Have a bold film idea? Pitch your project to the people who can make it happen and bring your story to the screen. Pitching and 1:1 Sessions offer a valuable opportunity to present your project to a representative from a major production organisation. These meetings are designed to provide feedback, expert guidance, and industry insight to help you refine your work and move it forward. Selected participants will be matched with a Development Executive for a 20-minute, one-to-one session. Applications are open to Unlimited Pass holders only.
Please note: While the primary focus of these sessions is on creative development and professional advice, some organisations may also be open to discussing future opportunities, which could include funding or collaboration. However, this should not be expected as a guaranteed outcome. We encourage you to approach the sessions with an open mind and a focus on growth, feedback and meaningful industry dialogue. Maximum two entries per applicant. Sessions will take place in person in York, UK, during the Festival. There are no virtual sessions available.
Organisations and Timetable
Channel 5 (Scripted Television Drama)
4 November | 12:00 – 14:00
Channel 5 Commissioning is the channel’s editorial team responsible for developing and commissioning distinctive, accessible programming across drama, factual, and entertainment. Working with a broad range of UK and international producers, the team champions popular, character-led storytelling with strong audience appeal. Recent commissions include The Inheritance, The Feud, All Creatures Great and Small and Riches.
Ridley Scott Associates (Narrative Shorts)
4 November | 15:00 – 17:00
5 November | 10:00 – 12:00
6 November | 10:00 – 12:00
RSA Films is a worldwide production company founded by visionary directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Celebrated for its creative excellence and craft, RSA has delivered award-winning campaigns for leading brands and agencies for over 50 years, as well as acclaimed Oscar-winning short films.
Film4 (Narrative Features)
4 November | 15:30 – 17:30
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, developing and co-financing bold and original films from the UK and internationally and beyond. Their Academy Award-winners include Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest and Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin. Recent acclaimed releases include All of Us Strangers, Saltburn, The Kitchen, Rye Lane and Femme.
BBC Film (Narrative Shorts)
5 November | 10:00 – 12:00
BBC Film is at the forefront of UK independent filmmaking, developing and co-producing distinctive productions. Championing emerging voices while collaborating with leading writers and directors, it is shaping the future of British cinema. Recent releases include Marianne Elliott’s The Salt Path, Harry Lighton’s Pillion and Nora Fingscheidt’s The Outrun. BBC Film holds a BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
ITV (Scripted Television Drama)
5 November | 12:00 – 14:00
ITV’s commissioning teams shape some of the UK’s most widely watched original programming, spanning drama, factual, entertainment and comedy. With a focus on emotionally resonant, high-profile storytelling, they work with established and emerging producers to reach mass audiences across linear and streaming platforms. Recent commissions include Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The Tower, After the Flood, Liar and Trigger Point.
The Pitch Film Fund (Narrative Shorts)
5 November | 12:00 – 14:00
The Pitch Film Fund champions fresh takes on timeless narratives, focusing on emerging filmmakers of all backgrounds. Offering training and development, The Pitch annually awards production grants up to £35,000 to shorts inspired by one of cinema’s richest sources – The Bible. Their commitment to innovative storytelling has led to successes including White Gold (Oscar longlisted) and Only Child (BAFTA Cymru nominated).
Quay Street Productions (Scripted Television Drama)
5 November | 13:30 – 15:30
Quay Street Productions is a Manchester-based scripted drama label within ITV Studios, creating bold, contemporary series for UK and global audiences. Focused on premium storytelling rooted in strong characters and accessible emotional worlds, the company works with leading writers and emerging voices. Recent titles include Betrayal, After the Flood, The Long Shadow, and Red Eye, reflecting a commitment to high-end mainstream drama.
BFI Doc Society (Documentary Shorts)
6 November | 10:00 – 12:00
The BFI Doc Society Fund supports and develops storytellers from across the UK, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Founded in 2005, it is committed to supporting fact-based films and connecting them to audiences worldwide. Recent projects include Kim Hopkins’ Still Pushing Pineapples, Shiori Itō’s Black Box Diaries, and the Berlinale-winning Dahomey by Mati Diop.
Neal Street Productions (Narrative Shorts)
6 November | 12:00 – 14:00
Neal Street Productions is one of the British most respected production companies, known for acclaimed film (Empire of Light, 1917), television (Informer, Britannia, The Third Day) and theatre. Founded in 2003 by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, and Caro Newling, it recently celebrated over 20 years of storytelling excellence. Neal Street continues to create distinctive, award-winning projects with strong international impact and critical acclaim.
