Invite issued for documentary film ideas

ASPIRING and experienced documentary filmmakers are being invited to pitch their ideas in the hope of securing backing.

The invitation – called the ‘Edinburgh Pitch’ and now in its seventh year – sees initial applications whittled down to a shortlist of 12.

While the deadline for applications is the 22nd of next month, the pitching takes place on June 19, to coincide with the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Say the organisers, the Scottish Documentary Institute: “[Edinburgh Pitch] is aimed at independent filmmakers and companies developing and raising finance for creative feature documentaries (52 minutes – 90 minutes) and considering international co-productions.

“Twelve participants will be selected and given the opportunity to pitch their project in front of a carefully-selected panel of international and UK commissioning editors, sales agents and producers, followed by individual meetings.”

Adds the SDI: “Previous projects pitched at Edinburgh include the multiple award-winning Pablo’s Winter, You’ve Been Trumped, The Punk Syndrome, Despite the Gods, How to Re-establish a Vodka Empire and 1000 Pictures.”