About

FEATURE EXPANDED: European Art Film Strategies
is the first training program specifically designed to provide knowledge, methodologies and skills necessary for filmmakers with a background in visual arts to develop and produce feature films.
There have been four previous editions from 2015 to 2018, and you can find more information about the programmes, participants and award winners on this website.
The programme is not running in 2019 whilst the team revise the funding structure and evaluate the tremendous success and achievements.

The main objectives of Feature Expanded are:

• Promote and support filmmakers with a background in visual arts in bringing new vision and strong innovation to feature film production and to the audiovisual industry;
• Facilitate acquisition of essential new skills and expertise for participants to advance their feature film projects and to be able to take advantage of new opportunities, to compete on international level and to access new markets;
• Examine trends, strategies and European case studies that are generating audience development and new exhibition models for artists’ feature films;
• Increase the competitiveness of European audiovisual industry on international markets by building a network of strong players and by facilitating new partnerships, future collaborations and funding possibilities;
• Stimulate transnational mobility of European industry professionals working with artists’ films and circulation of audiovisual works;
• Encourage knowledge sharing and exchange between art professionals and well-established experts of the audiovisual industry, creating a European platform inspired by multidisciplinary cooperation.

Feature Expanded is directed by Leonardo Bigazzi (Lo schermo dell’arte Film Festival) and Professor Sarah Perks (HOME).

HOME (formerly Cornerhouse) is a European leader in specialized and artist film. HOME Artist Film, rebranding from Cornerhouse Artist Film was set up in 2011 to exploit innovation across the production, distribution and exhibition of feature length films made by filmmakers with a background in visual arts. HOME is also a trailblazer in the exhibition with the UK’s only 5 screen cinema dedicated to specialized and independent film, is the lead organization for the BFI’s Film Audience Network for the North West Central England region, is the NorthWest’s BFI Film Academy (production program for 16-19 years) and produces the UK’s largest Spanish Film Festival (¡Viva!).

Founded in Florence in 2008, Lo schermo dell’arte Film Festival is an international project dedicated to exploring, analyzing and promoting the complex relations between contemporary art and cinema through films, videos, installations, publications and training actions. The program presents a wide selection of documentary about contemporary art and artists’ films but also video installations, international panels and lectures with artists, directors and film producers as well as retrospectives. Its archive of documentaries on contemporary art and artists’ films counts over 500 titles, published online and opened to cultural institutions, art centers, museums, festivals, universities and art schools for research purpose. The Festival also supports young international artists working with moving images through VISIO European Workshop on Artists’ Moving Images (a series of screenings, seminars and meetings dedicated to expanding the vision and themes of artists who use moving images in their artistic practice).

Feature Expanded is realized with the support of MEDIA programme of the EU

supported by
In Between Art Film / Nederlands Filmfonds  / ottod’Ame / Institut français Firenze / SUB-TI / Fondazione Sistema Toscana – La Compagnia

Programme partner
CPH:DOX / Festival Scope / FID Marseille