DanceXchange is inviting submissions of innovative Screendance films to be presented as part of the renowned Birmingham International Dance Festival's first digital iteration for 2021 – BIDF TV.
Produced by DanceXchange, Birmingham International Dance Festival (BIDF) is the largest dance festival in the UK, taking over Birmingham's theatres, galleries and multiple outdoor spaces, with the very best of international dance and inspiring choreography. BIDF is Birmingham's signature festival with dance firmly at its heart.
As part of the BIDF TV programme, we are seeking submissions of exciting Screendance films made by creatives based anywhere in the world.
We are particularly interested in films that explore any of the following themes:
• Placemaking
• Unity and Exchange – celebrating difference
• Environment – change and awareness
• Roots, Routes and Roads
Screendance shorts, documentaries, interactive work, live digital experiences, or social media content (for example, TikToks, Stories, IGTV, etc.) are all welcome.
We actively encourage submissions from artists of diverse backgrounds with different skills, perspectives and stories – particularly those working within South Asian and Hip Hop dance practices. We are particularly keen to receive submissions that reflect a broad range of experiences across age, class, disability, gender, race and sexual orientation.
All films must have an integrity of form and movement and pursue a specific relationship of movement/dance to the camera. For example, we would not want to see a recording of a theatre show made on a static camera, where there is no interaction between the performers and the lens. However, if a piece has been adapted from stage to screen using a range of angles and filming techniques – this would be of interest to us. Similarly, we would not expect to receive submissions of artists' showreels – however, we would be keen to see short concept-videos that are typically posted on social media.
The selected work will be presented as part of BIDF TV and will receive an honorarium of £150.
Our overall ambition is to strengthen the festival's impact on the city, the dance sector, and our young and diverse communities – connecting people with great dance, creating vital space for artistic dialogue and exchange, and promoting Birmingham as a global dance city.
Following the postponement of BIDF 2020 in June last year due to COVID-19, we are excited to present our first all-digital programme, BIDF TV, in June 2021; followed by live, outdoor activity in September.
BIDF TV will feature a varied programme of dance on screen, new commissions, workshops, masterclasses and panel discussions.
