Pitch Day: Overview

Pitching your film is a crucial step in getting your film financed. Learn from the experiences of industry pros on how to give the perfect pitch and get your project funded.

Co-presented by A&E IndieFilms

Bagels & coffee 9:15-10:00am

Morning Manifesto: DOC NYC Short List Filmmakers In Conversation 10:00-11:30am

A special 90-minute conversation with many of the directors featured in the DOC NYC Short List section. Expected to attend: Evgeny Afineevsky (Winter on Fire), Kirby Dick (The Hunting Ground), Liz Garbus (What Happened, Miss Simone?), Alex Gibney (Going Clear), Davis Guggenheim (He Named Me Malala), Ethan Hawke (Seymour: An Introduction), Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land), Asif Kapadia (Amy), Kim Longinotto (Dreamcatcher), Michael Moore (Where to Invade Next), Brett Morgen (Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck), Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack), Morgan Neville (Best of Enemies), Stanley Nelson (The Black Panthers), Joshua Oppenheimer (The Look of Silence).

The Perfect Reel & Trailer 12:00-1:10pm

Crafting a compelling reel and/or trailer is one of the most essential components to marketing a film. Trailer specialists Jeremy Workman (Wheelhouse Creative) and Mark Berridge (Zealot Inc.) join filmmakers Rachel Boynton (Big Men, Our Brand Is Crisis), Katie Delamaggiore (Brooklyn Castle) and writer Fernanda Rossi (author of Trailer Mechanics) to discuss different approaches to creating an enticing package.

Pitch Training 2:00-3:10pm

It takes practice to distill the subject of a documentary down to a few key words while still making it attractive to funders. Is it better to err on the side of more or less? Sandi DuBowski (Good Pitch), Judith Helfand (Chicken & Egg Pictures) and Reva Goldberg (Cinereach) walk you through how to make your idea irresistible to industry executives in one powerful pitch.

The Pitch! 3:30-4:40pm

Watch filmmakers pitch their films to esteemed industry figures and receive live feedback. Participants include Molly Thompson (A&E IndieFilms), John Hoffman (Discovery Channel), Julie Anderson (WNET) and Daniel Chalfen (Naked Edge Films).

Happy Hour 5:00-6:00pm Co-presented by A&E IndieFilms

Attend this day’s events with an All Access Pass, DOC NYC PRO Pass, or Pitch Day Pass. Your pass also includes an onsite Bagel Breakfast 9:15-10, Happy Hour 5-6, and entry to the PRO lounge 9:15-6.