PaleyDocFest09

Call for Entries: The Art of the Documentary Pitch Workshop

Saturday, October 17, 2009
New York

In Association with SnagFilms

How do you sell a documentary? In this workshop/competition, five preselected emerging nonfiction filmmakers will pitch their ideas to a panel of distinguished documentary producers. The producers will give them feedback on their concept as well as their presentation skills—great lessons for all aspiring filmmakers. The winner will receive a $5,000 grant, sponsored by SnagFilms, to be used toward the completion of the pitched film.

Selection: Based on the criteria of persuasiveness of the pitch, originality of the vision, and viability of the project, the panel will select one finalist as the winner of a $5,000 grant to be used toward the finalist’s completion of the documentary pitched at the workshop. The decision of the panel will be final and binding.

Entry Deadline: September 25, 2009.
This workshop takes place on October 17, 2009. 

Download the following PDF forms to submit your work for this workshop.

  Overview |  Official Rules |  Entry Form & Submission Agreement

Please print out, sign, and mail a complete and fully-executed copy of the Entry Form & Submission Agreement, along with your Submission Materials, to:

Pitch Workshop
c/o The Paley Center for Media
9th Floor
25 West 52 Street
New York, NY 10019

Show us your footage! Be sure to include ten minutes of footage from your project. We prefer selects to trailers.

All submissions must be postmarked no later than September 25, 2009. Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit prior to the deadline. Selection to the workshop is made on a rolling basis.

PANEL
Andrew Mer, Vice President, Content Partnerships, SnagFilms
Diana Holtzberg, Vice President - USA Operations Acquisitions, Project Development, Sales, Films Transit International
Charlie Maday, Senior Vice President, Programming, History
Molly Thompson, Programming Director, A&E IndieFilms
Chris White, Director of Programming & Production, P.O.V.

PREVIOUS WINNERS
2008: Circo directed by Aaron Schock
2007: The House that Herman Built directed by Angad Bhalla
2006: Whatever it Takes directed by Christopher Wong
2005: Asparagus! (A Stalk-umentary) directed by Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly