LGBTQ+ Filmmaking Conference GOL SUMMIT 2020 Goes Online, Adds Pitching Sessions for Queer Projects
On November 16-17 Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ filmmaking forum is moving online this year, bringing together more than 25 experts from around the world and financing opportunities for queer productions.
Taiwan keeps proving a beacon for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia also within the entertainment industry: in a year where cinemas in most countries have remained close, Taiwan has released five queer-themed films coming only in the second half of 2020, with Your Name Engraved Herein (Kuang-Hui Liu, 2020) becoming the highest grossing film of the year in the island and. This week, the local niche streaming platform GagaOOLala has announced the second edition of its LGBTQ+ filmmaking conference, GOL SUMMIT, and a new pitching program to fund new LGBTQ+ projects in collaboration with the Taiwan Content Creative Agency (TAICCA).
The summit, which will take place during November 16-17, will be divided into two sections. The first day, attendees will find the information and pitching videos of the projects selected for this year’s brand new GagaOOLala Pitching Sessions (GPS). The program offers investment opportunities of up to 100,000 USD per project for filmmakers interested in developing new LGBTQ+ series, features and short films. In addition, the Taiwan Content Creative Agency will offer additional grants to international co-productions between Taiwan and another country. 15 projects have been pre-selected and announced this week at a press conference together with representatives from TAICCA and the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion. Their 15 pitching videos will be available on the event web this Monday, November 16th, while the advisory committee holds private meetings with each of the pitching teams. From the more than 150 submissions from 25 different countries GPS received this year, among the pre-selected ones are projects from directors Flavio Florencio (Made in Bangkok), Sein Lyan Tun (Unsilent Potato), Adolfo Alix Jr. (Adela, Death March), Alex Chu (For Izzy) or Doris Yeung (Taxi Stories).
The second day’s schedule will be filled with of 5 online panels focused on queer film trends in Asia and the West, marketing and distribution of LGBTQ+ content, the influence of streaming platforms on queer content, the rising trend in Asia of BL adaptations to the screen, and new financing opportunities. Among the international film experts speaking this year are Frameline’s executive director James Woolley, Berlinale Panorama program manager Bartholomew Samut, Asia’s ViacomCBS Senior Vice-President Pierre Cheung, independent film producer Christine Vachon and the Chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines Liza Diño.
2020 GOL SUMMIT will take place completely online on November 17-18. Registration is now open and free.
To register go to: https://golsummit.hubilo.com/community/