- Overview
- Decision Makers List 2013
- MeetMarket Projects
- MeetMarket
- International Delegations
- Crossover Market
- Round Table Sessions
- Pitch Opportunities
- The BFI Film Fund Pitch
- The New York Times Op-Docs Pitch
- Channel 4 First Cut Pitch
- The Wellcome Trust Development Awards Pitch
- Your WorldView Pitch
- Mini-MeetMarket
- Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch
- The Switchboard with EDN
- 10X10
- The Doc/Fest Mentoring Programme
- Training and Workshops
- Focal International Presents - "Meet the Archives"
Channel 4 First Cut Pitch
Channel 4 Pitch - Get a First Cut commission offer, plus mentorship and training
The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch is back again and this year it's all change with its biggest ever prize and an exciting new pitching format!
The Prize
The successful director will receive the following:
- A 1 x 60’ First Cut commission offer in 2013.
- One month fully-paid development and mentorship with an indie (£3000 wages/ £2000 development cash) to further develop either your own idea OR the indie’s, paid for by the Channel 4 Alpha Fund which supports new talent and Creative Diversity.
- One week’s NFTS training (plus wages for that week) paid for by the Channel 4 Alpha Fund which supports new talent and Creative Diversity.
The Pitch
This year, rather than pitch ideas for First Cut films, five shortlisted directors will vie to prove that they are ready to take on the challenge of an hour-long, post watershed doc for Channel 4 by presenting a 2-3 minute documentary film that answers an editorial brief set by Channel 4 for this event. These short docs will be a unique opportunity for directors to showcase their ability to tell a captivating factual story, find and develop great contributers and work effectively in an edit.
Each director will introduce, show and discuss their films in front of the audience and a panel of executive producers, established directors, and Lina Prestwood, Commissioning Editor for First Cut. Together they will decide - in front of the Sheffield Doc/Fest audience - who they think is the most promising director and award the prize at the end of the pitch event.
In the interests of fairness, Channel 4 will support each shortlisted director with a £500 production budget and one day with an editor at a post-house of Channel 4's choosing to polish their films. The brief will be announced on or before Friday 19th April 2013
Who is eligible?
- This is not an entry level pitch. A commitment and passion for television documentary needs to be clearly evident and ideally also experience of working in television production at DV Director/Senior AP level. You must be UK-based, and be able to take up a freelance placement with a production company of Channel 4's choice.
- Anyone working within factual television who has not directed their own documentary hour on network television - for clarification this means BBC (including BBC3), ITV, Channel 4 and Five - is eligible.
- Because of their house-style nature, those with director-credits for single episodes of returnable series such as One Born Every Minute or 24 Hours in A&E may be considered.
- Directors who have directed hours for a regional broadcaster such as BBC Northern Ireand or Scotland but have not had their film broadcast across a network are also in the running.
- Although it would be the exception rather than the rule we may consider directors of First Cuts in their original half hour format, provided they pitch an idea that is significantly different and creative or provides a privileged access to a unique world.
- Recent film school graduates or those from an alternative background such as editors or photographers will be considered but they will need to prove their passion and technical skill to the same standard as those who are more experienced or conventional backgrounds.
SELECTED PITCHERS
Thanks for all your entries, and congratulations to these 5 pitchers, who you can see in action on Friday 14th June:
Clare Cameron
Marvyn Benoit
Rebecca Lloyd-Evans
Jamie Roberts
Jamie Seal