A record 612 projects have applied for MeetMarket, the two-day pitching forum at Sheffield Doc/Fest that is also hosting funding opportunities from the BFI, Channel 4, Wellcome Trust and others.
The documentary festival, which runs from June 12-16, will offer thousands of pounds of funding and in-kind support for development, production and placements.
This is in addition to Doc/Fest’s flagship pitching forum MeetMarket, which organises around 1,000 meetings for 65 projects with international documentary decision makers.
This year a record 612 projects have applied to MeetMarket, which takes place on June 13-14.
Charlie Phillips, market place director, said MeetMarket had featured 369 projects, raising more than £27m for doc and digital projects from 41 countries since 2006.
Phillips added: “Doc/Fest’s support goes beyond the 5-day festival. Year-round Doc/Fest, with Crossover, runs pitch and interactive-media workshops, ensuring that filmmakers have the best possible outcomes when they come to develop and pitch their projects.”
Pitch opportunities on offer at 2013 Doc/Fest are:
BFI Film Fund Pitch - In response to the groundswell in theatrical documentary proposals, the BFI has launched this new opportunity for filmmakers to access major documentary film funding from the BFI Film Fund, and pitch at twice yearly opportunities in London and Sheffield. Open until April 22nd
Channel 4 First Cut Pitch - An opportunity for UK filmmakers to get a First Cut commission offer, plus mentorship and training. Open until April 14
Wellcome Trust Pitch – The Wellcome Trust Development Awards Pitch returns to Sheffield Doc/Fest for a sixth year. Awards of up to £10,000 are available for projects that engage the audience with contemporary or historical biomedical science, in an innovative and accessible way. Open until April 26.
The New York Times OpDocs Pitch - Win an opportunity to make an online short for the New York Times’ Op-Docs series with a budget of $5,000. Open until April 12.
Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch The Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch gives new talent presenters from a range of disciplines the chance to show a panel of specialist factual commissioning editors, funders and producers what they can do. The winner will make a short film with Mandrake Films for The Open University’s Open Media Unit to go on their OpenLearn channel Open until May 30.
Mini MeetMarket - A unique opportunity for new and emerging documentary filmmakers to meet executive producers in an informal setting, to get a response on how you pitched it as well as pointers on how it needs developing, where to go next, and how to improve your chances of getting funding. Execs confirmed include: Roger Graef (Films of Record), Christopher Hird (Dartmouth Films) and Lucy Baxter (Mandrake Films). Open until May 5.
10x10 - 10x10 is the free project development workshop which has become a staple of Doc/Fest’s programme. Three filmmakers are selected to screen up to 10 minutes of their non-fiction works-in-progress and receive 10 minutes of directed feedback from the audience. This pitch will open soon.
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