www.torontoimprovfest.com
Toronto International Improv Festival
Call for Performance Submissions for 2007 festival
Heading into its sixth year, the Toronto International Improv Festival has quickly become a top destination for teams, groups and individual improvisers from around the world. Attendees have traveled from as far away as Portugal, Norway and Japan.
The sixth annual Toronto International Improv Festival will be held from Monday, Aug. 13 to Sunday, Aug. 20, 2007. The festival will feature three key components: performance, symposium, and training. The official theme of this year’s festival is: Process and Product.
In August 2007, the Toronto International Improv Festival will examine the process and products of improvisation through intensive workshops, master classes, seminars, guest speakers, and more than 100 performances for an international audience whose members have crossed the globe to learn, watch and participate in the world’s largest gathering of amateur and professional improv artists.
Call for Submissions
The Toronto International Improv Festival is accepting submissions for performance during its sixth annual festival. The festival will be held at various venues in downtown Toronto.
Historically, our festival submission period has been Jan 1 to mid-May. Due to our increased growth over the past couple of years, and our planned growth for our sixth annual festival, we are moving up our submission period for the 2007 festival. It is anticipated that these submission periods will be the template for the festival's submission process in coming years.
Festival Programs
Starting this year, the festival will be broken down into program categories. There will be more than 100 performance slots in multiple festival programs. Some visiting groups may be provided with multiple performance opportunities. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for all festival program categories.
Examples of what our festival programs may include are as follows:
About the examples: The examples given above are just examples. They are not indicative of acts that have been scheduled or may be scheduled to appear at the 2007 festival.
About the programs: The programs listed above are indicative of the types of programming the festival intends to put in place for 2007. These are not the final program categories. It is not necessary to submit to a specific program, but you may wish to indicate that your show is more suited to one program over another. Final programs will be decided shortly and listed on the festival website.
Any show created for live, improvised performance is eligible. Acts or ensembles may submit more than one show to the festival. Acts from outside continental North America will be given extra consideration.
The Toronto International Improv Festival is not responsible for damage or loss of an entry. Submission of an entry and its materials acknowledges the right of Impatient Productions and the Toronto International Impov Festival to use it for exhibition, publication and promotion.
Preparation of Submissions
For consideration, all submissions should contain the following materials:
A DVD of your act or show (25-45 minutes). We cannot accept submissions on MiniDV or VHS. DivX AVI, regular AVI, and QuickTime MOV files on DVD-ROM are acceptable and even welcomed (we would like to include videos of acts this year).
A complete press package for your act or show, including any previous press clippings and recordings of radio/television interviews or appearances. This should include:
TIP: The Toronto International Improv Festival often uses submitted photos of accepted acts on its promotional materials (posters, postcards, website, tickets, etc.). The better your photo, the better your chances of your act or ensemble landing on our publicity material.
Deadlines for Submissions
1) Early Submission Period:
2) Standard Submission Period:
3) Last Call Submission Period:
Preparation of Packages
Address packages to Toronto International Improv Festival. Non-Canadian submissions should mark each package "Materials for Festival Submission. No Commercial Value." No provision will be made by the Toronto International Improv Festival or Impatient Productions for Canadian Customs or airport pickup.
International entries should be sent by post or international courier. All submissions become property of the Toronto International Improv Festival and will not be returned.
Officially Invited Artists
Invited artists will be notified via email. All invited acts and shows will receive at least one 25- to 45-minute performance slot during the festival. Tech rehearsal times for acts will vary depending on venue, event and performance time.
Invited artists will have to fund their own travel to and during the festival. The festival will recommend a number of hotels and attempt to secure group rates at those hotel but cannot cover any expenses.
Questions and Information
All inquiries and requests for further info may be directed to the festival office.
Email: info@torontoimprovfest.com
Phone: 416-238-7337
Toronto International Improv Festival
Call for Performance Submissions for 2007 festival
Heading into its sixth year, the Toronto International Improv Festival has quickly become a top destination for teams, groups and individual improvisers from around the world. Attendees have traveled from as far away as Portugal, Norway and Japan.
The sixth annual Toronto International Improv Festival will be held from Monday, Aug. 13 to Sunday, Aug. 20, 2007. The festival will feature three key components: performance, symposium, and training. The official theme of this year’s festival is: Process and Product.
In August 2007, the Toronto International Improv Festival will examine the process and products of improvisation through intensive workshops, master classes, seminars, guest speakers, and more than 100 performances for an international audience whose members have crossed the globe to learn, watch and participate in the world’s largest gathering of amateur and professional improv artists.
Call for Submissions
The Toronto International Improv Festival is accepting submissions for performance during its sixth annual festival. The festival will be held at various venues in downtown Toronto.
Historically, our festival submission period has been Jan 1 to mid-May. Due to our increased growth over the past couple of years, and our planned growth for our sixth annual festival, we are moving up our submission period for the 2007 festival. It is anticipated that these submission periods will be the template for the festival's submission process in coming years.
Festival Programs
Starting this year, the festival will be broken down into program categories. There will be more than 100 performance slots in multiple festival programs. Some visiting groups may be provided with multiple performance opportunities. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for all festival program categories.
