Channel 4 First Cut Pitch
Channel 4 Pitch - Funding & guidance for your documentary idea
We are delighted that the Channel 4 pitch is still one of Doc/Fest's most popular sessions after 8 very successful years! A fun and dynamic atmosphere makes for a great session to both participate in and watch.
What’s the idea?
Five contenders will compete in front of a panel of executive producers and Aysha Rafaele, Channel 4 commissioning editor for First Cut. Candidates will be judged on their CV’s and experience as well as the project they are pitching. THIS PITCH IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES
Is there a theme?
YES! Following 2010’s incredibly successful pitch which sought diverse talent and subject matter, this year First Cut is specifically looking for regionally based directors. You can pitch any idea you want, but must be based outside of London.
So what are you looking for?
We want incredible stories from a range of ideas and styles – news related and access driven, quirky and eccentric, observational, concept driven or simply off the wall – we do not want films that tick boxes or deliver essays on identity politics. We are looking for fabulous, larger than life characters in surprising situations or worlds we haven’t seen before.
What’s the prize?
The prize is a chance to make a 24 minute film for Channel 4’s critically-acclaimed documentary new talent strand, First Cut. The winner will receive a 10 week freelance placement at a production company to direct a half hour, on a budget of £50k. For the first time there will also be a runner’s up prize of £5k development funding from the new Channel4 Alpha Fund which supports Creative Diversity.
What is the process?
THIS PITCH IS NOW CLOSED FOR ENTRIES. No late applications will be accepted.
Finalists will be notified by FRIDAY 20th MAY 2011. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be given further details of what the pitch will involve, and will be asked to make a 3 minute trailer for the pitching session.
Please be aware that the idea pitched will not necessarily be the one commissioned – this pitch is to find a great director with lots of ideas! Therefore your 3 minute trailer can be either a show reel of your work to date or a taster of the project you will be pitching.
Who is eligible?
The pitch is open to regionally based, experienced AP's and up-and-coming directors, who have not yet received a Director credit on a network primetime documentary film. 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. You must be UK-based, and be able to take up a freelance placement with a production company of Channel 4's choice.
Applicants for the Channel 4 Sheffield Pitch must be available to attend the festival, 8th – 12th June. Please note that finalists will be eligible to attend the pitch free of charge, but for any other festival activities, or to access any festival venues, will need to purchase a discounted festival pass. If you cannot make this commitment you are not eligible to enter the pitch competition.
Any queries?
Email Charlie Phillips
Selected Projects 2011
The Channel 4 pitchers 2011 are:
Clair Titley
Faisal Aziz
Des Henderson
Fiona Jones
Michael Todd
The Winner
Congratulations to Des Henderson, and also to runner-up Clair Titley