Peer Pitch Midwest

Docs In Progress is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which gives individuals the tools to tell stories through documentary film to educate, inspire, and transform the way people view their world. We program screenings and filmmaking educational programs.

Docs In Progress

Are you a documentary filmmaker with a work-in-progress at any stage of development?  Are you looking for a supportive environment to give your pitch a test run? Or do you want to help support your fellow filmmakers by providing them feedback? <A HREF="http://www.docsinprogress.org/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Docs In Progress</A> and <A HREF="http://www.d-word.com/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">The D-Word</A>, in partnership with <A HREF="https://www.colum.edu/academics/media-arts/cinema-and-television-arts/index" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Columbia College Chicago </A><A HREF="https://www.colum.edu/academics/media-arts/cinema-and-television-arts/index" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Cinema and Television Arts Department</A> are pleased to present  the third annual Peer Pitch Midwest, a space for documentary filmmakers to get access to creative feedback in a supportive and collaborative environment. This program will give documentary filmmakers of all experience levels the opportunity to present new projects with a verbal pitch (which may include showing a trailer or short sample) to fellow filmmakers and passholders for feedback, and for all attending to gain valuable insights and new connections which can guide their own filmmaking.  ​ Peer Pitch takes place at Columbia College Chicago on Tuesday, April 30 and Wednesday, May 1 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm each day. You may opt to attend both days or only one day. WHY PARTICIPATE IN PEER PITCH? Constructive feedback from other filmmakers in a nurturing environment will help to identify strengths and areas for improvement in projects. Participants will also develop skills and comfort in verbally describing their projects in a safe space among peers. This is not an industry pitch, but rather the pitch you want to test out before pitching to industry. Films which have been presented at past Peer Pitch workshops when they were in their early stages have gone on to be funded by Sundance Documentary Fund, ITVS, Garrett Scott Development Grant; been accepted into industry pitching opportunities such as IFP’s Independent Film Week, HotDocs Forum, DocsBarcelona, and Points North Pitch; and have gone on to play festivals, television, and community screenings around the world.  Participants have also made connections with other filmmakers which have led to later collaborations.  Some of the films which have come through Peer Pitch have included Love, Gilda; Let the Fire Burn, 112 Weddings, Slingshot, Decade of Fire, Big Sonia, Out in the Silence, Indivisible, and Deej. Added Bonus: One or more promising pitches of a film with a social justice or investigative angle may be selected to pitch a second time to industry at the 2019 Double Exposure Film Festival in Washington DC in October 2019 with travel paid for one member of the pitching team to attend and pitch for industry. Last year's Peer Pitch Midwest alums Edgar Barens, Jenny Shi, and Adam Villani were selected to pitch at Double Exposure. WHO MAY ATTEND? Participation in Peer Pitch is open to any filmmaker who has a documentary project he or she would like to discuss. Projects may be at any stage of development.  In the past, both experienced filmmakers and first time filmmakers have pitched their docs in progress. In true democratic fashion, pitching slots are available on a first registered, first accepted basis. There will also be spots for filmmakers who want to attend and give feedback to their colleagues or observe the process, but don’t necessarily have a project to share.
 FEE Observer/Feedback Giver* - $25 Pitching Slot** - $50 (if register and pay by April 1), $65 (from April 2 until full)
Fee includes lunch provided by Columbia College.
* If you are a Columbia College student or faculty member or Kartemquin DVID Fellow, you may attend as an observer/feedback giver for free and a set number of pitching slots will also be available. You do need to register in advance and use the Promo Code which has been given to you by Docs In Progress, Columbia College, or Kartemquin. 
** For those pitching, you may select the day you prefer to pitch, but pitching order for that day will be selected at random so you should plan on attending the entire day's program (if you are a student or faculty member who must work the pitch around classes, we will ask you for your windows of availability). 
If you are pitching, you automatically will also be welcome to attend the other day as an observer/feedback giver so do not need to register for that separately.  The pitching slot is good for up to two members of the creative team to attend. Only one needs to register (the registration form will ask for contact information for the second member of the team, where applicable).
 
PREPARING FOR THE PITCH Those pitching will have up to 10 minutes to pitch (including any time for showing a video sample). You will need to provide an .mp4 or .mov file of their film one week prior to the program. We will follow up with those pitching a few weeks ahead of the program on further suggestions for preparing for the pitch.  This program is made possible in part through the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Peer Pitch Midwest

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