Examples of what our festival programs may include are as follows:
- Solo Performances
Improvised, interactive and/or developed-through-improvisation solo performances.
(eg: Andy Eninger, Jill Bernard)
- Dramatic Improvisation
Improvised pieces of which the intention is one more geared toward dramatic, rather than comedic.
(eg: Chicago’s Play, NYC’s HARSH)
- Character and Commedia
Improv shows based on pre-developed and existing characters and/or archetypes that don’t change.
(eg: BASSPROV, Pimprov, Code Duello: Hamilton and Burr)
- ImprovFusion
Shows that are fusions between improvisation and other art forms.
(eg: DSI’s Beatbox mixes hip-hop and improv; ITC’s WordPlay involves improvising spoken word poetry)
- Alternative Environments
Shows that take place in unusual, non-theatrical environments; may include street theatre, character pieces, or whatever you can think of.
(eg: Improv Everywhere, Dirty Water)
- MultiMedia
These would include shows and performance involving non-staged media that may or may not take place on a stage. Performances may involve various media such as digital video, live flash animation, text messaging, etc.
(eg: Neutrino Video Projects, Toronto's The Wizard, UCBTLA's Director's Commentary Live!)
- After Midnight
Shows that are not suitable for younger audiences.
- Family Friendly
Shows that are entirely suitable or designed for younger audiences.
- Products of Improv
This program may include sketch comedy shows developed through improv, digital video shorts or features with improvised dialogue and story lines, short comedic plays, etc.
About the examples: The examples given above are just examples. They are not indicative of acts that have been scheduled or may be scheduled to appear at the 2007 festival.
About the programs: The programs listed above are indicative of the types of programming the festival intends to put in place for 2007. These are not the final program categories. It is not necessary to submit to a specific program, but you may wish to indicate that your show is more suited to one program over another. Final programs will be decided shortly and listed on the festival website.
Any show created for live, improvised performance is eligible. Acts or ensembles may submit more than one show to the festival. Acts from outside continental North America will be given extra consideration.
The Toronto International Improv Festival is not responsible for damage or loss of an entry. Submission of an entry and its materials acknowledges the right of Impatient Productions and the Toronto International Impov Festival to use it for exhibition, publication and promotion.
Preparation of Submissions
For consideration, all submissions should contain the following materials:
A DVD of your act or show (25-45 minutes). We cannot accept submissions on MiniDV or VHS. DivX AVI, regular AVI, and QuickTime MOV files on DVD-ROM are acceptable and even welcomed (we would like to include videos of acts this year).
A complete press package for your act or show, including any previous press clippings and recordings of radio/television interviews or appearances. This should include:
- At least one colour photo of your act or ensemble cast.
- Black and white photos of your act or ensemble cast.
- A two- to three-paragraph description of your show.
- A two- to three-paragraph description of yourself, team or ensemble.
- Primary and secondary contact information for your act or ensemble, including phone, cell phone, fax, email, website URL, SMS, etc. The more contact info you can provide us with, the better.
- A complete list of names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers for all cast and crew members in your act or show, including directors, producers and stage managers.
- A detailed list (bullet points) of your act or ensemble's technical requirements. Please include your act's preference for lighting cues, sound cues and musical accompaniment and whether you like to have your own technical director present.
- In addition to all of the above in paper format, a CD/DVD-ROM including all of the materials listed above. High resolution images (300 dpi) of all photos should be included on this disc.
- If applicable, consider including links to online videos of your ensemble on sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Video Egg, etc.
TIP: The Toronto International Improv Festival often uses submitted photos of accepted acts on its promotional materials (posters, postcards, website, tickets, etc.). The better your photo, the better your chances of your act or ensemble landing on our publicity material.
Mail Submissions to:
Toronto International Improv Festival
439 Wellington St. W., Studio 206
Toronto, ON M5V 1E7 (Canada)
Toronto International Improv Festival
439 Wellington St. W., Studio 206
Toronto, ON M5V 1E7 (Canada)
Deadlines for Submissions
1) Early Submission Period:
- Dec. 1 - Jan. 31
- Submission Fee: $25 CAD
2) Standard Submission Period:
- Feb. 1 - March 31
- Submission Fee: $30 CAD
3) Last Call Submission Period:
- April 1 - April 15
- Submission Fee: $35 CAD
Preparation of Packages
Address packages to Toronto International Improv Festival. Non-Canadian submissions should mark each package "Materials for Festival Submission. No Commercial Value." No provision will be made by the Toronto International Improv Festival or Impatient Productions for Canadian Customs or airport pickup.
International entries should be sent by post or international courier. All submissions become property of the Toronto International Improv Festival and will not be returned.
Officially Invited Artists
Invited artists will be notified via email. All invited acts and shows will receive at least one 25- to 45-minute performance slot during the festival. Tech rehearsal times for acts will vary depending on venue, event and performance time.
Invited artists will have to fund their own travel to and during the festival. The festival will recommend a number of hotels and attempt to secure group rates at those hotel but cannot cover any expenses.
Questions and Information
All inquiries and requests for further info may be directed to the festival office.
Email: info@torontoimprovfest.com
Phone: 416-238-7337