SXSW Student FIlms

Two student films from the Fort Worth area have won top honors at Austin’s South by Southwest Film Festival. http://2007.sxsw.com/film/. Both are students in the Birdville ISD Media Tech program.

Brandon Day, a senior at Richland Hills High School, won for his 5-minute short Murder for 9 Points. The film features Phil Pratt, Karen Seimears and D.C. Goode.
Synopsis:
An innocent game of Scrabble turns into something entirely different.
Watch the video trailer: http://2007.sxsw.com/film/screenings/film/F8495.html#top

Adela Escobar, a student at Haltom High School, won for her 3-minute film Daily Routine.
Synopsis:
At the last moment we try to look back at all the things we've done, and all we ever did. Have you lived your life to the fullest?
Watch the video trailer: http://2007.sxsw.com/film/screenings/film/F8511.html

Congratulations to our future filmmakers. And kudos for school districts like Birdville who make film programs available for students.

German Film Tax Break
Money makes the world go round! And film money is even better.
Germany has joined Hungary in offering tax break incentive for films produced within its borders, according to the Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/features/columns/on_location/e3ib79dcd249fa48ad4d6470ba5a7100913?imw=Y
The German Federal Film Fund, which offers a 20 percent rebate for film production in Germany, was launched in January.

According to the Hollywood Reporter:
“To qualify, 25 percent of the total budget must be spent in Germany. If the budget is more than $26 million, that drops to 20 percent. For international co-productions, the German participation must be at least 20 percent; if the budget is more than $32 million, a participation of $6.5 million is sufficient. The budget of the film project must be more than $1.3 million for feature films, $3.3 million for animation films and $226,000 for documentaries.

“A project must have at least 75 percent of its financing in place, and it must pass a "cultural test," with points given for using German locations or studios; German actors, artists or technicians; and German story or history. A little bit of everything would be the perfect match.”