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Pitch Workshops

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The Engine Room Pitch Workshop Cardiff

The Engine Room Pitch Workshop is back! Get ahead of the game by preparing your project early for this year’s markets and festivals.

MEDIA Antenna Wales in association with Sheffield Doc/Fest, Wide Eye Pictures and Chapter invites you to The Engine Room Pitch Workshop, to be held at Chapter in Cardiff on 22nd and 23rd March.

The Engine Room Pitch Workshop is a unique 2-day project development and pitching experience for documentary filmmakers and cross­platform creatives seeking UK and international commissions, co­production and market intelligence. It is also an exceptional networking opportunity. Created by leading international pitch trainer Christina Burnett of Wide Eye Pictures, these workshops have been successful in Ireland, Brazil and Abu Dhabi as well as the UK. This year’s Sundance hit Knuckle, Toronto Documentary Forum success Driven, Hot Docs and Doc/Fest selection Despicable Dick And Righteous Richard and SXSW and Doc/Fest favourite Sound it Out have all been developed through an Engine Room Pitch Workshop.

“Its true to say you need a strong project, good materials and a great team but in a business where presentation and storytelling are everything the advice and experience we gained at that workshop turned a great project into a winning pitch” – Rob Fletcher, Producer ‘Driven’

“I would highly recommend this workshop to everyone - whether a first time filmmaker or a company director. The skills I have learnt will stay with me for life” - Claire Titley, Director

Intense, friendly and focused, the workshop develops real projects, which are then presented to 2 commissioners for feedback. Charlie Philips, Marketplace Director at Doc/Fest will give a comprehensive introduction to Sheffield Doc/Fest, the MeetMarket and worldwide opportunities at other festivals and markets. Commissioners from BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation and Worldview have taken part in previous workshops. The 2-‐day course will also feature a rare chance of a tour of the extensive Getty Images Archive.

Delegates range from BAFTA and EMMY winners to first-timers and the structure enables delegates at any stage of their career to understand what makes a project succeed and to maximise their own opportunities in future.

“The Engine Room Pitch Workshop is a must-­‐do for every filmmaker looking to pitch into the marketplace. Practical and inspiring, it makes you think about, and present, your film in the best possible way” - Sandra Whipham, London Fields Films, former Commissioning Editor True Stories, Channel 4

You can attend either as a pitcher with project, or as an observer. This workshop is open to any factual filmmakers and cross­platform creatives.

To express interest, email Doc/Fest Marketplace Coordinator Chris Black on chris [at] sidf.co.uk with a one-­page proposal for a documentary or a doc/factual cross platform project (and brief information about yourself).

This workshop costs £30 + VAT per person. Deadline for submission of proposals: 8th March 2012.


Funders, Followers, Fans

20th March 2012 / 9am - 5pm / Glasgow

Do you want to know how to access funding for documentaries in both traditional and radical ways?

Come to a FREE 1-day practical guide to accessing documentary funding, led by Charlie Phillips, Sheffield Doc/Fest’s Marketplace Director.

This workshop will allow Scottish documentary professionals to get up to date on who is funding what right now, and how to approach them.

The presentation will show how to access international TV and film funding, coproduce internationally and create business plans for the international market. The training day will also give insight in new and emerging opportunities beyond traditional TV commissioning for the funding, distribution and exhibition of Factual and Documentary content, including crowdfunding, foundation funding, philanthropy and 3rd sector funding, plus audience engagement, outreach strategies, online distribution, engaging social networks and communities, creating fan networks, and how to create a social impact.

Participants will be asked to present their project and will be given feedback on their presentation and individual bespoke advise on how to develop the project further, get funding, and reach audiences.

Emma Valentine from MEDIA Antenna Scotland will present the various ways MEDIA can help Scottish filmmakers.

You can access up-to-date knowledge on the contemporary international market and insight on how to navigate funding, distribution, marketing and exhibition for factual projects.

All attendees will be prepared for applications to MeetMarket and other pitching and marketplace opportunities at Sheffield Doc/Fest. Attendees will be encouraged to attend with a range of projects currently in development, production and post-production, and advice will be given on their general business strategy beyond a single project. Attendees can be working for any platform and genre, including interactive projects.

Each attendee will be personally mentored post-workshop, developing the business strategies for their current slate and attendees will be offered a discounted delegate pass to the 2012 Doc/Fest marketplace.

To attend please email chris [at] sidf.co.uk.