Director Geoffrey Gilmore, who was due to deliver the summit’s keynote presentation, could not be present due to ill health.
Hoover said, “At IFFS, we want to foster the growth of independent films in independent film festivals. Festivals are a converging point for stakeholders. Therefore we focus on the business of film festivals.”
Cineuropa were media partners for the event.
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