Filmmaker pitch contest at American Film Market 2009 Nov 7-10
BY AUSTIN BURBRIDGE. AMERICAN FILM MARKET, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (CINEMA MINIMA) — Movie business professionals who attend the American Film Market have an opportunity to pitch their movie ideas to producers, distributors — and the audience for an American television awards show, “The People’s Choice Awards.”
“The AFM is about the business of film — everyone is selling something — so it’s the perfect venue for a Favorite Film Pitch contest,” says AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf. “Imagine the winner telling a producer, The public voted my project the film they most wanted to see get made. That’s powerful.”
Pitches will be recorded live, in person, November 7–10 from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM in the AFM Filmmakers Lounge at Le Merigot Hotel, 1740 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. A filmmaker can just show up, fill out the Entry Form & Release, and wait for her turn to record her pitch. An AFM badge will not be needed, but if there’s a line, priority will go to participants with an AFM badge or an AFM Seminar Ticket.
Only one film idea may be pitched. A pitch may not exceed two-and-a-half minutes. One retake, but no edits or pauses. Participants may not review the video afterwards.
Afterward, the AFM will assemble a group of industry leaders to select five finalists. Their pitches will be posted on the PCA Web site following the broadcast of “The 2010 People’s Choice Awards” show on the American television network CBS in early January 2010, allowing fans to choose the ultimate winner: the film they would most like to see get made.
In addition to receiving the Favorite Film Pitch award, the winner will also receive an AFM 2010 package that includes full access for two to the AFM, including seminars and conferences; airfare for two to Los Angeles; hotel for five nights in Santa Monica; and scheduled meetings with producers and distributors. Contest guidelines.
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Kietryn Zychal
Kietryn Zychal is a Correspondent for the New York Bureau of Cinema Minima. She has worked as a journalist in the American state of Pennsylvania. Prior to working as a journalist, Zychal was an actress. She toured several American states performing a one-woman show “Merely the Ravings of a Maniac,” that she wrote and produced. Her screenplay, “What Comes Next,” is a dark comedy about the difficulty of being married to a professional golfer. Zychal is writing a TV pilot called “Eco-Hookers.” She was educated at Lehigh University and studied abroad in England and Switzerland.Suddhasatya Ghosh
Suddhasatya Ghosh is based in Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaAustin Burbridge
Austin Burbridge is Editor-in-Chief of Cinema Minima. After successful careers in manufacturing and in technology, he founded Cinema Minima, Sustainable Cinema, and Far From Hollywood. A native of Texas, he learned cinéma vérité technique at Rice Media Center. At Brown he concentrated in Semiotics and in Art; he studied Art History at the University of Chicago. He lives in Los Angeles.
Chris WinsomeChristopher Winsome is the Publisher of Cinema Minima for Movie Makers
Ogova OndegoNairobi-based full time worshipper at the shrine of arts and culture; writer specialising in issues related to children, youth, media, culture and development, with a bias towards african and children's cinema










