MeetMarket
MeetMarket* is the pitching initiative at Sheffield Doc/Fest, designed to match documentary makers’ most innovative project ideas with UK and international decision makers. MeetMarket 2012 will take place on June 14th and 15th
APPLICATIONS FOR MEETMARKET ARE NOW OPEN AND YOU CAN SUBMIT PROJECTS HERE (DEADLINE MARCH 29TH 2012)
Decision makers view online one-minute pitch teasers of innovative documentary ideas (uploaded via Distrify), along with short synopses, biographical information and headline budget figures, in advance of Doc/Fest. From this, they select which projects they would like to discuss in one-to-one meetings at MeetMarket. Projects can also be in any genre of documentary/factual, from factual entertainment through to art/installation documentaries. We also welcome cross-platform/interactive projects and those projects looking to raise finance and distribute/exhibit their projects through alternative strategies including via crowd funding and third sector. Once again, MeetMarket will feature experts in these areas for you to meet, alongside broadcasters, film funds, sales agents and distributors.
We received 486 entries from 57 countries for MeetMarket 2011.
You can see which of 217 decision makers attended in 2011 here. The 65 MeetMarket projects selected in 2011 are all listed here.
If you'd like to discuss your project application for 2012 with us at any stage, we'd be delighted to talk about it with you, so please feel welcome to email us
MeetMarket 2011 - A film by Buzz Films
Is my project eligible?
MeetMarket applications for 2012 are now open for your submission - deadline is March 29th. We're always happy to help you get your project submissions ready for MeetMarkt or any marketplace opportunity, so as you plan your MeetMarket submissions or submissions for any other marketplace pitch, here are some guidelines for you:
MeetMarket is open to all documentary makers, from any country. No prior credits are necessary.
Your project can be at any stage of development, production, or post-production. We're no longer accepting completed projects - you should submit these to the Videotheque.
Interactive factual/documentary; broadband, web-based, mobile phone/mobile device content, cross-platform and convergent media projects are also eligible and indeed highly encouraged, with specialised commissioners, funders and advisers present.
Your projects must have international appeal and take an innovative/fresh approach to either the content, the execution of the idea or both.
Your project may take any form or specialist focus, e.g. feature documentaries, television, series or specialised genres. Natural history, science and arts projects are very welcome.
We also welcome projects looking to raise finance and distribute/exhibit their projects through alternative strategies including via crowdfunding, self/hybrid distribution and 3rd Sector support, as well as those with innovative outreach strategies.
Projects do not need to have financing already in place.
Submissions for June 2012 ARE OPEN UNTIL MARCH 29TH
How do I apply?
Submissions for 2012 are now open - you might find these tips useful in planning your submission for the June 2012 MeetMarket and for generally making your projects the best-presented they can be.
- The information you submit on the application is what Decision Makers see when they choose if they want to meet you - This information is exactly what goes in the Project Guide distributed to participants, and accessed online in the assessment area by Decision Makers. If you're selected, we give you a very small time to make any changes, but by-and-large, what you submit on application is what Decision Makers see, so make it good.
- Project Information/Synopsis - We offer you the chance to submit short (100 word) and long (500 word) synopses - in both cases remember you don't have to go right up to the word limit. The quality of your description is what matters. Remember this description has to entice assessors to want to choose you and buyers to want to meet you, so get them interested and leave them wanting more. And whilst you should get them excited with the ideas, don't forget to give them story and character as well. Please note, we are no longer accepting uploads of longer explanatory treatments unless your project is an interactive/cross platform one - your synopses are your real sales documents.
- Details - Length, Intended slot, Format, Status, Date of Production/Release - you may not know for sure yet depending on what stage your project is at, but be as realistic as possible - research what slots exist in international TV, cinema and cross-platform, and tally your length and slot with that. Make sure your budget information is consistent with the length you specify. It's fine to keep your options open and specify, for example, a TV hour and a 90' version.
- Financing - State your total budget and total already obtained (plus who has already committed funds) in Euros and Pounds. Check your calculations are accurate before you submit the form. If you've had strong interest but not money commitment from somewhere, you can also put this here - but remember assessors and buyers you may put down here read this information so don't exaggerate any interest. Do not put figures relating to your own investment in the project - remember, you don't have to have finance secured to be selected for MeetMarket. You can also upload a more detailed finance plan as a spreadsheet - but remember assessors and buyers may not scrutinise this in detail. This section is also your chance to tell us if you're looking for distribution - this is important because we'll use this information to base some of your matchmade meetings on if you're selected
- Participants - Give us brief information on your production team (up to 100 words each for biography and filmography). Don't paste your CV here, these biographies are part of your project information and need to be as enticing as your synopses, so make them interesting. Remember that your biogs go here, they don't go in your synopsis - you're wasting your chance to write about your project if you put your biogs in there. Also remember that you must split your biography (your personal history and profile) and your filmography (list of your films/other projects)
- Teaser Clip - How to upload - We're now using Distrify for teaser uploads. For full instructions on what to do check the Video Help page.
