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FREE PITCH ! Receive a USD 5000$ Cash Prize to create your future film.  

We are excited to announce a unique opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their talent and win a Cash Prize of USD 5000$ to fund their next short film!.

New York Indie Shorts Awards is introducing a new competition called “PITCH THE AUDIENCE,” where filmmakers can submit a 2-minute video presentation.

This presentation, if selected by our programming team, will be screened during our Live Event next September 29th - October 5th at the Cinema Village in New York, where the audience will vote for the project they find most compelling.

We encourage institutions, schools, and filmmaker communities to spread the word and participate in this exciting event.

Competition Overview 

“PITCH THE AUDIENCE” is an innovative initiative aimed at giving filmmakers an interactive platform to pitch their projects directly to the audience. The goal is to create a convincing and captivating 2-minute video presentation that highlights the essence of the project and engages the audience’s attention. The selected presentations will be showcased during our Live Event, where the audience will have the power to vote and decide among the Jury the winning pitch.

Competition Guidelines

Eligibility: The competition is open to filmmakers of all levels, from emerging talents to qualified professionals.

Theme and Format: Submissions can be from any genre or subject matter. The presentation should be concise, engaging, and provide a clear overview of the project. The format must in .mp4 or .mov, 1998x1080, in 2k resolution.

Duration: The video presentation should not exceed 2 minutes in length.

Language: Presentations can be in any language. However, if the language is not English, English subtitles must be provided.

Originality: Submissions must be original works by the filmmakers or their team.

Submission Process: Filmmakers are required to submit their video presentations through our official submission platform, FilmFreeway. 

https://filmfreeway.com/INDIESHORTSAWARDSNEWYORK

Selection Process: The programming team will review all submissions and select the most compelling presentations for the Live Event.

Live Event: The selected presentations will be screened during our Live Event, where the audience and the jury will vote for their favorite project.

Grant Award:  The project that emerges as the winner will be awarded a grant of USD 5000. It is important to note that the project should be finished within a time frame of 18 months from the moment the grant is received. Additionally, it is required to include the support of Indie Shorts Awards and display their logo in the opening credits of the film.

Rights: Filmmakers retain all rights to their projects. However, by submitting their project, filmmakers grant New York Indie Shorts Awards the right to screen their video during the Live Event.

Pre-Selection Process

In addition to the 2-minute video presentation, New York Indie Shorts Awards requires submitters to provide a “Pitch Kit” alongside their submission. The “Pitch Kit” is a package that includes important details about the project, offering the programming team valuable insights into the project. It should be uploaded along with the video presentation, and while it won’t be presented during the Live Event, it is essential for the programming team during the selection process.

The “Pitch Kit” can include the following elements:

References: Provide references that inspire and inform your project. This can include visual references, films, art, or any other media that helps convey the tone, style, or concept of your project.

Possible Cast: Introduce the potential cast members for your project. This can be a list of actors or a brief description of the type of actors you envision in the roles. In case of an animation project, drawings or sculptures of the main characters can be helpful.

Script: Include a synopsis or a brief summary of the script. This can help the programming team understand the storyline and thematic elements of your project.

Plot: Provide an overview of the plot, highlighting key story points, character arcs, and any unique elements that make your project stand out.

Moodboard: Create a visual moodboard that captures the atmosphere, visual style, and overall mood you aim to achieve in your project. This can include images, color palettes, or any visual references that help convey the intended aesthetic.

Budget: Include a budget outline or breakdown of the financial resources required to bring your project to fruition. This can be a rough estimate or a detailed breakdown of production costs.

*Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and what the “Pitch Kit” should include depends in each individual project. 

**Please note that the “Pitch Kit” is solely for the programming team’s review and will not be presented during the Live Event. It serves as a means for the team to gain a deeper understanding of your project and evaluate its potential for selection. The final selection will be based primarily on the 2-minute video presentation and its ability to engage and captivate the audience.

We encourage submitters to use the “Pitch Kit” to provide a comprehensive and compelling overview of their project. This additional information will allow the programming team to better evaluate the submission’s merits and potential for inclusion in the Live Event.

How to Participate ? 

·  Create a compelling 2-minute video presentation that showcases your 

   project effectively.

·  Create a “Pitch Kit” which includes important details about your project.

·  Visit our official submission platform, FilmFreeway, and submit your 2 

   minutes video presentation and “Pitch Kit” for “PITCH THE AUDIENCE” 

   competition using full waiver code PITCH2023NYC

   https://filmfreeway.com/INDIESHORTSAWARDSNEWYORK

·  Provide all the necessary information and ensure the submission meets the 

   guidelines mentioned above.

·  Await the announcement of selected presentations for the Live Event.

Spread the Word

We encourage institutions, schools, and filmmaker communities to share this exciting opportunity with their members and networks. Help us discover and support talented filmmakers by promoting “PITCH THE AUDIENCE” among your contacts and on social media platforms.

Remember the jury and the audience will vote for the winner! So bring your friends and join us for an extraordinary event where the audience’s voice will join NEW YORK INDIE SHORTS AWARDS’ Jury to decide the winner. Let’s celebrate the power of storytelling and support independent filmmaking together!

VERY IMPORTANT !!! 

Dates & Deadlines

 Submission Deadline: August 14th 2023

 Announcement of Selected Presentations: September 7th 2023

 Live Event: September 29 – October 5, 2023

For more information and guidelines contact us at nyc@indieshortsawards.com or Check it out here! 

We look forward to receiving your “PITCH THE AUDIENCE” project and seeing you at the Live Event!

NEW YORK INDIE SHORTS AWARDS TEAM

Submit before August 14th 2023 ! Use code: PITCH2023NYC