XpoNorth Festival 2017 Announcement: Submissions and registration now open!

Thu 26 Jan 2017 / Opportunities

XpoNorth 2017

MEDIA INFORMATION

ISSUED WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY, 2017

WHAT: FILMMAKERS, MUSICIANS & WRITERS INVITED TO SUBMIT WORK TO SHOWCASE AT SCOTLAND'S LEADING CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FESTIVAL

WHERE: XPONORTH, EDEN COURT THEATRE & OTHER VENUES, INVERNESS

WHEN: WEDNESDAY 7TH & THURSDAY 8TH JUNE, 2017

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW GENERATION OF FILMMAKERS, MUSICIANS & WRITERS

Scotland's leading creative industries conference and showcase is looking for the next generation of filmmakers, writers and musicians to showcase their work in front of industry insiders in Inverness this coming June.

The submission window to showcase at this year's XpoNorth opens today (Wednesday 25th January) and closes on Saturday 1st April.

Delegate registration, which is free, also opens today and organisers are inviting anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in the creative industries to sign up.

Highlands and Islands-based creative industries network, XpoNorth, is funded by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

XpoNorth supports business in the creative sector throughout the region on a year-round basis. The jewel in its crown is its hugely popular annual two day conference and showcase.

Last year, around 2,000 delegates flocked to Inverness to listen to panel discussions on the hottest topics in the creative industries and to take part in workshops, masterclasses, and one-to-ones with creative industry insiders.

This year, XpoNorth, a major happening in Scotland's creative industries calendar, will take place on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th June in Inverness.

The conference element, which includes the writing pitches and the screening of selected films, will be at Eden Court Theatre. The music showcasing will be held in the evening at venues throughout Inverness city centre.

At last year's XpoNorth, 106 films were screened, 66 bands from the Highlands and Islands and beyond played for delegates, and 26 budding writers pitched to a panel made up of leading publishers and agents.

Iain Hamilton, HIE’s head of creative industries at HIE, said: 

“XpoNorth is now firmly established at Scotland’s leading creative industries festival, and we are delighted to be supporting the ambitious growth of the event as an international platform for creative talent.

"To have speakers and delegates from all over the world of such high calibre in the Highlands and Islands is fantastic and goes to show that if the quality of the businesses in the area and the event is right, there is no need to be restricted by geography.

"The speed of change in technology and the way people do business, coupled with the access to high speed broadband, means that the region really is a great place to do business. XpoNorth 2017 is certainly a must-attend event for anyone interested in working in the creative industries.”

XpoNorth director, Amanda Millen, said: 

"Showcasing films, music and writing at XpoNorth offers creative practitioners a golden opportunity to have their work seen – and heard – by industry insiders.

"Every year we are always overwhelmed – in a good way – by the amount of submissions which are received across the board. There's a lot of people out there creating high quality films, music and pieces of writing but the important part is getting that work in front of a discerning audience. That is often the difference between success and failure and it's what XpoNorth does so well.

"We are all about giving a helping hand to individuals and groups of people trying to forge a creative career in an often cut-throat world. XpoNorth is well known as a welcoming, positive environment and this makes it a unique place to showcase work."

Films should be submitted via FilmFreeway, a global digital platform for filmmakers to get their work seen by film festivals.

Musicians are invited to submit their music for submission via gigmit, a platform for music professionals to get their music heard.

Writers should submit completed works of fiction or non-fiction for adults via the XpoNorth website. The writing pitch is being delivered in association with leading literary agents, Jenny Brown Associates.

EDITOR’S NOTES:

XpoNorth is a two day conference and showcase devoted to the creative industries. It’s based in Inverness and for two jam-packed days and music-filled nights in June, hundreds of delegates come from all over Britain and further afield to meet, greet, listen, participate and share ideas in the fields of screen, broadcast, gaming, design, fashion, textiles, writing, publishing and music.

XpoNorth also has a year-round brief from funders, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support and develop creative business by providing practical assistance and networking opportunities.

The only event of its kind in Scotland devoted to craft, textiles, fashion, games development, writing, publishing, screen and broadcast, design and music, XpoNorth is attended by leading creative industry insiders, who take part in workshops, panels and masterclass sessions over the course of both days.

XpoNorth networks:

XpoNorth Screen and Broadcast
ScreenHI is XpoNorth’s screen and broadcast network. Led by former BBC producer, Amanda Millen, it operates all year round and supports businesses and individuals working in film, television, radio and video games across the Highlands and Islands.

XpoNorth Music
Led by Alex Smith, XpoNorth Music is the industry network established to support the development of musicians and music businesses across the Highlands and Islands.

XpoNorth Design
Established to support flourishing design community in Highlands and Islands. Hosted by Creative Futures Partnership, a collaboration between The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and HIE. Led by the Institute of Design Innovation (InDI), a research institute based in Forres, Moray, within the GSA.

XpoNorth Writing and Publishing
The sector head of Emergents Writers is Peter Urpeth. His role is to nurture creative talent in the field of writing and publishing across the Highlands and Islands.

XpoNorth Craft, Fashion and Textiles
The sector head of Emergents Makers is Pamela Conacher, who leads a team which provides a programme of advice, training and support for the craft, fashion and textile sector in the Highlands and Islands.

CLICK FOR XpoNorth Website
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CLICK FOR XpoNorth Google+

Hashtag: #xponorth

For further info or images please contact Jan Patience or Amanda Millen at info@xponorth.co.uk.