Reminder: call for applications: PITCH_IT@Berlinale

International Pitching Training and Producers Workshop is organized by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) and the Goethe-Institut.

Who can participate?

This workshop is designed to give emerging directors, writers and producers who are based in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Germany an international platform. Each country will be represented within the project. 8 selected projects (maximum 2 participants per project) in the fields of animation, documentary, fiction and experimental films, will get the opportunity to further develop their skills and stories in intense training sessions. At the end of the workshop, they will present their current, finished, but not premiered projects to members of international film festivals and film funders during a Pitching Event at the Berlinale 2023. This will be followed by oneon-one sessions with industry representatives, where participants will get the opportunity to connect with producers and distributors, and work on their future careers in the film industry.

Shape your skills in online and offline trainings

In the scope of the online- and on-site workshops, participants will improve their knowledge and skills in some of the most relevant topics for young filmmakers, such as production and marketing, green shooting or diversity management. Furthermore, while pitching training the participants will work to improve their skills in pitching convincingly, effectively - both, online and offline.

In addition to the pitching training, there will be an intensive, 5-day workshop for producers, addressing the questions: how to sell projects to international buyers, how to develop effective packaging strategies for films, and which skills are essential to place films successfully in festivals and on international markets.

Meet the Industry

Part of the workshop will also be a networking event at one of the most prestigious (“A”-rated) festivals in Europe: Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival. Participants will not only have the chance to be part of one of the most interesting, uprising film markets on the continent, but will also get the opportunity to speak directly to Industry professionals and festival organizers.

Pitching Event live at Berlinale

The workshop will conclude in 2023, on-site, at Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), where participants will present their projects to a prestigious international jury consisting of experts from film festivals like IDFA, Locarno, Sundance and Berlinale and successful distributers.

Schedule

• July 2022: Kick-Off-Event in Budapest, Hungary + 5-days Producers’ workshop, fullday classes
• September 2022: Individual Online Trainings with the mentors
• September 2022 - January 2023 - Online Pitching training as weekly evening-classes
• November 2022: Networking Event, Tallinn Black Nights 2022, Estonia
• January 2023: 5-day Producers’ workshop in Prague, Czech Republic, full-day classes
• February 2023: Berlinale Pitch-Event 2023

Mentors (Selection)

• Sibylle Kurz (GER): Pitching Training
• Vicky Miha (GR): Festival PR & Marketing
• Dóra Nedeczky (HU): Film Packaging
• Elsa Kremser/Levin Peter (AUT/GER): Writing Exposés
• Lucie Kralova (CZ), film director, consultant, script editor, lecturer, Assistant professor Documentary Departmet, FAMU
• Karla Stojáková (CZ), film producer and Head of the Department of Producing, FAMU

Criteria for Participation

• Based in the Czech Republic, Germany or Hungary
• excellent artistic quality of the project in the respective categories animation, documentary, fictional and experimental films
• No festival appearances before July 2022
• No public market pitch of the project concept
• High school degree preferred
• Filmmakers who have made more than one feature film are not eligible

Required documents in English language

• Short CV of two team members
• Short description of the project content and status (max. 300 words)
• Video introduction of at least one team member about your motivation for participation (max 3:00 min)
• Trailer or teaser of max 2:00 min (only in case of completed films)

Please send your documents

Call is open.
Deadline: 19th April 2022
To: pitch-it@filmakademie.de
Please get back to us if you have any questions regarding the application process: andrea.petrovicova@famu.cz

The Pre-Selection Jury

• Ildikó Enyedi (HU) // Hungarian Film Director and Berlinale Winner
• Radim Prochazka (CZ) // Director and Producer, FAMU International
• Dr. Evelin Hust (GER) // Director Goethe-Institut Budapest

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THIS CALL HERE.

Who are the Organizers?

Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg: https://www.filmakademie.de

Since it was founded in 1991, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg has become one of the world’s leading film academies. Around 250 films covering a range of genres are created by teams of students each year. Several won prizes at film festivals. The overriding objective of the program is to prepare students in the best possible way for a successful career in the film and media industries.

Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague: https://www.famu.cz/en

Film and TV School of Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) is one of the three faculties of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU, FAMU, HAMU) and the fifth oldest film school in Europe. Its students' films are recognized with dozens of awards at film festivals around the world every year. FAMU's study programs combine both practical and theoretical approaches, thanks to which students acquire a comprehensive set of skills and knowledge needed to work in all professions of film, television, photography and new media.

Goethe-Institut: www.goethe.de/budapest and www.goethe.de/tschechien

The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. We promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. We convey a comprehensive image of Germany by providing information about cultural, social and political life in our nation. Our cultural and educational programs encourage intercultural dialogue and enable cultural involvement. They strengthen the development of structures in civil society and foster worldwide mobility. We are partners for all who actively engage with Germany and its culture, working independently and without political ties.