U.S. Consulate General, Chennai Daniel Pearl Film Festival

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The U.S. Consulate General, Chennai will fund a film festival taking place in Chennai, Bangalore and Kochi (or Trivandrum) dedicated to the work of professional journalists and their craft. This project will honor the ideals portrayed by Daniel Pearl by bringing journalists and artists together to share their experiences and discuss the importance of a free and fair press. In particular, this project will consist of films and expert discussions that document and discuss the often dangerous work of journalists who defend the principles of free speech and expression. The film screenings will be followed by moderated discussions with the audience. The awardee will organize three separate three-day film festivals in Chennai, Bangalore and Kochi (or Trivandrum). Each of the three festivals should be comprised of feature, short and documentary films and panel discussions highlighting the role of free speech. The awardee can work closely with local journalism and or film schools, film societies and festival management organizations to find suitable venues and partners for the festivals. The awardee should procure at least 4 films, all of which should be by American producers. The awardee must procure all required film rights, government authorizations, and waivers. The same films can be exhibited in each of the three cities but regional and local language films and content should be differentiated for each location. Local language Indian films should be presented in local and English languages (through captioning or subtitling). The awardee must receive approval from the U.S. Consulate Chennai on the final list of films to be exhibited. The awardee must also organize and coordinate panelists for each of the three festivals. Possible panelists include filmmakers, film school faculty, academic and professional journalists, and Daniel Pearl International Journalism Exchange (IJE) Fellows from India. The awardee can propose sub-awardees to be approved by the U.S. Consulate Chennai, but it is the awardee’s responsibility to ensure that sub-awardees meet all U.S. and Indian requirements (e.g., an FCRA for an Indian subgrantee). Proposals must cover the myriad of expenses associated with administering such film festivals, from the development of the overall agenda and calendar, securing the participation of expert speakers to organizing and paying for film rights, venues, publicity, airfare, transportation, hotel logistics, printing costs and any other miscellaneous expenses. The proposal should include all relevant administrative and logistical costs for organizing this festival. A panel comprised of Consulate members will review each complete proposal received before the application deadline. Please note that selected proposals will have to complete additional forms and registration documents within thirty days of notification in order to receive funding. The awardee is encouraged to seek and find additional funding for this film festival, subject to approval by the U.S. Consulate General, Chennai and U.S. Embassy New Delhi.

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