Weekly Sessionz
About 30 Tuesdays per year we have our weekly sessions. Per night we show 2 short films as part of the competition with the filmmakers taking part in Q&A’s with the audience and a special guest is being interviewed.
Shortcutz is very much about interaction between new filmmakers , experienced filmmakers, industry reps and the audience. It is a perfect networking place for new and experienced filmmakers and industry professionals.
I started working for Shortcutz Amsterdam in January 2020, starting with production support of the Annual Awards of Shortcutz Amsterdam taking place in Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam.
Since then I have been part of the production team, supporting the Shortcutz directors (Alexa and João Rodrigues) in numerous ways. I helped with the development of a new new format of the Annual Awards. I picked up support on the applications for funding of our activities with funds like VSB Fonds and Fonds21. And I created a “potential partnership” database, that we (director Joao Rodrigues and Hans) used to approach companies and try to interest them in sponsoring and partnerships with our festival and the Awards Ceremony.
Furthermore I did communication and editing Press releases.
In the postponed Annual Awards of May 2022, I was next to being part of the production team, the liaison for our special guests Jan Harlan (Exec. Producer Stanley Kubrick) and Jany Temime (Costume Design, Harry Potter, Skyfall).
In 2023 I was the liaison for photographer and director Anton Corbijn and again for Jan Harlan.
In 2022 I went to the film festival FEST ( new directors-new films), in Portugal, known for a good Masterclass program. It was a great pleasure to engage with the FEST organization and find potential guests and masterclasses of interest. In the months after, Shortcutz directors have been in contact with FEST and developed further collaboration.
IBC (International Broadcasting Convention) in Amsterdam, is one other type of event that I , and Shortcutz director Joao Rodrigues visit, to identify potential partners and potential sponsors. We have taken some follow up actions since and and are hoping to get additional support and partners for Shortcutz.
Wherever I go I promote Shortcutz Amsterdam as I think it's important to help Shortcutz to fulfill its mission: Create a Shortcut for new filmmakers to an audience and established filmmakers.
Since end Oct 2023 I am the Producer of the project AMSTERTHEM, the latest initiative by Shortcutz Amsterdam, where the city will be mapped through seven short film portraits of “Amsterdammers' 'from the seven districts of Amsterdam. The submission for project plans closed Oct 15th and the selection process finished at the end of October. Out of 97 pitches, 7 projects were selected.
These 7 teams get funds, equipment, guidance and coaching from all sorts of professional partners to help produce their films. Production close is scheduled for April 19th, 2024, after which the short documentaries will go to festivals. Open air screenings in the neighborhoods are planned for Spring 2025.
