Call for submissions of dance films

The organisers of the Tees Dance Film Fest are seeking short dance films for the festival which is being held for a second year in May.

The festival is supported by Teesside University, Tees Valley Dance and Middlesbrough Council’s Dance Programme. Closing date for submissions is 1 March.

Heike Salzer, Teesside University BA (Hons) Dance programme leader, said: 'Tees Dance Film Fest was founded in 2014 by Holly Bellamy during her BA (Hons) Dance degree at Teesside University, as part of her end of year final creative performance.

'The first screening of TDFF took place on the big screen in the centre square outside mima in May last year. It was a huge success and inspired many local and international dance filmmakers to get in touch.'

Heike and Jessica Smith, who are co-artistic directors, are currently working with Holly and Stephanie Fremaux, who joined the team from the University’s media section, to steer TDFF onwards towards the second event in May when the festival will again be screened at mima and the big screen in central Middlesbrough.

Ana Baer from Texas State University has also been invited to the event, to present a special edition of the prestigious International Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema from Colorado.

Heike added: 'We are interested in ways in which filmmakers explore the genres of creative experimental choreography and filmmaking. Films can include real life dancers or animation and digital elements, but must fuse dance and filmmaking in original and innovative ways.'

The films can be submitted in one of two categories, professional artists and young artists aged 14 to 25. Films by professional artists must be no longer than 15 minutes and should be engaging and creative, inspired by spaces, landscapes and cultures. Junior artists’ films should be no longer than five minutes and depict the body in new and exciting ways.

For more information about Tees Dance Film Fest and to submit films visit the Tees Dance Film Fest website.

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