Monday, November 8, 2010

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Announces 2011 Pitch Sessions


Two exciting pitch sessions will take place during the 8th Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, an International Call and "Documenting the Big Sky" a special session focusing on films to be produced in Montana. Confirmed panelists include Yance Ford (Series Producer, POV/The American Documentary), William Marcus (General Manager of KUFM/Montana Public Television) Aaron Pruitt, Director of Programming (KUSM/Montana Public Television, and Kim Anderson (Humanities Montana). More participants will be added as they are confirmed. December 23 is the entry deadline for both sessions.

Here's all the details:

"Documenting the Big Sky" Pitch Session

February 16, 2011 - University Theater/University of Montana campus
Entry fee: FREE
Submission Deadline: December 23, 2010

Pitch your documentary work-in-progress (WIP) to Montana Public Television and other important documentary funders in Montana. The pitch session will be held on February 16, 2011 in the UC Theater on the University of Montana campus with a live audience of filmmakers, industry representatives, and students. Projects must have a Montana focus to be eligible. All non-fiction forms are acceptable including hybrid doc/narrative projects. Historical fiction and "docu-drama" projects are not eligible. Submit a brief (250 words maximum) project summary and an additional one-paragraph project status report via email. The project summary should concisely describe the focus of the film as well as a brief treatment which should include shooting format and any other relevant technical details and production credits (if known). The project status should describe the current state of the production (eg. pre-production, production, post, etc.) in some detail. A short (5 minutes maximum) sample reel of the work-in-progress may be submitted in addition to the written application. Work-in-progress reels may be submitted on-line only via vimeo, youtube.com, blip.tv, etc. Provide a direct link with your written application. Do not send DVD screeners as part of your application. A maximum of 15 projects will be selected to pitch on February 16, 2011. Selected projects will have 20 minutes to pitch their project and show a short sample (if available) for the panel. If selected to pitch, filmmakers will be required to pay an additional $50, which includes the right to pitch the selected project to the panel of broadcasters and funders. For an additional $50, participants will receive an All Access Pass for the 2011 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival ($250 value). Selected projects will be notified of their acceptance by January 10, 2011.

Confirmed Participants - William Marcus (General Manager of KUFM/Montana Public Television), Aaron Pruitt, Director of Programming (KUSM/Montana Public Television), Dawn McGee (High Stakes Foundation) and Kim Anderson (Humanities Montana).

Application materials must be submitted to pitch@bigskyfilmfest.org Entry fee must be paid online. More info here.


International Documentary Pitch Session

February 17, 2011 - University Theater/University of Montana campus
Entry Fee: FREE
Submission Deadline: December 23, 2010

Pitch your documentary work-in-progress (WIP) to some of the top commissioning editors and funders for documentary film in North America. All documentary forms (eg. first person, direct cinema, observational, etc.) and all subjects are eligible to submit. The session will be held February 17, 2011 at the UC Theater on the University of Montana campus with a live audience of filmmakers, industry representatives, and students. Commissioning editors will have the opportunity to critique and comment on each pitch. A maximum of 15 projects will be accepted to pitch in this session. Submit a brief (250 words maximum) project summary and an additional one-paragraph project status report. The project summary should concisely describe the focus of the film as well as a brief treatment which should include intended length, shooting format and any other relevant technical details and production credits (if known). The project status should describe the current state of the production (eg. pre-production, production, post, etc.) in some detail. A short (5 minutes maximum) sample reel of the work-in-progress may be submitted in addition to the written application. Work-in-progress reels may be submitted on-line only via vimeo, youtube.com, blip.tv, etc. Do not send DVD screeners as part of your application. Selected projects will have 20 minutes to pitch their project and show a short sample (if available) for the panel. Selected projects will be required to pay an additional $150, which includes the opportunity to pitch and an All Access Pass to all events at the 2011 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival ($250 value). Selected projects will be notified of their acceptance by January 10, 2011.

Confirmed participants - Yance Ford (Series Producer, POV/The American Documentary), Kate Pearson (SVP Programming, The Documentary Channel).

Application materials must be submitted to pitch@bigskyfilmfest.org Entry fee must be paid online. More info here.