[ecrea] Call for Contributions: Film Platform

    FILM PLATFORM is a joint effort by some of the world’s leading 
filmmakers and sales agents to bring their finest documentary films to 
an academic audience. It is an innovative online hub and educational 
resource, created to provide educators with the best in documentary 
filmmaking. We believe that documentaries are a germane and stimulating 
means of learning. Our international selection of films, covering many 
diverse genres and subjects, can be used to introduce new concepts, 
expose students to fresh perspectives and ideas, and enhance classroom 
discussions. Through these films people and ideas from even the most 
far-flung corners of the world can be brought straight into the 
classroom to challenge and engage students.

    Our carefully curated catalogue combines in-depth stories with 
out-of-the-box storytelling on a broad range of topics, including the 
environment, racism, poverty, the effects of globalization, and gender 
issues. FILM PLATFORM aims to provide such works -- at times 
controversial in form or content, at other times exploring complex and 
painful histories and memories -- with additional context, and to 
represent the larger discussions to which they respond. Films in our 
catalogue will be accompanied by carefully selected articles, study 
guides and interviews with filmmakers.

    FILM PLATFORM is designed as an interactive and dynamic sphere of 
encounter. One of its main objectives is to make filmmakers and even 
film subjects present in the classroom and part of the discussion. Using 
our website, filmmakers can engage with viewers through Skype Q&As or 
live chats. FILM PLATFORM also posts short videos of filmmakers' 
commentaries, and initiates conversations between filmmakers and 
scholars working on related fields. Lastly, aiming to open up a space 
for dialogue, we encourage all of our users to bring their discussions 
to the web, where everyone can benefit from their suggestions and insights.

    FILM PLATFORM is proud to work with an advisory board, consisting 
of leading scholars in their fields. Among our board members are: 
Richard Pena, Michael Renov, Faye Ginsburg, Brian Winston, Chris Berry 
and Noemi Schory. In addition, FILM PLATFORM collaborates with leading 
film institutions, film festivals and film professionals around the 
world such as Sheffield Film Festival, True or False, and with 
organizations whose causes it wishes to support, such as the 
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, and more.


    FILM PLATFORM invites scholars to publish their work on our website 
and to contribute to one of the following categories:

    Curated Collections:
    Curated collections are used to build a multi-layered and 
multi-perspective discussion around a specific theme. Curators need to 
select up to 5-6 films related to their field of expertise.
    Each curated section must include:

       1.  An introduction of up to 1500 words that highlights the main 
issues, provides some background to the specific context, reviews recent 
debates or trends, and lastly, introduces some guiding questions that 
the collection is going to explore.
       2.  A short description and some reflection on each of the 
selected films that highlight the contribution this film has to the 
general inquiry (around 500 words per film).
       3.  A list of references or suggested readings.


    Short Essays and Articles:
    A short article or an essay (around 2000-3000 words) that addresses 
one of the films in our catalogue.
    Essays and articles are meant to position the film in a larger 
historical, social, cultural or aesthetic context. They can for example, 
provide some more background on the social reality that the film aims to 
document, or review a wider phenomenon, trend or movement to which the 
film belong, or rather reflect on the film's aesthetic choices and 
creative treatment.
    The article/essay's format and style are not fixed. It can be in 
the range between an elongated blog post and an academic article. It 
needs to be well informed and research based, and yet comprehensible to 
various audiences, including academics and students outside of film 
studies. We will give preference for short, clear-written essays that 
tackle specific issues or questions that the film brings out.
    Articles or essays may include a list of references or 
bibliographical sources.

    Conversation with Filmmakers:
    Additional format published by FILM PLATFORM are transcribed 
conversations between academics and filmmakers on their shared object of 
research. At this point this applies only to filmmakers whose films are 
distributed by FILM PLATFORM.
    Conversations should reflect on the complexities of the 
society/reality/culture in which both filmmaker and scholar are active 
and on the set of decisions taken or strategies chosen by both filmmaker 
and scholar. In the given situation what is shared by the two methods of 
research? How do they differ? What kind of critique do they have to 
offer? What course of action do they pursue? What is their effect?
    Transcribed conversations should be up to 3000 words. We accept 
either pre-constituted conversations or offers for a potential 
conversation. In these cases the applying party must send a short 
abstract and five questions or observations around which the 
conversation can evolve. If accepted, FILM PLATFORM will reach out to 
the filmmaker and ask their permission.

    Please visit our website at: http://filmplatform.net/

    Contributions in any of the formats described above can be sent, 
together with a short bio, to: (Laliv /at/ filmplatform.net).


    Laliv Melamed,
    Academic Advisor, Film Platform



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