Developing a new short or feature project? Looking for advice and pointers on developing your big idea? Pitching Sessions are your chance to get your work in front of key decision-makers from the UK’s leading production companies. Meet one-to-one with the Development Executives from the likes of Film4, Goldfinch First Flights, BBC Film, Guardian Documentaries and BFI Doc Society. This is a major opportunity to receive invaluable feedback on your work. Successful applicants are invited to a 20-minute, 1-on-1 Pitching Session with a representative from one of our guest organisations. All events take place in person at Malmaison York. You must hold an Unlimited Access festival pass to apply. Free to enter. Maximum 2 applications per person. Deadline Sunday 6 October.
Organisations and Timetable
Film4 (Narrative Features)
6 November | 11:00-13:00
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, which develops and co-finances projects from the most distinctive talents in the UK, as well as the rest of the world. Academy Award-winners include Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, with notable recent releases are Last Night in Soho, Rocks, Enys Men and Living.
BBC Film (Narrative Shorts)
6 November | 13:00-15:00
BBC Film is at the forefront of independent filmmaking in the UK, developing and co-producing feature-length productions. Committed to developing new talent, it collaborates with some of the foremost writers and directors, with new releases including Ken Loach’s Sorry We Missed You and Joanna Hogg’s The Souvenir. BBC Films was awarded the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema.
Goldfinch First Flights (Narrative Shorts)
6 November | 13:00-15:00
Goldfinch First Flights empowers up-and-coming talent to make compelling content for a global audience. With a network of over 7000 filmmakers, they have enabled the production of ten projects in the past 24 months. Their Short Film Fund helps filmmakers around the world test ideas before embarking on a feature film. Goldfinch has worked with Gary Oldman, Anjelica Houston, Bill Nighy and Sam Riley.
Ridley Scott Associates (Narrative Shorts)
6 November | 15:00-17:00
RSA Films is a global production company that was founded by eminent directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Renowned for creative excellence and production expertise, RSA Films has produced innovative, award-winning campaigns for agencies and brands for more than half a century. Its has produced acclaimed short films such as Academy-award winner The Phone Book, which stars Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent.
BBC Comedy (Writing for Comedy)
7 November | 10:00-12:00
BBC Comedy is responsible for many of the greatest comedies of all time and has been dedicated to making people across the world laugh for generations. It is behind all-time classics like Gavin and Stacey and The Office, and has worked with many household names like Romesh Ranganathan, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Daisy May Cooper. Today, it continues to produce cutting-edge comedy, supporting and showcasing new talent.
The Pitch Film Fund (Narrative Shorts)
7 November | 10:00-12:00
The Pitch Film Fund is particularly interested in projects that are adaptations or reimaginings of historic and/or existing stories. The Pitch exists for emerging talent, providing unique training and development opportunities and offering a £60,000 production award each year. The Pitch brings ground-breaking films to global audiences – with commissions like White Gold longlisted for an Oscar.
Ridley Scott Associates (Narrative Shorts)
7 November | 14:00-16:00
RSA Films is a global production company that was founded by eminent directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Renowned for creative excellence and production expertise, RSA Films has produced innovative, award-winning campaigns for agencies and brands for more than half a century. Its has produced acclaimed short films such as Academy-award winner The Phone Book, which stars Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent.
BBC (Scripted Television Drama)
7 November | 14:00-16:00
Simon Nelson is a Development Executive at BBC Writers. He looks after writer development across TV, radio and digital platforms, producing UK-wide new writing talent initiatives, development programmes, opportunities and events for emerging writers. He specialises in identifying, developing and nurturing new screenwriting talent across the BBC, with experience in scripted development across multiple genres.
BBC Comedy (Writing for Comedy)
8 November | 10:00-12:00
BBC Comedy is responsible for many of the greatest comedies of all time and has been dedicated to making people across the world laugh for generations. It is behind all-time classics like Gavin and Stacey and The Office, and has worked with many household names like Romesh Ranganathan, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Daisy May Cooper. Today, it continues to produce cutting-edge comedy, supporting and showcasing new talent.
Ridley Scott Associates (Narrative Shorts)
8 November | 10:00-12:00
RSA Films is a global production company that was founded by eminent directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Renowned for creative excellence and production expertise, RSA Films has produced innovative, award-winning campaigns for agencies and brands for more than half a century. Its has produced acclaimed short films such as Academy-award winner The Phone Book, which stars Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent.
Doc Society (Documentary Shorts)
8 November | 14:00-16:00
The BFI Doc Society Fund works to support and develop storytellers from all parts of the UK, backing feature and short creative documentaries with bold cultural and social ambitions. Founded in 2005, the organisation remains committed to enabling great documentary films and connecting them to audiences globally. Hannah Bush Bailey works across the funds feature slate and the Made of Truth Short Scheme.
Guardian Docs (Documentary Shorts)
8 November | 14:00-16:00
Guardian Documentaries curates and commissions independent filmmakers from around the world. It is committed to telling contemporary stories with unique artistic visions that have the power to provoke, surprise and engage audiences. Guardian Documentaries have won critical acclaim, including a 2022 BAFTA Film Award for The Black Cop, an Oscar for Colette and an Oscar nomination for Black Sheep.
New York Times Op-Docs (Doc Shorts, Under 20 Minutes)
8 November | 15:00-17:00
The New York Times has been running for over 170 years. Op-Docs is its series of short documentaries created by independent filmmakers and distributed by the New York Times around the world. Highlights include Carol Dysinger’s Oscar-Winning Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl). These 1:1s are for those with an existing film, or a project part-way through production, to receive key feedback and guidance.
Neal Street Productions (Narrative Features)
9 November | 10:30-12:30
Neal Street Productions is one of the UK’s most respected production companies, producing film, television and theatre. Set up in 2003 by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling, the company celebrated its 10th Anniversary in 2013, as Nicolas Brown was appointed to the Board of Directors. Neal Street has become known for making distinctive, popular and award-winning projects on both sides of the Atlantic.
Ridley Scott Associates (Narrative Shorts)
9 November | 14:00-16:00
RSA Films is a global production company that was founded by eminent directors Ridley and Tony Scott. Renowned for creative excellence and production expertise, RSA Films has produced innovative, award-winning campaigns for agencies and brands for more than half a century. Its has produced acclaimed short films such as Academy-award winner The Phone Book, which stars Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent.
New York Times Op-Docs (Doc Shorts, Under 20 Minutes)
9 November | 15:30-17:30
The New York Times has been running for over 170 years. Op-Docs is its series of short documentaries created by independent filmmakers and distributed by the New York Times around the world. Highlights include Carol Dysinger’s Oscar-Winning Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl). These 1:1s are for those with an existing film, or a project part-way through production, to receive key feedback and guidance.