The quick and easy way to host CLiFF where you live.
Deadline for submitting a CLiFF HOST FORM: Monday 9 November, 2009
Be part of labour and film festival history as Canada’s first Labour International Film Festival travels to 100 communities Saturday-Sunday November 28-29, 2009.
Most people have never thought of hosting a film festival. We want to encourage EVERYONE to take part in hosting a CLiFF location in their city, town, or village. It’s very easy – anyone can do it!
As soon as you say “yes” and open, fill out and send in the CLiFF Host form, we will contact you to answer any questions you may have.
WHAT WE DO
- We send you a template for a flyer to publicize the festival in your community
- We send you a DVD with movies which take approximately 90 minutes to view
- We prepare a “talking points” document on some of the important issues discussed in the films you have watched
- We prepare questions you can ask your audience
- We prepare action items you may want to follow up on
- We send you popcorn bags. If we can, we may also send organic popcorn for you and your audience – the complete movie experience!
WHAT YOU DO
- You find a place where people can watch the videos we send you
- Find a place large enough to accommodate the number of people you think will attend – a union hall, library, theatre, community centre, school, housing co-op or rec room
- book a 2-hour time slot – with 90 minutes of movies and opening and closing statements, that’s all you’ll need
- Choose your time – some communities are hosting matinees and evening showings on both Saturday and Sunday, but even one afternoon or evening would be great
- Find a computer, or a DVD player (and possibly a data projector)
- For the opening, find a speaker (you?) who will welcome the audience members and introduce the film festival (notes provided)
- Hit the PLAY button on your computer or DVD player and watch the movies
- Ask for audience reaction to the films
- Ask if there is anything the audience can think of to help publicise the issue in their own community (ideas will be given based on the films in the Box)
- Closing remarks (provided)
- Give a quick fundraising appeal and fill out a short evaluation/contact form and ask if people will come next year
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Longer version
How to host a CLiFF location (in twenty minutes or less)
WHAT IS A CLiFF LOCATION?
A CLiFF location is anywhere labour films will be shown in partnership with the Canadian Labour International Film Festival (CLiFF).
WHEN
The dates for the film screening in Toronto is 22 – 29 November. Everywhere else it will be on Saturday, November 28 and/or Sunday, November 29, 2009. You can have it on either day or on both days if there is enough interest. Start small. It may make it easier to organise the screening the following year.
TIME
You can start at any time and finish at any time you like. The whole point of you having your own venue is that you decide. This can be based on your own availability, or you can consult with a few people who are interested in helping out, or those who are interested in attending. We recommend consulting it works best!
We expect most people will want to start the festival in the late afternoon (2:00 p.m.) or start in the evening around 5:00 p.m. This lets you take care of your own business and still allow time for your film screening.
WHO
Try to find someone (you?) who will be the coordinator and contact person for the CLiFF location.
KEEPING IN TOUCH
After you have decided who that person will be, let us know and we will set up an email address where people can send inquiries or comments. This will make it easier to communicate throughout the whole CLiFF system right across Canada.
Email addresses will be easy to remember. We have set up ottawa@labourfilms.ca. If you are in Gander, it will be gander@labourfilms.ca. We will also have montreal@labourfilms.ca, kitchener@labourfilms.ca, as well as charlottetown@labourfilms.ca.
WHERE
The films can be shown anywhere you like from your living room, to the local union hall, to the town theatre. Wherever you decide, please make sure you can play DVDs. We will be duplicating movies and sending them to you. It would be best to test the DVD before the actual screening.
AUDIENCE
We are setting minimums in order to qualify as a CLiFF location. For the first year, we are simply asking that you organize three or four people to sit around your computer or television, insert the DVD we will send you, and watch the movies.
We anticipate that you will be able to choose the movies you want to screen, but we must clear all legal obstacles by negotiating the distribution and screening costs. This is to ensure that the artists get paid for their work and paid fairly!
WHO WILL NEGOTIATE with the film makers?
The Toronto location will be negotiating the distribution and duplication fees with the creators of the films. We are establishing a budget and a protocol.
THE FINE PRINT
When you arrange to secure a hall or other such venue, please make sure that the hall is covered by some kind of insurance. These venues normally have that pre-arranged so you won’t have to worry too much.
When you arrange to secure a hall or other such venue, please make sure that the hall is covered by some kind of insurance. These venues normally have that pre-arranged so you won’t have to worry too much.
ANY QUESTIONS
Please email us at locations@labourfilms.ca
