In 2020, the BlackStar Film Festival will host the second annual BlackStar Pitch. Filmmakers will pitch their projects in front of a virtual audience and a panel of judges to receive feedback and have an opportunity to win a $25K co-production deal with WORLD Channel. An honorable mention pitch will receive a $2,500 cash prize from IF/Then.
This year’s BlackStar Pitch will be focused on documentary short projects.
BlackStar Pitch will showcase a group of 8 filmmakers, who will be selected based on their applications due July 12. The filmmakers will pitch their works-in-progress to a distinguished panel of funders, executives, distributors and producers. The 8 finalists will also have a chance to meet with a minimum of 2 panelists in one-on-one sessions prior to the Pitch contest to get direct feedback and advice on their projects.
The panelists will choose the best pitch, to be announced during the awards ceremony on August 26.
Each pitch will last 7 minutes (including video reel) followed by 8 minutes of constructive feedback. The pitch is designed to connect industry professionals with new voices in the independent film community.
Alex Hannibal, CNN
Chi-hui Yang, JustFilms/Ford Foundation
Chloe Gbai, IF/Then
Chloe Walters-Wallace, Firelight Media
Chris Hastings, WORLD Channel
Jamila Farwell, Netflix
Jihan Robinson, Quibi
Opal Hope Bennett, POV Shorts
Poh Si Teng, Al Jazeera
Pitches should be submitted by a project’s director or producer. Each pitch team must consist of a minimum of one and maximum of three members.
Each pitch will last 7 minutes (including video reel) followed by 10 minutes of constructive feedback.
The winning pitch will receive a $25K co-production deal with WORLD Channel. An honorable mention pitch will receive a $2,500 cash prize from IF/Then.
The application will open June 30th. The deadline to apply has been extended to July 15.
Applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision by July 28.
Chosen projects will have to accept the offered pitch slot and provide verification of text for publication by July 29.
Have questions or concerns? Email maya@blackstarfest.org.