Filmutea, a free social network

Filmutea, a free social network for Indie film professionals, is the main networking site for filmmakers in Spain, with over 25,000 registered users, are starting a localized version for the UK& Ireland. You may register here: http://www.filmutea.com/registrationuk/Index.cfm

What do you need for your projects? You may share, find, post, search on Filmutea - a Web 2.0 platform, run by filmmakers, for the filmmakers, aiming at helping all Indie film professionals, by centralizing in one place: job offers, casting calls, locations, information, services, resources and much more. Currently, the main features are:

- Publish and search for paid and non-paid job offers

- Find the crew and cast for your productions

- Extend your professional network

- Subscribe to bulletins by RSS and email (daily, weekly or monthly): for job offers, casting calls, classifieds

- Embed your Youtube videos

- Upload your portfolio and production photos

- Let the others know about your events, courses, screenings

- Find the right locations for your shoots

- Hire or buy equipment, lights

- Complete your CV with: experience, education, film credits, photos, videos, personal attributes, blog

They have just also launched a localized version for Mexico and Argentina, so if you have any friends there, please feel free to forward them this info.

For more info please log onto http://www.filmutea.com/homeuk/Index.cfm

DOC SOUP Early Bird Deadline Next Week

Subscriptions sales for the 2008-09 Doc Soup series are soaring - an early indicator of yet another record-breaking season. If you didn't purchase your Doc Soup subscription during the Festival, it's not too late. Early-bird prices are in effect until Wednesday, June 25. Buy yours now!

Remember, only a Doc Soup Subscription guarantees your seat at the hottest screening series in town!

PLUS! Each Doc Soup Subscription package comes with 10 FREE screening tickets for the 2009 Hot Docs Festival. Each Doc Soup Plus Subscription package comes with 24 FREE screening tickets.

Michaelle McLean steps down from Toronto Documentary Forum

Hot Docs announced that Michaelle McLean has stepped down as director of the Toronto Documentary Forum (TDF), a post she has held since the event's inception nine years ago. An annual two-day market held during Hot Docs that assists filmmakers from around the world raise international co-financing, the TDF has grown during her tenure to become North America's essential market event for the international documentary community.

"Working with Michaelle for the past nine years has been a highlight of my career," says Executive Director Chris McDonald. "She had an ambitious vision for the TDF and with her extraordinary drive brought it to fruition. She was an invaluable member of the Hot Docs team and continues to be a tireless champion for the industry. Her hard work, dedication and pursuit of excellence inspire all those around her."

Having facilitated tens-of-millions of dollars in financing over the years for hundreds of social, cultural and political documentary projects, the TDF hit a record high in 2008 with 550 accredited delegates participating, including 190 broadcasters and distributors. Thirty-five projects from 12 countries were selected for presentation from the record 230 submissions from 29 countries.

Notable TDF alumnus that were selected for participation during McLean's tenure include: Peter Raymont's A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN, which was shortlisted for a 2008 Academy Award, Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott's THE CORPORATION, Sam Green and Bill Siegel's THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND, which was nominated for an 2004 Academy Award, Christian Bauer's THE RITCHIE BOYS, which was shortlisted for a 2005 Academy Award.

McLean has stepped down to pursue other professional opportunities, but she will continue her association with Hot Docs, overseeing such initiatives as the new Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund. Hot Docs will begin a candidate search in mid-July to fill the vacated post.

For More Info on Canwest Hot Docs please log onto: http://www.hotdocs.ca/index.php/industry/development/canwest_hot_docs_funds

KFF 2008 - Call for Submissions

KFF ISSUES A CALL FOR ENTRIES TO THE 9th KERRY FILM FESTIVAL ANNUAL

Kerry Film Festival to offer a e5,000 cash prize in Best Director Competition

The Samhlaiocht Kerry Film Festival, which is celebrating nine years of bringing film to the people of Kerry, has issued a call for entries for the Kerry Film Festival 2008, which runs from November 1st to November 8th.

"The Kerry Film Festival is committed to playing a leading role in providing a forum for emerging talent in film," said Jason O' Mahony, Artistic Director Kerry Film Festival. "This dedication is evidenced by both the quality of the films screened and the prizes on offer, with a top cash prize of e5,000 for KFF's Best Director, as well as a number of prizes in other categories including Best Irish Short, Best International Short, Best Documentary Short and Best Animated Short."

All prizes including Best Director will be selected by a jury of internationally renowned film professionals. Past adjudicators of the Kerry Film Festival Short Film Competition have included such luminaries as Mike Leigh, Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and Gabriel Byrne. John Carney, director of ONCE, has agreed to adjudicate this year with more adjudicators to be announced shortly.

"We're delighted to have such an amazing filmmaker as John onboard to help adjudicate the shorts," said O' Mahony. "Short film is a compelling format with much of the work displaying a freshness and originality that is lacking from more formulaic studio releases, so it'll be interesting to see what John thinks of the films."

When asked what makes KFF special he said, "I think having so many of the filmmakers on hand to speak about their films and their creative journey ensures a rewarding film festival experience for both the filmmaker and the audience. One of the advantages of KFF, I suppose, is that it's such an intimate little festival but the quality of the films and quality of the adjudicators consistently punches above its weight."

While the main focus of the festival will continue to be on shorts, this year sees an extension of the programme. "Last year was our most successful Festival so far," said O' Mahony. "We screened more films to more people in more venues that ever before and this year we're hoping to top that!" The 2008 edition of the Festival will see an expansion of the feature programme which proved so successful in 2007, KFF 2008 will also see more Education screenings, more active retired screenings and a larger workshop programme.

Kerry Film Festival will work in conjunction with the Cork Film Centre to bring a top notch film workshop programme to Kerry, Cork Film Centre will also curate an experimental film programme. "The Cork Film Centre is delighted to be working with the Kerry Film Festival," said Chris Hurley, Cork Film Centre. "We are pleased to be collaborating in presenting an eye-opening programme of contemporary Irish experimental film, curated by Maximilian Le Cain. Additionally, we will sponsor a cash prize of e500 to be awarded to the winner in the Best Animated Short category."

For more info on Cork Film Centre please log onto http://www.corkfilmcentre.com/