Women in Film, SIFF, and Northwest Screenwriters Guild Host Filmmaker Forum Panel Navigating the brave new world of independent filmmaking.

Join independent film veterans who will provide a nuts and bolts overview of the business of independent film, May 26th 1- 3:00 PM at the SIFF Film Center (305 Harrison Street). From production though distribution, today's ideas are being created on smart phones, shot and edited with affordable high-tech cameras and editing software, then funded and distributed on the internet. This is not your Louie B Mayer industry anymore!

Moderated by Steve Edmiston (NWSG board member/entertainment lawyer - Invicta Law Group) and Virginia Bogert (award-winning producer, director and writer, and President Emerita Women in Film Seattle), the panel will discuss new entrepreneurial legal, finance, distribution and marketing strategies and tactics that filmmakers in all disciplines need to know to navigate the new normal.

Other topics will include platforms for crowd sourcing, renewed film incentive programs, grants, technology, and new platforms for distribution. Where product used to gather dust on the shelf, the advent of YouTube and Vimeo now makes that obsolete.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:
• Scilla Andreen CEO and Co-Founder of the independent film distribution and discovery site, IndieFlix.com
• Lance Rosen Attorney, Rosen Lewis PLLC - a major force in the Northwest independent film community
• Amy Lillard Executive Director of Washington Filmworks, the private non-profit organization that manages state film and production incentive programs
• Elizabeth Heile producer and business affairs manager for independent films and web series (Zombie Orpheus Entertainment JourneyQuest Season Two, which was funded entirely by fan support)
• Leah Warshawski Documentary filmmaker who has produced content in over 35 countries for Microsoft, Starbucks, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Geographic, Discovery, and major TV networks

Space is limited — you are encouraged to arrive early.

KCTS 9 Offers SIFF Award

KCTS 9, Seattle's PBS station, and the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) are proud to announce a partnership to present the Reel NW Award, which will be presented for the first time at this year's festival. The winning film will receive a $2500 cash prize and the potential opportunity to be featured on KCTS 9's award-winning Reel NW series.

"We're delighted to partner with SIFF to create new opportunities for independent film-makers," said KCTS 9 President and CEO Maurice "Moss" Bresnahan. "KCTS 9 has a dedication to independent film that is demonstrated through such programs as Reel NW, Independent Lens, POV, and Official Best of Fest, among others. With this new award, we intend to shine a brighter spotlight on Northwest talent, and help great homegrown films reach a wider audience."

To be eligible for the Reel NW Award, films must be feature-length, selected to be part of SIFF's Northwest Connections series, and may not have a distribution deal prior to being reviewed by award jury members. The winning film will be chosen by a panel of three film industry experts—Scilla Andreen, CEO and co-founder of IndieFlix.com; Randy Brinson, Executive Director of Programming for KCTS 9; and film critic Robert Horton.

Selection criteria for the Reel NW Award reflects three primary areas of emphasis: Excellence in storytelling, as reflected in the writing, character development, and story structure Production values that enhance the story Creative spirit emblematic of independent filmmaking The winner will be announced at the Northwest Connections party on Friday, June 8, and the award will be presented during the festival's annual awards brunch on Sunday, June 10.

ABOUT THE REEL NW AWARD'S JUDGES
Scilla Andreen, an award-winning producer, director, and Emmy-nominated costume designer, is the CEO & co-founder of IndieFlix.com. In 2004 Scilla co-founded IndieFlix.com an independent film distribution and discovery site. IndieFlix filmmakers keep their rights and participate in multiple revenue streams direct from IndieFlix.com and via third party platforms including iTunes, Hulu and Netflix. IndieFlix believes filmmakers should keep their rights and receive a majority stake in all revenue streams. The IndieFlix library of film festival titles stands at 4500+ titles and growing.

Randy Brinson is the Executive Director of Programming for KCTS 9, where he directs program acquisition and broadcast scheduling, among other duties. He has been a director, editor, producer and executive producer for a wide variety of television projects over the last 35 years. A past reviewer of ITVS Open Call film proposals, he is the executive producer for KCTS 9's Reel NW series and has overseen the broadcast of more than 90 films from independent producers in Washington and British Columbia.

Robert Horton covers film for the Everett Herald and KUOW-FM, is a longtime contributor to Film Comment magazine, and is the author of "Billy Wilder: Interviews," an upcoming book on "Frankenstein," and co-author of the graphic novel "Rotten." A speaker for Smithsonian Journeys and Humanities Washington, he curates the Magic Lantern series at the Frye Art Museum and is teaching a film noir course at Seattle U. spring quarter. His website is The Crop Duster (roberthorton.wordpress.com).

ABOUT THE SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
SIFF's mission is to create experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world. It is through the art of cinema that we foster a community that is more informed, aware, and alive. Now in its 38th year, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest and most highly attended film festival in the United States, showcasing more than 400 films from over 60 countries to an audience of 150,000 attendees annually. In the fall of 2011, SIFF opened the SIFF Film Center at Seattle Center and SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, thereby fulfilling its long-standing vision of creating permanent homes where SIFF's successful film, education, and community outreach programs can thrive.

ABOUT KCTS 9
Headquartered in Seattle, KCTS 9 is the premier source for public media that informs, involves and inspires 2.4 million viewers each week in Washington State and across Canada. KCTS 9's film series, Reel NW, champions the work of a talented local independent filmmaking community by bringing the best features, documentaries and shorts to film-loving public television audiences. For more information and online programming, visit KCTS9.org.