- Teaser Clip - How To be Creative With It - Your clip's purpose is to interest funders, and not to be a short film in itself. We specify a length of one-minute because we think it helps you to focus on clearly getting the key information in there - why buyers would want to invest in your project. There are infinite ways to do your clip but primarily use this one minute to get buyers interested and want to know more. Show them the quality of what you've shot and the strength of your characters and narrative, and give them a taste of your on-screen style. Be visually creative - remember this is your visual pitch, and documentary is a visual form - save your words for the synopsis. Make your teaser stand out, so make it unusual...without getting too obscure unless of course it matches your subject.
- Cross-Platform, Interactive and new Funding/Distribution Projects - We recognise that these kinds of projects might need additional or different kinds of information. For the 2012 application form, there is even more space for you to explain in detail how your project uses interactive media, outreach strategies and new methods of funding and distribution. For cross platform and interactive projects specifically, we also advise that you use the teaser clip to showcase the general look of your project, and that it doesn't necessarily need to use moving image in the way a linear doc project would. Plus we especially advise you to use the facility to link to an external website to link your submission to another platform where assessors and buyers can play with and explore your project in detail. You can now also upload a longer document demonstrating the interactivity of your project.
Above all, remember that your submission is a whole package and is assessed as so. So think about how all these elements fit together, and good luck.
MeetMarket 2011
In 2011, there were 217 buyers, commissioners and decision-makers at Doc/Fest. Go here to see which 65 projects were pitched.
- 65 projects from 22 countries
- 156 Buyers/Financiers/Investors/Film Funds
- 73 Producers, Executive Producers
- 58 Directors, Filmmakers, Creatives
- 42 Distributors/Sales Agents
- 15 Crowdfunding Platforms/Mentors/Advisors/Consultants
- Funders and decision makers from 26 countries
- Over 1300 meetings in total over two days
- 20 meetings per project (on average)
- Millions of pounds done in deals
"I enjoyed the time in Sheffield and found some very promising projects. It was perfect and the new format of the pitchings is very effective and gives creativity more space."
Hans Robert Eisenhauer – Head of Theme Nights – ZDF/ARTE - Germany
"The most effortless and efficient way to meet numerous key commissioners and decision-makers over two days. Thanks so much for selecting us, we had a very productive time"
MeetMarket Producer
"MeetMarket surprised me: I had an extraordinarily creative response from 23 intelligent men and women who care passionately about documentaries. They reflected my story back to me and I came out richer – not just financially but in terms of valuing my project."
Amy Hardie – Director - Scotland
"The MeetMarket was absolutely amazing and productive and I had an absolutely fantastic festival."
Danielle DiGiacomo - Indiepix - USA
98% of participants were happy with the variety of commissioners, distributors and funders they could meet, 98% would recommend it to other producers and filmmakers, •100% of producers said MeetMarket gave them a chance to meet commissioners, distributors and funders they wouldn't normally have access to, 100% of Decision Makers rate the organisation in advance of, and on the day of, MeetMarket as Excellent or Good, and 92% said that MeetMarket meetings met their expectations
96% of participants emerged from MeetMarket either with deals or with strong conversations over deals started
What are the MeetMarket initiative terms and conditions?
An administration fee of £20 plus VAT applies per project.
The organisers accept no liability in the event that their publications reproduce inaccuracies that you provide in submitted materials.
Scheduling of meetings is at the discretion of the organisers.
If your application is successful, you agree to attend Sheffield Doc/Fest 2012 for the duration of the MeetMarket. Failure to do so may result in your project being withdrawn.
If your application is successful you must register for Doc/Fest and Early Bird Doc/Fest registration rates for at least one person per project even after the deadline of Early Bird registration. If you do not register for Doc/Fest, you will not be able to participate in the MeetMarket. Subsequent project team members must register for additional passes.
Your application and participation implies unconditional acceptance of these guidelines.
The selection committee decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome. Feedback is not guaranteed if your application is unsuccessful.
The organisers reserve the right to change the guidelines or processes at any time and without notification.
The organisers will not take rights or liabilities in projects selected.