Radical Film Network NYC 2017
A Global Gathering
May 3 to 5
Call for participation
The Radical Film Network was set-up in London in 2013 to support the growth and sustainability of politically-engaged film culture around the world. Since then the RFN has grown rapidly, and now consists of more than one hundred organisations across four continents, from artists’ studios and production collectives to archives, distributors and film festivals.
‘Radical Film Network USA: A Global Gathering of Labor Film Activists’ will take place in New York City on 3-5 May 2017 prior to the Workers Unite Film Festival (5-25 May). The event is designed to bring together RFN-affiliated organisations, filmmakers and scholars in the Americas with members of the RFN in the UK. It is the third of four events that comprise ‘Sustaining Alternative Film Cultures’ (2015-17), a two-year research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in the UK. There is a limited number of bursaries available for radical film organisations in the Americas outside of New York State (see below).
Details of the event will be finalised nearer to the date (suggestions and proposals welcome!), but will comprise of a series of facilitated group discussions, presentations, and networking events. A keynote presentation will also be delivered by Chuck Kleinhans. Questions to be addressed at the conference include:
- What is the state of alternative/engaged/oppositional film cultures in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean, and the UK?
- Who is involved – individuals, organisations, collectives – and how?
- What are the challenges for production, distribution and exhibition?
- How can radical film cultures/organisations work together more effectively?
- How can radical film cultures/organisations operate sustainably?
- How can digital technologies be harnessed to support radical film networks?
- What kinds of communications platforms and strategies are appropriate at local, national and international levels?
- What sources and strategies of finance and funding are available, and should they be sought?
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Travel and Accommodation Bursaries
A limited number of travel and accommodation bursaries are available for individuals representing radical film organisations in the Americas (outside NY state) to attend this event, courtesy of funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the UK. To apply for this please submit a brief expression of interest and description of your involvement in radical film culture to stephen2.presence@uwe.ac.uk, michael.wayne@brunel.ac.uk an ajtilson@gmail.com (Andrew Tilson at Workers Unite).