Call for Entries for PALEYDOCFEST09 Documentary Pitch Workshop
Friday, July 31, 2009
New York, NY-The Paley Center for Media today announced a call for entries for its celebrated Art of the Documentary Pitch Workshop at PALEYDOCFEST09 which will be held at the Paley Center in New York on Saturday, October 17, 2009. In this workshop/competition-now in its fifth year-a panel of documentary executives and producers discuss the process of developing a documentary and will hear and evaluate pitches from five preselected filmmakers who are hoping to sell either a nonfiction concept or a documentary work-in-progress. The winner of the pitch competition will receive a $5,000 grant, sponsored by SnagFilms, to be used towards the completion of their project.
Confirmed panelists at the workshop include: Rick Allen, Chief Executive Officer, SnagFilms; Diana Holtzberg, Vice President - USA Operations Acquisitions, Project Development, Sales, Films Transit International; Molly Thompson, Programming Director, A&E IndieFilms. Additional panelists to be announced at a later date.
Entries are now being accepted; complete submission guidelines and entry forms can be found at /paleydocfest09-pitch-workshop/. The deadline for entries is September 25, 2009.
The Art of the Documentary Pitch Workshop is part of PALEYDOCFEST, the Paley Center's annual Festival celebrating the documentary-featuring premieres, works-in-progress, classic documentaries, the pitch workshop, and special events-which will take place this October. Further details, including a complete line-up of the Festival, will be announced at a later date. Visit paleycenter.org for updates.
At last year's PALEYDOCFEST, the Paley Center and SnagFilms announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a leading cultural media institution and an Internet start-up to help documentary producers break down the barriers to reach fresh audiences for their films. Through a shared passion for expanding access to documentaries, the Paley Center, an important convener of the documentary film community, and SnagFilms, a groundbreaking Internet documentary distribution platform, continue to work together to help filmmakers discover alternative opportunities for getting their creative works in front of an expanded audience around the world, while in the process, helping them generate new financial resources.
###
The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Drawing upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community, the Paley Center examines the intersections between media and society. The general public can access the collection and participate in programs that explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media. Through the global programs of its Media Council and International Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutral setting where media professionals can engage in discussion and debate about the evolving media landscape. Previously known as The Museum of Television & Radio, the Paley Center was founded in 1975 by William S. Paley, a pioneering innovator in the industry. For more information, please visit /.
SnagFilms features free ad-supported viewing of more than 840 award-winning titles from some of thegreatest names in documentary film production and distribution. Since its launch in July 2008, SnagFilms' library has been featured on over 1 billion web pageviews, via more than 25,000 web pages, including throughout the AOL channels, and the websites of The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Politico, hundreds of blogs, and thousands of social network pages. OVGuide named SnagFilms a Top Site of 2008 and MovieMaker Magazine named SnagFilms to its annual list of "50 Best Websites for Moviemakers." indieWIRE, the 13-year old leading news, information and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers, the industry and moviegoers alike, has been a vital part of SnagFilms since its acquisition in August, 2008. The company was founded by digital entrepreneur, documentary film producer, professional sports teams' owner and philanthropist Ted Leonsis, and is additionally backed by AOL co-founder and Revolution LLC Chairman, Steve Case; philanthropist and former digital executive Jean Case; operating executive and philanthropic venture capitalist Miles Gilburne; and a group led by Ted and Jim Pedas, founders of Circle Films.
-30-