Sun Valley Film Festival Announces Film Lab
The 2019 Sun Valley Film Festival is open to submissions for its sixth annual The Film Lab. Sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka and The Farm Group, The Film Lab will select one team of filmmakers to partner with the Festival and Tito’s to complete their film’s vision. Award-winning filmmaker Jay Duplass (Transparent, Togetherness) will judge the competition. Variety magazine is a media partner of the program.
The director and producer of the winning work-in-progress film will receive travel, lodging and insider access during the Sun Valley Film Festival, where their film will be screen-tested. Then the filmmakers will take a two-city tour to screen-test the film in front of select audiences before completing the picture with Los Angeles-based post-production company The Farm Group, which will provide up to $185,000 in services.
Filmmakers can submit work-in-progress films in the final stages of post-production. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 22. Full details regarding submissions, requirements and deadlines, visit sunvalleyfilmfestival.org/experiences/film-lab.
Summer Symphony To Celebrate 35th Season
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony will celebrate its 35th season this year from July 29 to Aug. 22. Featured will be three guest artists-in-residence, an exploration of chamber orchestra masterpieces, evenings of French music and Gershwin favorites, education programs, and full symphonies, including Mahler’s mighty Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.”
Season highlights include residencies and solo performances by violinist Ray Chen, pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and cellist Gautier Capuçon.
Pops Night, on Aug. 17, will feature Broadway singer Morgan James presenting an evening of George Gershwin favorites.
“For this major anniversary season, I’m delighted to be able to bring so many outstanding guest artists to Sun Valley for our audiences,” said Alasdair Neale, SVSS music director.
This season will also be the 22nd year of the Symphony’s Music Institute Summer Programs, which will run July 29 through Aug. 10. The Institute offers one-week programs for all abilities in piano, voice, woodwinds, brass, strings and percussion, and a two-week Advanced Chamber Music Program for college undergraduates and exceptional high school students. All programs are tuition-free, with only minimal costs for registration and materials.
The application deadline is April 1 for the Advanced Chamber Music Program and May 1 for the one-week programs. Registration and more information on the 2019 season is available at svsummersymphony.org.
Zions Bank Announces Corporate Sponsorship of Women’s Foundation
Zions Bank has signed on as the first corporate sponsor for the Wood River Women’s Foundation through a $2,500 donation that will bolster the WRWF’s support of nonprofit organizations in Blaine County and help create a broader culture of philanthropy.
Since 2006, the WRWF has awarded more than 100 grants totaling nearly $2 million to fund education needs, mental health, social services, recreation, arts programs and the environment. To continue both its community impact and its education efforts to expand members’ philanthropic skills, the WRWF recently created a corporate sponsorship program, with Zions Bank as its first member.
“The Wood River Women’s Foundation has made a remarkable impact in Blaine County,” said Tracy Groll, region president at Zions Bank. “Because of Zions Bank’s investment in the Sun Valley community, our corporate sponsorship of the organization is a natural fit.”
“In light of Zions Bank’s history as an engaged and generous community partner, we are honored to join up with them,” said Peggy Grove, WRWF president.
Zions Bank also helped the WRWF set up its new endowment fund, created to ensure the long-term stability of the organization.
‘Idaho Gives’ Registration is Now Open
Registration for nonprofits has begun for the seventh annual Idaho Gives, the state’s largest day of online giving to take place Thursday, May 2.
This year nonprofits will pay a small registration fee rather than a percentage when signing up to participate, which will be used for promotion and advertising. This means that Idaho charities will be able to keep even more of the funds raised during Idaho Gives.
When nonprofits register, they will have access to free resources, toolkits, and more webinars than ever before. These resources are essential to guide them through building their Idaho Gives campaign. Idaho Gives and other giving days find that organizations who sign up 12-15 weeks before the giving date raise more money than those who wait.
New this year, the Idaho Nonprofit Center is offering a guarantee for success: registered organizations who attend every single Idaho Gives training webinar (live or recorded) and do not receive even one donation by the end of May 2 will have their registration fee refunded. As an added bonus, the nonprofits that attend all the scheduled webinars (live or recorded) will be eligible to win a $1,000 prize sponsored by the Idaho Gives Award Pool.
Last year, Idaho Gives raised $1.56 million for Idaho nonprofits statewide, exceeding the $1.5 million goal. For the seventh year of Idaho Gives, the 2019 goal is set at $1.7 million. This amounts to one dollar for every Idahoan.
Nonprofits have until April 15 to register. Those who view all the training webinars will be entered to win a $1,000 cash prize and, if viewing these trainings fails to help them receive a single donation, the Idaho Nonprofit Center will refund their registration fees. Idaho Nonprofit Center members receive additional benefits, like reduced registration fees. To become a member, visit IdahoNonprofits.org.