BBC Writers (Scripted Television Drama)
6 November | 15:00 – 17:00
Simon Nelson is a Development Executive at BBC Writers, overseeing writer development across TV, radio, and digital platforms. He leads UK-wide initiatives, programmes, and events to discover and nurture emerging screenwriting talent. With extensive experience in scripted development across multiple genres, Simon specialises in identifying and supporting new voices, helping to shape the future of storytelling across the BBC ecosystem.
The Ink Factory (Scripted Television Drama)
7 November | 11:00 – 13:00
The Ink Factory is an independent studio founded by Stephen and Simon Cornwell to produce bold stories for global audiences. With a focus on high-end film and TV, the company is known for adaptations of John le Carré, including The Night Manager, The Little Drummer Girl and The Pigeon Tunnel. Recent titles include Korean-language thriller The Plotters. The Ink Factory crafts intelligent, cinematic storytelling with international impact.
Out of Orbit (Narrative Shorts)
7 November | 11:00 – 13:00
Out of Orbit is a production company behind distinctive, character-driven storytelling for television and film. Best known for the cultural phenomenon Derry Girls, the company has helped bring sharply observed, irreverent comedy-drama to global audiences. It continues to develop bold scripted projects with writers across the UK and Ireland, focusing on originality, strong voices, and stories with humour, heart and international reach.
Guardian Docs (Documentary Shorts)
7 November | 15:30 – 17:30
Guardian Documentaries reflect the Guardian’s core editorial ethos, curating and commissioning independent filmmakers worldwide. The strand champions contemporary stories told with bold artistic vision – films that provoke, surprise, and engage with our changing world. Critically acclaimed, the series has earned top honours, including a 2021 Oscar for Colette and a 2022 BAFTA for The Black Cop.
Goldfinch (Narrative Shorts)
7 November | 15:30 – 17:30
First Flights is an Oscar- and BAFTA-recognised short film fund with a global reputation for championing emerging talent. Its an incubator for debut feature directors and producers, empowering creatives to craft commercially viable films and build international careers. The team supports filmmakers from script to screen, and has collaborated with Gary Oldman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Nighy, Sam Riley and rising talents across the indie scene.
1:1 Feedback Sessions
These 1:1 Sessions offer a valuable opportunity to present your project to a representative from a major production organisation. Gain feedback, guidance, and insight to help you refine your work and move it forward. Selected participants will be matched with a Development Executive from one of these organisations for a 20-minute, one-to-one session.
Applications are open to Unlimited Pass holders only.
Dartmouth Films (Documentary Features)
4 November | 12:00-14:00
Dartmouth Films is a pioneer of independent documentaries in Britain, championing bold, socially engaged storytelling through innovative funding and distribution models. Recent releases include The Stimming Pool, Children of the Cult, From Roger Moore with Love, HYPER: The Stevie Hyper D Story, and The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru. Dartmouth amplifies underrepresented voices and brings impactful stories to global audiences.
XR Stories (VR & Immersive)
4 November | 15:00-17:00
XR Stories is a Yorkshire-based innovation hub supporting the development of immersive and interactive storytelling across film, television, games and digital media. Working with creators, production companies and technology partners, it funds and develops projects using emerging technologies such as VR, AR and real-time production. It focuses on R&D, skills development and helping creators build commercially viable content and experiences.
Dog Ears (Animation)
5 November | 10:00-12:00
Dog Ears Animation is a UK-based studio creating distinctive animated content across film, television and digital platforms. Best known for the internationally successful series Puffin Rock, the company develops character-led storytelling with a warm, playful visual style. Working across original IP and commissions, Dog Ears focuses on strong design, humour and emotionally engaging narratives for family and younger audiences.
BBC Comedy (Scripted Television Comedy)
6 November | 11:00-13:30
BBC Comedy is the broadcast home of British humour, commissioning new shows across BBC platforms for audiences worldwide. The team is dedicated to nurturing and developing fresh creative voices, as well as collaborating with established household names. Recent releases include Death Valley starring Timothy Spall, Smoggie Queens, Mammoth, Danielle Does Life, and the animated series The Golden Cobra.