Intro

Guerrilla Filmmaking - Official Section

LA PALMA RUEDA is a unique contest in the world.

Each year, Festivalito invites and challenges directors from five continents to write, shoot, edit and premier a short or a feature film on the island of La Palma during the week of the competition.
They will share their experiences with guest actors during the filmmaking process.

DIY: La Palma Rueda has been created so that one person can write, shoot and edit their own short with a small size equipment.

La Palma Rueda is express cinema, instantaneous cinema, fast cinema, active cinema, jazz cinema, guerrilla filmmaking, cinema at point-blank range...

Not everyone is ready to take part in La Palma Rueda and is capable of making a good film in extreme conditions. One must be an authentic guerrilla fighter.

+ info: see La Palma Films rules

A BRIEF HISTORY OF LA PALMA RUEDA
In 2002, Festivalito was the first Cinema Festival in the world to incorporate an express filmmaking contest held throughout the course of the competition. From then on, there have been many Festivals, some of them famous, that have emulated this initiative.
We love this fact that because it adds more life to the event and we believe that the more there are, the better for cinema lovers.

In seven editions the Festivalito and La Palma Rueda have grown to be unique experiences.
Among all of the participants more than 210 shortfilms and 4 features have been produced.
(see HISTORY)

Any self-respecting filmmaker, should participate at least once in his/her life in La Palma Rueda, that some call the Mecca of new cinema.

The only bad thing is that it’s addictive.

Regulation

Download Rules

RULES OF THE GAME
LA PALMA RUEDA

I. PARTICIPATION

Directors and actors from any nationality are able to participate, with the only requirements of:

Step 1: your film must have been selected in one of the Festivalito sections.

Step 2: from a first pre-selection there will be a second selection process, until a proper number of directors and the actors have been chosen

Step 3: Being invited as a director means writing, shooting and editing a short film by oneself in a week. The actors will be chosen among the selected features and short films.

II. APLICATION FORM
There are no previous application forms.
Once selected, the actors and directors will have to fill in an application form for the catalogue within 10 days from notification.

III. EXPENSES
The organisation will be responsible for participants’ accommodation during the festival.

IV. REQUIREMENTS
Each director will have to write, shoot and edit a short during the Festivalito week. Premieres of all shorts will be shown in the Closing Ceremony.

In order to take part in the contest:
- The short must show a minimum of 50% of the landscapes of the island of La Palma
- The duration can not be less than 60 seconds, nor more than 5 minutes (including credits)

V. MATERIALS
The participants must bring their own filming material: cameras, mics and tapes.
The organisation will have at your disposal, computers for the edition, as well as production cars.
However, it is recommended that all guests bring laptops to avoid bottleneck queues in the editing room.

VI. EXTRA EXPENSES
The organisation will not take charge of any expenses that may arise because of moving of filming materials (camera, tripods, objects, spotlights, etc), nor the damage, loss or misplacement of filming material during the week of the festival.

La Palma Rueda (La Palma shoots) has been thought up so that one person can write, shoot and edit by oneself and with little equipment.
If a director needs help or extra crew, he/she will have to pay all expenses including travel and accommodation.

VII. SLOGAN
The shortfilms should be inspired by a slogan that will be announced during the Opening Ceremony.

VIII. DEADLINE
All productions should be presented within the period established by the organisation, which will be announced at the start of the contest.

The following must be handed in:
-    A copy of the short in the designated format which will be announced at the start of the contest
-    Technical and artistic information  (downloadable file from the web page)



IX. COPIES
All directors are committed to handing in a copy to the actors and the individuals involved in the filming as required before the end of the Festivalito.
Any director that is not able to fulfil this requirement risks being rejected from the contest.
The organisation is not responsible for the request of the copies.

X. RECOMMENDATION
Owing to past experiences, the organisation recommends you to be influenced by the island of La Palma, to pinpoint the number of shots without filming more than one short.
Not forgetting to live out the rest of the Festivalito.

XI. JURY
The jury will be named by the organisation of the Festivalito and will be made up of by well-known prestigious personages within the cinematographic industry.

XII. AWARDS
The following awards will be handed out during the closing ceremony:

ESTRELLA OF THE JURY TO THE SHORT FILM
ESTRELLA OF THE JURY TO THE ACTOR
ESTRELLA OF THE JURY TO THE ACTRESS
SPECIAL MENTION OF THE PUBLIC TO THE SHORT FILM


XIII. CO-PRODUCTION
The organization of the Festivalito will participate as co-producer of each short film made in the section of La Palma Rueda through the production company called Mafusa Producionnes S.L. and under the brand name La Máquina de Coser (the Sewing Machine), who is in charge of production of La Palma Rueda.

Mafusa Producciones, S.L. (La Máquina de Coser) will withhold 40% of the operational rights. The remaining 60% is for the Director, who is also the co-producer of the short film.


In the event of monetary compensation for the sale, showing, commercialisation, or if the piece of work competes in a festival, 40% of the compensation will be withheld by Mafusa Producciones, S.L. (La Máquina de Coser) and the remaining 60% will be for the Director.


The Director of the short film undertakes to obtain all of the operational rights of the short film that will be shot in La Palma, as well as the release of royalties (the scriptwriter and musicians if that is the case) and the release of the personal portrayal rights of the actors. In this way, the possession of all rights of the short film are guaranteed and Mafusa Producciones can surrender their responsibilities as co-producer.


There is no need to worry because it won’t be a hassle. The most complicated aspect is the music, but there is also music free of rights.

If you are going to distribute this film afterwards, everything has to be as legal as possible.


In this way, the Director/Producer authorises the organizer of the Festivalito to distribute the short film exclusive of commercial purposes and with the objective of promoting the event.







XIV. CLOSING CREDITS

All short films should mention in the opening credits:

La Máquina de Coser presents


All short films should mention in the closing credits:

Produced at the Festivalito

International Cine Chico Canarias Festival-Island of La Palma.


Also, each piece of work should include in their closing credits logotypes of Sponsors that the Festivalito deems appropriate (they will be established before the starting date of the festival) and the logotype of La Máquina de Coser (the producer).


The winning films should include in the advertising, closing credits of the short film, on the cover of the copies made to be sold or rented, the Award won as well as: “FESTIVALITO: INTERNATIONAL CINE CHICO DE CANARIAS FESTIVAL*ISLAND OF LA PALMA“.


XV. ACCEPTANCE OF THE REGULATIONS OR BASES

Participating in La Palma Rueda implies full acceptance of the current regulation (bases or rules of the game)

The participants also accept other resolutions made by the Organization regarding any other issues that are not explained in depth on these bases.


XIV.  RESPECT AND BE COOL

XV. DO IT YOURSELF

“Film will only become an art when its materials are as inexpensive as a pencil or a piece of paper”, Jean Cocteau.