MISSION
To discover, promote, and exhibit exceptional work by global film-makers in a convivial environment which is more than just a film festival, but is an unforgettable experience for all involved, making SEIFF a world renowned and essential industry event.
BACKGROUND
The Satisfied Eye International Film Festival is an annual film festival which will be held in Epsom (Surrey, UK) and surrounding areas.
The inaugural festival will run for three days and nights in the autumn of 2018, looking to increase to seven days and nights from 2019.
THE INDUSTRY
SEIFF will present a diverse programme of only the highest quality independent feature films, animation, documentaries and short films from all around the world.
SEIFF will look to make important discoveries of upcoming directors, actors, writers and all those involved in the filmmaking process, ensuring it’s a renowned and valued platform for both undiscovered talent and respected industry peers alike.
SEIFF awards include prizes that will help promote the careers of your acting talent, sponsored by BACKSTAGE, the largest online casting platform in the USA and UK (see below for details).
Our key objective is for SEIFF to be seen as a mark of quality and a SEIFF award to be a stamp of recognition and true validation.
With a large number of exceptional films being made that struggle to gain attention but deserve to be seen by critics, agents, peers and film lovers, SEIFF aims to bring to the festival the most superlative and creative films.
SEIFF will prioritise making the festival an attractive destination for agents, critics, investors and other career-makers turning it into one of the UK’s most influential festivals.
SEIFF will look to promote and advance the careers of independent filmmakers worldwide and will provide a printed brochure including details on screened and award-winning films to ensure maximum exposure, with complimentary copies presented to all of those involved in the festival.
A closing awards ceremony will provide a specially designed award to winners in all categories. SEIFF aims for this to be a much-sought-after trophy.
The long-term goal of SEIFF is to offer accommodation and travel to all award-winners to ensure that (regardless of location) they are able to attend and enjoy their success, making this a truly global festival.
SEIFF aims to be more than simply a forum for film, but a truly celebratory and inspiring occasion to remember for all involved. This will include networking, screenings, social events and special guests.
An annual awards ceremony will give recognition to the best talent in front of and behind the camera with a gala ceremony open to filmmakers and the public.
SEIFF will be about people watching great films in a convivial and memorable atmosphere with great food and great drink.
WOMEN DIRECTORS
SEIFF is particularly keen to promote the work of women filmmakers and has included a special award for women directors. Women directors in all the film categories are eligible to be considered for this award which will be given by a separate panel of judges. When submitting any film, you will be required to tick a box letting SEIFF know if you would like a woman director to be entered for this award..
EPSOM
Epsom is an area steeped in history which is just a 30 minute train ride from London.
Home to Epsom Racecourse and the world’s most famous horse race, The Derby (where Emily Davison famously took a fatal stand for the suffragette movement in 1913), it is a former spa town which gives its name to Epsom Salts.
It’s also home to the world renowned Epsom College and Laine Theatre Arts.
With proximity to London a key factor (in terms of accessibility to the industry), as well as the importance of available venues, hospitality and great food, Epsom is a vital gateway.
WHY SATISFIED EYE
SEIFF aims to be a truly global, world-renowned and sought after event and film festival.
Satisfied Eye is inspired by a line from a Ted Hughes poem, The Jaguar, which relates to an inherent passion which cannot be caged – a sentiment any creative within the film industry will fully understand.
AWARDS CEREMONY
The annual awards ceremony will give prizes in the following categories with all submissions judged by a panel of industry experts and alumni:
Best picture
Best short film
Best documentary
Best animated film
Best foreign film
Best first time feature
Best British film
Best student film (any film category)
Best Surrey film (any film category)
Best director
Best woman director
Lead actor*
Lead actress*
Supporting actor*
Supporting actress*
Cinematography
Sound design
Editing
Composer
Make up
Costume
Screenplay **
Short screenplay **
TV Pilot **
* Winners of the Lead Actor/Actress and Supporting Actor/Actress awards will also receive the BACKSTAGE PRIZE (see below for details).
** Winners in all writing categories will receive the judge's reader report, an online Shonda Rhimes masterclass and a recorded script reading by professional actors.
Prizes will be presented at a gala, red carpet ceremony by both industry names and local business leaders, all promoted across numerous high-profile media platforms.
