Pitch Your Film at Queer Screen Pitch Off!

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Pitch Your Film at Queer Screen Pitch Off!

Calling all aspiring LGBTIQ+ filmmakers! Do you have what it takes to publicly pitch your short-film project with passion and conviction?

Queer Screen Pitch Off offers Australian LGBTIQ+ filmmakers the opportunity to share in a $20,000 prize pool including $10,000 in funding to produce a short film that addresses the lives and stories of people of diverse genders and sexualities. To qualify, all film projects submitted must meet the eligibility requirements.

After an initial assessment of all eligible film projects, six filmmakers will be chosen to present their film proposals to a panel of expert assessors.

Finalists will have no more than five minutes to pitch their proposal and impress the panel and the public, so make your time count!

The winner will receive $10,000 in short film funding. Additionally, all finalists will receive free script consultation from Matthew Dabner (Lecturer in Media Arts and Production at UTS, and renowned script editor, writer, and producer), along with two Flexi 5 passes to Queer Screen Film Fest 2024.

In 2024, we are thrilled that Screen Australia’s Gender Matters Taskforce will also offer the following initiatives for eligible female and gender-diverse practitioners selected as finalists:

  • The Gender Matters Taskforce Screenwriting Prize, a $5,000 cash prize for the best screenplay by a female or gender-diverse screenwriter
  • The Gender Matters Taskforce Professional Development Prize, a $5,000 cash prize towards a program of self-directed professional development for a female or gender-diverse filmmaker or filmmaking team
  • A Gender Matters Taskforce Travel Stipend to assist female and gender-diverse finalists who reside outside of metropolitan Sydney to attend Pitch Off in person.

Application deadline:

  • Non-Members: Monday 29th July, 2024
  • Queer Screen Members: Monday 5th August, 2024

Successful candidates will be notified by Wednesday 21st August, 2024 and are strongly encouraged to pitch in person at the Pitch Off event on Sunday 1st September, 2024, at Event Cinemas George Street in Sydney – or they can pitch remotely via an online platform.

Review detailed information, including terms and conditions and how to submit here.

Queer Screen Pitch Off has been supporting emerging Australian LGBTIQ+ filmmakers since 2018, with six projects awarded much needed funding and 36 filmmakers receiving vital pitching experience.

Think you have what it takes?

Submit now

Please note you need a google account to use the submission form.

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Pitch Off! Winners

Since 2018 Queer Screen Pitch Off has awarded Australian LGBTIQ+ filmmakers $10,000 annually of funding towards the production of a short film (narrative, documentary or a stand alone web series pilot) dealing with the experiences of people of diverse genders and sexualities.

Sara

Lizzie Cater
2023

Before 8am

Taofia Pelesasa
2021

TUĪ NÁ

William Duan
2019

Happy New Year, Ms. Luna

Andy Diep, Michelle Ny & Vada Gock
2022

Wicked Women

Kate Lefoe & Hayley Adams
2020

Butch

Holly Austin & Zoe McDonald
2018