Julien International Film Festival Dubuque

April 19-22, 2012

Explore the Future of Film

Adopt a Filmmaker Program

Dear Friends of the Arts in Greater Dubuque,

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival or JDIFF is not only about celebrating and promoting film. It is also about celebrating and promoting the cultural, economic and community vibrancy of our city and in turn sharing the Dubuque region with the world.

With the assistance of a host of local, regional and national supporters the JDIFF is now a reality. On April 19th, 2012 “The Future of Film” will be celebrated here in Dubuque by thousands of participants interacting with over 100 filmmakers from across the nation and around the globe.

Our board is set, our venues in downtown Dubuque are being determined, we have even joined several international film festival associations, and registered JDIFFto over 60,000 industry leaders and artists around the world.

However, the single most important element of any film festival is attracting the best films and filmmakers from around the world. Not only will these 100 plus artists, and their friends and supporters, bring their unique experiences and life-stories here to enrich our community, they will all return home sharing the story of Dubuque to their communities in nations across the globe.

We already know we will have a very good event here in Dubuque. However in order to have a STELLAR EVENT, one that inspires people to promote Dubuque to the world and creates real economic and cultural benefits here at home, we will need the help of the entire community.

Help us make this stellar event possible by participating in our Adopt a Filmmaker program.

Here’s to the Future of Film!

JDIFF’s Adopt a Filmmaker Gatherings

The Purpose: As the JDIFFBoard selects the best films and artists, we know that some will need assistance to make it here to Dubuque. Thus, based on what we have learned from the example of other festivals, JDIFFhas established a set of 4 ‘Adopt a Filmmaker’ contribution levels to subsidize the specific filmmakers we hope to attract in our efforts to recruit the best young rising talent in film to our community.

The Gatherings: This is a really easy and fun way to get involved. You pick a convenient time and place to gather with some friends, neighbors, relatives or co-workers. Plan a party or dinner and invite anyone in your circle that you feel might be interested in JDIFF. Let your guests know that your goal is to adopt a filmmaker and you’re looking for their help to reach your goal. You can choose in advance the level of support, from $250 to $2500, that you and your friends believe they can reach as a group. If you’d like, we will have someone from the JDIFF team attend your event and describe JDIFFand Adopt a Filmmaker to guests. Afterwards, contribute the money raised to JDIFF, and we’ll pair you up with one of our featured filmmakers.

The Adoption: Once you’ve adopted your filmmaker, JDIFFwill help you correspond with them in advance, meet them in person at the event, and invite you to attend their film screening at the festival. We will also be holding a special VIP Adoption Party for everyone in the JDIFFAdopt a Filmmaker family.

For those who would like to be more hands on, we would love to have your help in introducing them to our community, perhaps by offering to pick them up at the airport or by inviting them out to lunch during their visit. What a great way of sharing what you love about this great community! This personal touch will motivate our filmmaking guests to take our story home with them and across the rest of the globe as they visit other festivals. Imagine over 100 artists spreading the word about what a great bunch of people live in that wonderfully artistic and sharing community named Dubuque, Iowa.

JDIFF’S ‘Adopt a Filmmaker’ Donation Levels

Global Film Achievement Grants: JDIFFis seeking 5 Adoption Grant Partners at $2,500 each to help fund airfare, lodging and some travel expenses for a very small select few of top caliber film talent the JIFFD Board sees as critical to garner national and international attention.

Continental Creativity Grants: JDIFFis seeking 20 Adoption Grant Partners at $1,000 each primarily for Filmmakers coming to the US from Canada, Mexico and Central America.

National Acclaim Grants: JDIFFis seeking 25 Adoption Grant Partners at $500 each to assist filmmakers from the creative hotbeds of Los Angeles, New York and other cities across the US.

Regional Promotion Grants: JDIFFis seeking 50 Adoption Grant Partners at $250 each to help with gas money, road food and other costs for the many wonderfully talented young people right here in the Midwest.

$2500 Level	• Sam Mulgrew & Wendy Rolfe	• Dubuque Regional Airport	• Mike Schmalz
$2500 Level	• Jeff Nagle & Kimberly Tully

$2000 Level	• Dick & Carrie Schmid

$1000 Level	• Fried Green Tomatoes	• Laura Botwinick	• The Children of Jack and Dorothy O'Neill

$500 Level	• Mindframe Theaters	• Tom & Joyce Connors	• Bob Felderman ($600)
$500 Level	• Paula Connors & Paul Opperman	• Dan Wedig	• William & Jacqueline Sanderson

$250 Level	• Honkamp Krueger & Co, PC	• Bob Byrne & Cindy Nelms-Byrne	• Theresa & David Heim
	• John & Mary Gronen	• Trish McDonald	• Larry & Julie Vogt
	• Flint Drake	• Viva MacDougall Betzner	• Susan Wydra
	• Jeanne Lauristen & Dave and Amy Weber	• David Kessler Wells Fargo Advisors	• In Memory of Ethan Barefoot

Adopt a Filmmaker FAQ

How many people can attend an Adopt-A-Filmmaker event?
As many people as the host would like to invite.

Do hosts invite their friends or the public?
The success of the event is predicated on the personal invites of the host.

Are tickets sold? How do guests know a donation is expected?
This is handled by the host.

How big of a donation is expected?
It can be in any amount although there should be a fundraising goal. The Adoption Levels are: $2,500, $1,000, $500, & $250

Is someone from JDIFF there to make a pitch?
Whenever possible, someone from JDIFF will be present. We will present a 3-5 minutes edited film from the footage shot for the BIFF Documentary that focuses on Filmmakers, as a part of the solicitation.

What do they (adopter) get for their donation?
There will be a reception held for all filmmakers and their hosts. Beyond that, it is up to the host and filmmaker to make their own arrangements. The festival will connect the two parties well in advance and the adopting entity is encouraged to establish a rapport with their adopted filmmaker much in the same way that you would with a foreign exchange student.

When will the reception take place?
The time and location is yet to be determined. Most likely it will be held at a time that does not conflict with when the filmmakers’ films are being shown.

What does the money pay for?
Funds are used to offset the cost of travel, lodging, and expenses for the filmmaker. In addition, some of the funds go to pay for the administrative costs of coordinating the logistics for each filmmaker during their stay in Dubuque and general overhead.

What are the benefits to the companies / individuals?
The hosts have an opportunity to get to know an up and coming filmmaker and share their experience of Greater Dubuque. Conversely, the filmmaker gets to share their story of where they are from and why they are passionate about film. Ultimately it is about building relationships with people from outside our community.

How does a company interact with a filmmaker?
That is up to the company. They can invite their filmmaker to attend a company get together or simply identify someone to act as a representative for the company who can correspond and interact with the filmmaker.

Who can be part of the Adopt-A-Filmmaker program?
Anyone within the community is welcome to participate in the program as a means of enhancing the Festival and the good will towards the community.