All films, scripts and screenplays officially selected will receive the festival's Official Selection laurels to display on any artwork together with a certificate. Award winners will receive awards laurels and certificates together with a trophy.
AWARD WINNERS
All award winners will receive free festival passes to all festival events, as well as an invitation to the networking party (which will be exclusive to award winners) with the judging panel and other industry alumni.
TROPHIES, CERTIFICATES, LAURELS
Trophies and certificates will be presented at the closing awards ceremony. Trophies will be sent at the festival's expense to any winners not able to attend.
BACKSTAGE AWARDS
Winners of the Lead Actor/Actress and Supporting Actor/Actress awards will also receive a BACKSTAGE AWARD sponsored by BACKSTAGE, the largest online casting platform in the USA and the UK with over 4,000 roles posted each week. The award consists of 12-months fully paid up membership to BACKSTAGE giving the winner complete access to all roles posted during the course of the year. See www.Backstage.com for further details.
PRINTED BROCHURE
All films officially selected will be screened at the festival and will be featured in the printed festival brochure. A complimentary copy of the festival brochure will be sent to the representative of each film, script, or screenplay featured in the brochure as officially selected.
JUDGES
A special panel will go through all the submissions and decide on the list for Official Selection. All films and screenplays officially selected will then be passed to the team of international judges who will decide on the awards to be made.
Among this year's judges are:
THE SHARLAND LITERARY AGENCY specialises in film, TV, stage, and radio rights throughout the world and works in conjunction with overseas agents. The agency was founded in 1988.
ADA VAUGHAN, a passionate advocate of women filmmakers, established her own company, SableFilms International, in 2007 and currently works providing Oscars and awards advisory with All Lights Film Services (a subsidiary of Aries Group Global) helping exceptional talent with high level awards PR and marketing; and this year launched SableFilms Select (SFS) offering awards advisory to outstanding indie filmmakers. Ada’s journey into filmmaking began with a BA at the University of Toronto Film Studies and Business Administration and since that time her award-winning works have been shown around the world. Ada was named as one of the Emerging20 Filmmakers at ReelWorld Film Festival and was one of the eight select director participants chosen for the Women in the Director’s Chair at Banff. Ada works as an Executive Producer on mid to high budget projects and with her company looks to produce films that utilise advanced technologies to enhance theatrical experiences, working with the likes of Keith Collea (Titanic) and Demetri Portelli (Hugo). Currently Ada is in pre-production on her own feature film Suki 3D, headed by MHI Productions, 1066 Productions, 3D Film Arts and Perfect Circle. She continues to represent, co-produce and EP quality projects, in advanced technology, with Aries Group Global of Dubai, Yellow Mountain Studio and He Shan Media of China.
JANE FISBY is a highly experienced casting director who first began in the industry in 1983, working with the likes of Liz Cassidy, Peter Crouch and Hubbard Casting. Jane set out on her own in 1986, initially working on TV commercials (her first ever casting was for Bank’s Beer directed by the late, great Mel Smith). Moving into feature films, including Hear my Song, and Shopping, Jane discovered the likes of Jude Law and has worked with names ranging from Sean Bean to Andrew Lincoln. With a particular focus on discovering new young actors, Jane regularly works with the National School of Film and Television. Her first love is the theatre and she attends two or three shows every week. Jane is hoping to unearth the next superstars at the SATISFIED EYE International Film Festival.
Dr MARTIN KISZKO BA DLitt. PGCert.Radio, Film and Television has 220 film/TV credits and has released nine albums with Europe’s best orchestras. Award winning scores include BBC’s Realms of the Russian Bear, Dreamworks commissioned by BBC and Steven Spielberg, and a BASCA Composer of the Year Award. He composed and conducted for the BAFTA-nominated movie The Killing of John Lennon and has received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Bristol. Martin was co-founder of Bristol University’s MA in the Composition of Music for Film and Television and still teaches on the course as well as at universities and events around the world. Martin is a passionate environmental campaigner and wrote and performs the one man show Green Poems for a Blue Planet with images by Aardman Animation’s Nick Park.
JAY SYED is a hugely experienced Oscar winning visual effects director and supervisor, as well as being a multi-award winning director. His credits include such blockbusters as Interstellar, Thor: The Dark World, Dredd, Jupiter Ascending, Total Recall and Clash of the Titans.