The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch, Sheffield Doc/Fest 2012

The most popular pitch of the festival is back for the eleventh year running!

What’s the idea?

Five contenders will compete in front of a panel of executive producers and a Channel 4 Commissioning Editor. Candidates will be judged on their CVs and experience as well as the project they are pitching.

Is there a theme?

Not this time! It is open to everyone and you can pitch any idea you want.

So what are you looking for?

We want incredible stories from a range of ideas and styles – news related and access driven, quirky and eccentric, observational, concept driven or simply off the wall. We are looking for fabulous, larger than life characters in surprising situations or worlds we haven’t seen before.

What’s the prize?

The prize is a chance to make a 24 minute film for Channel 4’s critically-acclaimed documentary new talent strand, First Cut. The winner will receive a 10 week freelance placement at a production company to direct a half hour, on a budget of £50k. There will also be a runner’s up prize of £5k development funding from the Channel 4 Alpha Fund which supports new talent and Creative Diversity.

What is the process?

Please complete the application form and, along with your CV, e-mail it to sheffieldpitch@channel4.co.uk by FRIDAY 4th MAY 2012. No late applications will be accepted.

Finalists will be notified by FRIDAY 25th MAY 2012. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be given further details of what the pitch will involve, and will be asked to make a 3 minute trailer for the pitching session.

Please be aware that the idea pitched will not necessarily be the one commissioned – this pitch is to find a great director with lots of ideas! Therefore your 3 minute trailer can be either a show reel of your work to date or a taster of the project you will be pitching.

Who is eligible?

The pitch is open to experienced APs and up-and-coming directors, who have not yet received a Director credit on a network primetime documentary film. This is not an entry level pitch. A commitment and passion for television documentary needs to be clearly evident and ideally also experience of working in television production. You must be UK-based, and be able to take up a freelance placement with a production company of Channel 4's choice.

Applicants for the Channel 4 Sheffield Pitch must be available to attend the festival, 13th – 17th June. Please note that finalists will be eligible to attend the pitch free of charge, but for any other festival activities, or to access any festival venues, will need to purchase a discounted festival pass. If you cannot make this commitment you are not eligible to enter the pitch competition.

Any queries?

Email sheffieldpitch@channel4.co.uk

Download application form here