NEWSLETTERS

A Message From Stephanie Martino

Hello,

FFI has had a very busy summer! Once the CINEMA program ended after the school year was over, we immediately got back into production mode with our summer film camp. For 6 weeks, our the camp participants experienced an intense filmmaking process and had a fun time learning about pre-production, film lighting, camera, sound and editing. The student filmmakers created a mystery/suspense thriller, a short film titled “THE HOST”, a group of students are invited to a party, but not everything is what it seems.

The camp was held at the Coral Gables Art Cinema- it was the perfect venue for our summer program! At the end of July the students shot their film over a period of ten hours in one day. Currently, the editors are hard at work completing the post production phase. We look forward to having a public screening of this film at CGAC sometime in September. Stay tuned for that info, we would love to see all of you there!

I want to send a special thanks to the wonderful organizations that provide us with the funding we need to operate, they are the real heart of our Institute, for with their help we are able to create an increased educational awareness in hundreds of students a year, many of whom would never get the kind of life altering experience that our programs bring to them. And to you our supporters, I offer a continuing heartfelt thank you on behalf of everyone here at FFI and all those students who appreciate your warmhearted attention.

We are excited to announce the birth of Cecilia Anne Slesnick!

Film Festival Update

This past December, Coral Gables Senior High School’s “The Clean Up” was selected to be screened at the Miami Short Film Festival in the Tomorrow’s Filmmaker’s Today Section. www.miamishortfilmfestival.com

Matching Donation Goal of $6,000!

Two anonymous donors have offered to give us $1500 each (a total of $3,000!) towards our non-profit organization and CINEMA program! But there is a catch…we have to match their donations by June 1st, 2011! We are very excited that this money will help our deserving student filmmakers! However, now is the time that we must ask for your help in reaching our fundraising goal! If you could possibly donate a minimum of $10 we would truly appreciate it!

Our CINEMA students love our program! Please help us to continue our mission of educating students in such a creative and unique way! Please help us meet our matching grant goal of $6,000 by donating anything you can by June 1st!

Thank you!

FACEBOOK DISCUSSION

We want to hear from you! Please check out FFI’s Facebook Page and stay updated with what is new and upcoming with our award winning film programs. But also, while you are there we encourage you to start posting some of your own thoughts and ideas about filmmaking- perhaps, what is your favorite film and why? or what programs you would like FFI to consider producing in the future? It would be great to get a dialogue going between our FB page and our many fans!

Watch FFI on “You Tube”

You can now view the wonderful films made by our students online anytime you want. As a matter of fact we encourage it. The films are actually an ongoing anthology of the attitudes of the young people who make them, acting as a mirror of their environment, concerns and problems. Every film is compelling in its own way and some have won awards at film festivals across the country.

You’ll find us at: www.youtube.com/flfilm
See you there!

DONATIONS TO OUR ORGANIZATION

FFI is always seeking financial and in-kind support. In the event that you would like to donate dollars (or maybe just some sense!) please click HERE or contact the FFI office directly and speak with Stephanie.

Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, The Children’s Trust, is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade College North Campus, School of Entertainment & Design Technology (SEDT), Garnet Productions, Coral Gables Art Cinema, VideoLab Solutions, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools.