The APICA, an association for the promotion of images, creation, and the arts, based in French Polynesia organizes from March 7th to 15th, 2015 the second edition of the International Festival of Short Fiction Films from the Islands of the World: Courts des îles, in Papeete, Tahiti (French Polynesia).

The APICA wishes to highlight island sensitivities from all over the world through their audiovisual and cinematic creations, by gathering them around a unique event: The International Festival of Short Fiction Films from the Islands of the World, Courts des îles.

From Java to Madagascar, from Iceland to New Zealand, from the Bahamas to Guadeloupe, from Hawaii to Tasmania… Courts des îles hopes to be an open window on island cultures, singular of pluralistic, a link between these young creators, directors from the islands of the world who tell us their stories.

A space for creation, experimentation, a genuine springboard for young creators, but also a formidable means to develop personal projects, short fiction films are pregnant with promise for film production worldwide, and generate great interest today from the public as well as broadcasters.

The Courts des îles Festival explores the richness, the diversity, and the uniqueness of island authors and directors’ imagination through this specific form of expression, in a different way than documentaries, which are more anchored in the real world.

A veritable journey around the world of island creativity: from Europe to Asia, from America to Oceania, and through Africa, Courts des îles is also a place of exchange and sharing for festival attendees, who will be able to contrast their experiences, their points of mutual interest, and their differences during workshops, round tables, and conferences organized around the themes of screenwriting, directing, and producing short fiction films.

Beyond the screening of short fiction films from the islands of the world, the Courts des îles Festival will give pride of place to a different island every year through the best short films that are produced there. For this second edition, New Zealand will be the guest of honor of the International Festival of Short Fiction Films from the Islands of the World.

Entering the “Courts des îles” Festival

Only a film whose director was born on an island may be in competition at the Courts des îles Festival. Registrations for the competition can be made on the www.filmfestplatform.com, www.clickforfestivals.com, www.festhome.com, www.uptofest.com or www.courtsdesiles.com website, and by post, until december 31th, 2014, at midnight. Registered films will be shown to a pre-selection committee, who will determine which films are selected. Titles of films entered into the competition will be revealed on February 16th, 2014.

For movies wishing to compete for the ” First movies ” Courts des îles prize, the director of the work must have realized no more than two movies submitted to an international festival of short films of fiction. The works produced within the framework of a school or of a formation can compete to the ” First movies ” Courts des îles prize.

Films in competition will be submitted to a vote by the public, for the length of the Festival, from Mrch 7th to 15th, 2015, and by a jury made up of professionals from the audiovisual sector and the international film industry. Five prizes, representing a total amount of 18,675 Euros (international flights for stranger competitors included), will be awarded:

• the “Courts des îles” Grand Prix,
• the “Courts des îles” Best Screenplay Prize,
• the “Courts des îles” Coup de coeur Prize.
• the “Courts des îles” First film Prize.
• the Courts des îles” Audience Award.

The Awards Ceremony, during which the winners are announced, will be held on Marh 14th, 2015.

Film premieres, the world’s largest short film prize, industry events, education workshops, parties, talented young filmmakers, a prestigious international jury, and over five hundred regular visitors are just some of the ingredients that make the Iris Prize Festival so special. During four busy days the best of the best in new filmmaking talent can be seen in Cardiff as the city plays host to the gay short film Oscars. Supported by 15 international partner festivals including Los Angeles, Toronto, Hong Kong, Miami, Brazil, Hamburg and Sydney, Iris and her friends transform Cardiff into a unique destination for lovers of film and those seeking to make new friends from all over the world. The £25k international gay and lesbian short film prize is open to any short film which is by, for, about or of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex audiences. Join the fun and become a friend of Iris and remember you don’t have to be a friend of Dorothy to be a friend of Iris!

Fantoche is one of the most prominent festival for animation film. With a program containing over 70 events, along with screenings of 220 short and long films from all over the world, the last edition of Fantoche proved to be a great celebration of animated film-making, attracting over 34,000 fans of the genre.
Since its first appearance in 1995, Fantoche offers the best in entertainment for cinema-goers of all ages and brings together visual media from a variety of sectors.

New Zealand’s only Academy Awards® accredited festival. Screening the best short films from New Zealand and around the world in cinemas nationwide every November. Now also accepting music videos from New Zealand. Films must be between 2-20 minutes (1-10 minutes for music videos) and made within the last two years. More info at www.showmeshorts.co.nz. Entry via www.withoutabox.com.