10th Manchester Short Film Festival

Baby Cow Manchester ‘Buys’ Film Festival – On eBay

The Kinofilm Manchester International Short Film Festival has found a headline supporter to celebrate its tenth anniversary.  As part of Baby Cow’s policy of working alongside new and established northern talent, Baby Cow Manchester has bought the support package after it appeared on eBay.

Baby Cow Productions was set up in 1999 by award winning comedy creators Steve Coogan and Henry Normal and has since gained an enviable reputation for producing new British Comedy talent.  With the help of North West Vision, Baby Cow moved to Manchester in with Heather Coogan (formerly Head of Entertainment at Granada), Lindsay Hughes (Baby Cow’s head of talent) and Ric Michael (Head of Development) to run the Northern wing.

“We’re both honoured and delighted to have secured the support of such a prestigious production company.” said John Wojowski, Director of the Kinofilm Festival. “Thanks to productions like 24 Hour Party People and The Parole Officer, Baby Cow means ‘film’ to most Mancunians, and as Manchester’s longest established international film festival the partnership with Baby Cow Manchester offers many opportunities to both parties.”

So, how did the eBay connection come about? “We had been discussing ways of getting involved in short comedy film and in the film infrastructure of the region when I received an email from Kino pointing us to the eBay auction,” explained Ric Michael,  “Buying into a film festival like this appealed to our sense of humour and seemed like a great way of confirming that we are serious about northern talent - both in front of and behind the camera.”

The Kinofilm, 10th Manchester International Short Film Festival, supported by Baby Cow Manchester, will take place at various venues in Manchester between February 24th and 5th March 2007.  Kinofilm also has a number of other sponsorship opportunities available to suit any size of budget including Awards Sponsors and Programme Sponsors. Alice Morrison, Chief Executive at North West Vision said: “What a fantastic, innovative way of securing support for a film festival.  It is new ways of thinking and originality such as this that will make festivals an ongoing success.”

Additional Kinofilm Information:

• The Kinofilm Manchester International Film Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary between 24 February and 5 March 2006 and is looking for sponsors to help ensure next year’s festival is the best yet.
• The festival has grown dramatically since 1995 when a mere 100 films were shown in 1 venue. Next year’s festival will see over 300 films at venues across the city including: The AMC Great Northern Cinema, The Green Room, Cornerhouse and Instituto Cervantes.

1. A mobile ‘Cinemobile’ screen will tour Greater Manchester arriving in Albert Square for the festival’s opening weekend. The Cinemobile is a specially adapted truck from Ireland, which transforms into a 100-seat cinema. Kinofilm 2006 will be its first visit to the UK. It will provide a unique opportunity to take short film into the community.
3. Many film-makers have had their first opportunity to show their work at Kinofilm. Amongst those who have previously shown films are: Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers), Damien O’Donnell (East is East), and Lynne Ramsey (Ratcatcher, Morvern Callar).
4. The festival has an international reputation, attracting both visitors and entries from around the world. The 2006 festival has received submissions from as far a-field as Japan and Brazil.
5. In addition to roundtable discussions with well-known producers and directors Kinofilm 2006 will attract its fair share of celebrities with some big-name special guests being lined up to present film related seminars.

Additional Quotes:
Festival Director John Wojowski said:

“Kinofilm has been at the forefront of short film development in the UK over the last decade and was the first ever film festival in Greater Manchester. As market leader in the North West, Kinofilm can claim to have consistently set the trend for the region’s film industry. In particular, relating to the development of local film festivals and short film support agencies, of which there are now many.

“The short film format, considered an art form in its own right, has experienced dramatic growth in recent years and most film festivals now include short films in their programming. In particular, there has been a real explosion of short film groups and clubs in Manchester and across the Northwest. Each of these contributes in its own way to one of the UK’s most diverse and exciting creative industries.”

Kinofilm, 10th Manchester International Short Film Festival is supported by Baby Cow Manchester and funded by North West Vision, AGMA, Arts Council of England North West and Manchester City Council.

North West Vision is the film and TV development agency for England’s Northwest. It funds film and TV programmes, develops new talent, and is working to bring new production and inward investment into the region. Find out more at: www.northwestvision.co.uk

source www.babycow.uk/kino.html