July 26, 2018 (New York, NY) –Today, IFP (Independent Filmmaker Project) announced its 40^th annual IFP Project Forum slate, highlighting 150 films, series, digital and audio projects in development from over 16 countries. Selected directors, producers, showrunners and audio storytellers will attend the IFP Project Forum during the 40^th anniversary of IFP Week in New York September 15 – 20, 2018 in Brooklyn.

IFP’s Project Forum is the United States’ only international co-production market featuring stories for all platforms, and hosts over 5,000 artist & industry meetings.  In addition, IFP Week hosts a multi-day slate of talks, as well as numerous public screenings, exhibitions and events celebrating the art of bold, risk-taking and singular storytelling in all its forms.

2018 marks the first year that IFP will also be including audio storytelling into the Project Forum, with selected projects meeting with industry leaders, as well as taking part in a live pitch aimed at funders, advertisers, producers and audio platforms on Wednesday, September 19^th.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate IFP Week’s 40th edition this year. This highly anticipated event has, continued to evolve over the last four decades while remaining true to its mission: discovering new voices and championing original and impactful storytelling,” says IFP Executive Director Joana Vicente. “This year’s multi-faceted slate represents the best stories from global creators and producers across disciplines, furthering IFP’s commitment to helping artists sustain their careers and creative opportunities available in film and beyond.”

Under the curatorial leadership of Amy Dotson (Deputy Director/Head of Programming, IFP) and Milton Tabbot (Senior Director of Programming, IFP), the slate showcases original and provocative work, across a broad range of budgets, genres, emotions and platforms. Selections ranges from highly commercial fare to work that tackles controversial subject matter, introduces wildly engaging and often hilarious worldviews, and challenges traditional forms of film, series and audio storytelling.

A number of notable IFP artist and producer alumni return this year presenting new works. Some include:

FICTION

–New narrative films and series anchored by top producers and EP’s including Lamb on the Throne from Adele Romanski (Moonlight) & Sara Murphy (Land Ho!), Breezin’ from Amy Lo (Nancy), The Gymnast from Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Billions), The Fugitive Game from Ryan Cunningham (Broad City), Sleepwalk from Ryan Zacarias (A Ciambra), Bitterroot from Giulia Caruso & Ki Jin Kim (Columbus) and Nine Days from Jason Michael Berman (Amateur), Mette-Marie Kongsved (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore) and Laura Tunstall (Beyoncé’s Lemonade).

–New narrative films directed by international auteurs including omnibus film Jerusalem-The Quarters featuring Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse), Saint-Narcisse by Bruce LaBruce (Gerontophilia), Centre of the Earth by Gabriel Mascaro (Neon Bull) as well as rising stars with second features currently in post such as Colin Healey’s For Entertainment Purposes, Tom Quinn’s Colewell and Ani Simon-Kennedy’s The Short History of the Long Road.

– New series from innovative creators including Radical Eye: The Life and Times of Tina Modotti by Aaron Brookner (Uncle Howard), Watched by Afia Nathaniel (Dukhtar), Dream Team by Lev Kalman & Whitney Horn (L for Leisure), Year Zero by Ruby Marez & Brooke Sebold (Red Without Blue) and View from the Floor by Mindie Lind & Meghan Griffiths (Sadie).

NON-FICTION  

–New non-fiction films and series from top producers and executive producers including Jacinta from Dan Cogan (Icarus), Case 993 from Josh & Dan Braun (Wild, Wild Country) and Danny Glover (Strong Island), Princess Nokia from Christine Vachon (Poison) and Untitled Digital Dating Documentary Series from Julie Goldman & Chris Clements (Life, Animated).

–New feature documentaries include Betty & Henri by Doug Block (112 Weddings), Cured by Bennett Singer (Brother Outsider), Without Arrows by Jonathan Olshefski (Quest), Narrowsburg by Martha Shane (After Tiller) Pool Movie by Vicky Funari (Paulina), and What It Takes by Deborah Dickson (Lalee’s Kin).

For the full slate:

https://thegotham.org/press/ifp-announces-project-forum-slate-for-2018-ifp-week

Additional programming for IFP Week will be announced in the coming weeks.

2018 IFP PROJECT FORUM

IFP’s Project Forum provides 350 emerging and established storytellers with film, television, audio, digital and immersive projects in development with vital opportunities to connect with and learn from industry professionals, and, ultimately, to partner with them to bring their work into production and connect with global audiences. IFP’s Project Forum is divided into two sections for narrative and non-fiction storytelling, presenting work as mix to attending industry:

No Borders International Co-Production Market

Presenting a mix of 78 narrative features, series (digital, limited, and traditional) and audio stories (podcast, app or tech based) from development through postproduction, this section includes emerging and established storytellers from the U.S. and over 13 countries. 55% of projects are directed by women; 44% of projects are directed and created by a diverse range of artists.

Spotlight on Documentaries

Presenting a mix of 72 documentary features, non-fiction series and audio stories ranging from an early financing stage (i.e. early development/production) to those nearing completion (i.e. in postproduction or rough-cut stage), this section includes emerging and established artists in non-fiction from the U.S. and around the world. 58% of projects are directed and created by women and 34% of projects are directed and created by a diverse range of artists.

IFP @ 40

After over 40 years of discovery new talent, 2018 has been IFP’s most successful year to date shepherding new talents to industry and audiences. Coming off a terrific year that saw IFP projects find success theatrically and in digital release, recent supported projects of note include Elan and Jonathan Bogarín’s 306 Hollywood, Sandi Tan’s Shirkers, Christina Choe’s Nancy, Paula Eiselt’s 93QUEEN, Jennifer Fox’s The Tale, Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You, RaMell Ross’ Hale County This Morning, This Evening, Cathy Yan’s Dead Pigs and more. Current and recent shows created by former IFP alumni now on television include Terence Nance’s Random Acts of Flyness, The Duplass Brothers’ Room 104, Moria Demos & Laura Ricciardi’s Making of a Murderer, Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar, and Amy Seimetz’s The Girlfriend Experience, as well as many alumni writers, directors, and producers now working in writer’s rooms in the U.S. and around the world.

LEADING SPONSORS

The IFP and IFP Week are generously supported by a group of loyal corporate, foundation and government benefactors. The 2018 Sponsors are Premier Sponsors HBO and Amazon Studios; Platinum Sponsor GreenSlate; Gold Sponsors A&E IndieFilms, Bloomberg Philanthropies, OneFifty, SAGIndie, SingularDTV, Topic Studios, TREETI, Underground Lauderdale/Office of Film, Music, Fashion, Create and Vimeo; and Official Media Partner the Village Voice. IFP Week is also supported by grants from the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and the Time Warner Foundation.

About IFP

The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) champions the future of storytelling by connecting film, series, digital and audio artists with essential resources at all stages of development through distribution. The organization fosters a vibrant and sustainable independent storytelling community through its year-round programs, which include IFP Week, IFP Labs (Film, Series & Audio Storytelling), Filmmaker Magazine, IFP Gotham Awards and the Made in NY Media Center by IFP, a tech and media incubator space developed with the New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. www.ifp.org