SVA Ethnographic Film and Media Pitch

Pitch Announcement and Call for Participants

Please join us for the 3^rd DER & Society for Visual Anthropology Film Pitch event at the American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting in Vancouver, on November 21, 1-5 PM

Are you currently working on a film?  Are you interested in getting feedback?

Are you interested in ethnographic film production but not yet ready to share a project in progress?

A PITCH SESSION FOR ETHNOGRAPHIC FILMMAKERS: DEVELOPING YOUR STORY, INTEGRATING YOUR RESEARCH, FINDING FUNDING AND DISTRIBUTION

This event uses the format of documentary film festivals’ pitch sessions in which filmmakers pitch their work-in-progress to a jury of funders, distributors and award winning filmmakers. For each film presented, the jury will provide feedback including strategies for visualizing anthropological content and suggestions for developing your narrative and structure. Other jury feedback includes conceptualizing your audience and opportunities and strategies for funding and distribution.  No fee.

Selected filmmakers will give a10 minute presentation of their project, that includes a description of the story, themes, research, style, plans for the project’s completion and a short video sample. Our workshop format is intended to encourage lively discussion between jurors, other workshop participants and the presenting filmmakers. Discussion will address both the effectiveness of the pitch and the substance of the film project. The goals of the workshop:

1. To model how to present a film project to potential collaborators, funders and distributors.
2. To provide concrete strategies for turning research into visually compelling stories.
3. To direct participants to funding and distribution opportunities.

Jury and audience awards will be given.

Two ways to participate in this Pitch

1. PITCH YOUR PROJECT: Whether your project is in development, production, or at the rough-cut stage, this is an opportunity to get feedback on your work-in progress from a jury with expertise in anthropological filmmaking, funding and distribution. Seven filmmakers (or filmmaking teams) will be selected to pitch projects. Those interested in presenting their film project should send a brief Pitch Proposal (see below) to Alice Apley (alice@der.org) by OCTOBER 15, 2019. The organizers will select a mix of experienced and first-time filmmakers. No fee.
2. NONPITCHING PARTICIPANTS: As a participant observer, you can observe the pitches and join the discussion about the projects in progress. Learn from the pitches, get ideas, and plan for a future visual project.  No fee.

Pitch Proposal

If you are interested in pitching your project, send the following materials to alice@der.org:

• Primary contact information
• Title, duration, language, format, production timeline, projected date of completion, short synopsis (approximately 250 words)
• One-page treatment (approximately 500 words)
• Short status report (approximately 250 words)
• Optional: Short description of the outreach and engagement strategy (approximately 250 words)
• Optional: Short description of the distribution strategy (approximately 250 words)
• Trailer, teaser, or clips sent via a singlestreamable link of film footage or visuals (still or moving). (7 minutes maximum)
• PLEASE DO NOT SEND LARGE PHOTO OR VIDEO FILES BY EMAIL. If your proposal includes images, please compress the file

For questions, email Alice Apley, alice@der.org or Sarah Elder, selder@buffalo.edu

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