The Isle of Man Film Festival is pleased to announce that it will be running Pitch Fest again this year where filmmakers are invited to pitch their short film idea to a panel of professionals for the chance to win up to £7,500 to make their film.
Pitching will take place at The Claremont Hotel on Douglas Promenade on the Isle of Man on Friday 9th September during the day.
The competition is now open for submissions: we invite filmmakers with a short film idea to send us a screenplay draft and a treatment detailing their plans for the project. Though the filmmaker or filmmaking team need not be Isle of Man based, the film must be shot here. The last date for submission is 8th July and applicants will be shortlisted and notified by 8th August. If successful, filmmakers will be invited to the Isle of Man to pitch in person to a panel of professionals.
Launched in 2015, Pitch Fest attracted both local entries and submissions from abroad. 15 projects were shortlisted and pitched to a panel including Mike Reaney of IOM Film and special-guest director Jim Gillespie. Three projects were chosen to receive match-funding (2 local projects and one from the UK) and all three 2015 Pitch Fest winning films shoot this coming Summer on the Isle of Man.
Shortlisted filmmakers this year will be asked to prepare a 5-minute pitch (2 minutes about the story and 3 minutes about the production). There will then be 5 minutes of questions from the panel. After everyone has pitched, 4-6 projects will be chosen by festival close to move to the next stage, and dependent on delivery, 3 will eventually be awarding match funding of up to £7,500.
Please send your application to zoe@isleofmanfilmfestival.com. Good luck!