Film clapperboards

"The MINISALON-Film Clapperboards Project in Zlín„

The project was established in 1998-1999 as a supporting event of the International Film Festival for Children and Youth in Zlín. The goal was not only to create a unique way to promote the festival both at home and abroad, but primarily to secure financial aid each year to support the most talented young filmmakers. The principle behind project is to create original works of art in the form of film clapperboards which will be put on display and subsequently auctioned off. The proceeds are used to financially support the making of feature, documentary and animated student films. Thanks to the popularity of the project over the past 15 years 206 audiovisual student works were supported and, in many cases, the creation of these graduate films has kicked off the film careers of filmmakers making their start.

The MINISALON-Film Clapperboards project in Zlín is protected by copyright in order to protect the uniqueness and originality of the individual artistic works.

During the 16-year existence of this project more than 1800 film clapperboards have been auctioned off. In many cases they have become part of art collections of lovers of the creative arts and the film arts.

As of the start of 2013 the rules have been changed with regard to the distribution of the funds obtained from the auction of the film clapperboards. The new rules that we have introduced now allow even students of other film schools in the Czech Republic to be included in this financial support for the funding, presenting and distribution of specific films or for beginning filmmakers – in addition to the actual production of films. In 2013, as in the past, the auctioning of the clapperboards provided funds for the support of film projects with a focus on young and fledgling filmmakers.

Some of the proceeds were used in the organization of the international competition of student films Zlin Dog, the student project Rainbow Marble, and for improving the education of students through workshops carried out within Industry Section of the 53rd ZLÍN FILM FESTIVAL. The winning movies of young filmmakers will be presented during the opening of the exhibition of next year's MINISALON-Film Clapperboards in 2014 and during the 54th ZLÍN FILM FESTIVAL. In addition, the funds will be used to support the making of new film projects of young artists and of the title sequence of the 54th ZLÍN FILM FESTIVAL.

For the MINISALON 2014 we have contacted 120 artists and friends to plead for further artistically rendered clapperboards. We will launch the first exhibition in Prague, again in Hybernia Theatre, in early February 2014. The entire exhibition should then be moved to another attractive location (again in Prague), and then on to Mladá Boleslav, Brno, and eventually to Zlín at the Zlaté Jablko Shopping Centre and at the Zlín Congress Centre.

The AUCTION of the clapperboards is planned for Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 2 p.m. within the Main Auditorium of the Academic Centre of Tomas Bata University on Mostní Streen in Zlín.

All of the previous works can be seen at a comprehensive gallery entitled "Film Clapperboards - A Retrospective"