Bowers Named Winner of RBC Emerging Visions Director Prize
The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced Adam Bowers as the winner of the 2011 RBC Emerging Visions Director Prize, an extension of the RBC Emerging Visions program. The RBC Emerging Visions program is a collaborative symposium between RBC, IFP, and Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Adam Bowers (New Low) will be awarded a cash prize and the opportunity to direct a trailer campaign for RBC. Ryan O’Nan (The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, summer 2012 Oscilloscope release and Toronto International Film Festival 2011 selection) will also receive a cash prize as runner-up. The competition and its prizing were made possible by the RBC Emerging Artists Project.
“RBC is committed to supporting emerging artists and connecting them with the people and resources they need to achieve their dreams,” said Andrew Shibata, head, Brand Marketing, RBC. “We created the RBC Emerging Visions program to empower promising new filmmakers to take the next steps in their careers, and we look forward to seeing Adam’s concepts come to life at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall.”
The RBC Emerging Visions Director Prize was open only to participants of the 2011 RBC Emerging Visions program, an intensive one-day cross-cultural exchange on independent film engaging 25 top emerging writers and directors selected from IFP’s various programs and the Film Society’s emerging talent pool. Held in conjunction with the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s New York Film Festival, RBC Emerging Visions had its inaugural run on October 3, 2011.
“We are grateful to RBC for giving us the opportunity to support emerging talents in such a direct and meaningful way,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director, IFP. “Not only is it important for these filmmakers to gain more professional experience as directors, but this also helps them achieve their long-term career goals.”
The goal of the day-long event is to introduce 25 emerging filmmakers to a solid peer network, advance their careers with introductions to key industry people, and directly support their creative processes. Participants received advice and guidance from professional industry mentors on their current projects and future goals via one-to-one meetings, workshops, and case studies. 2011 mentors included Academy Award winners Barbara Kopple (dir. American Dream) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (dir. Jack Goes Boating), as well as Academy Award nominated Joe Berlinger (dir. paradise lost:The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills), Jon Kilik (prod. Babel), and Marshall Curry (dir. if a tree falls:A Story of the Earth Liberation Front), among others.
In addition to O’Nan and Bowers, finalists of the RBC Emerging Visions Director Prize included fellow emerging writers and writer/directors on the independent film scene Ryan Koo (Man Child), Danielle Lurie (Fortunate Sons), Thomas Kim (The Singing Road), and Nick Bentgen (Northern Light). Participants were asked to submit a budget and proposal to direct three advertising campaign spots for RBC.
