Dutch Film Fund announces Pitch Film Idea Initiative

With the pitch, filmmakers test whether the film idea is convincing as a promising idea for a feature film.

Producers and/or experienced screenwriters who have an idea for a feature film, feature-length animated film, or feature-length documentary first pitch their film idea to a panel before submitting an application for screenplay development.

With the pitch, filmmakers test whether their film idea is convincing as a promising idea for a cinema film. During the pitch, you get the chance to clearly and concisely express the core qualities of the film idea: what kind of film do you want to make, for whom, with whom and why?

You will pitch to a panel consisting of five independent panel members from the film sector and the broader cultural sector. After a positive outcome, you can include the feedback you receive from the panel members in your follow-up application for scenario development. A positive outcome after your pitch does not guarantee an award for scenario development. If the outcome of your pitch is not positive, you cannot yet apply for scenario development.

Nomination Criteria

• A producer registers (also on behalf of the team, if applicable) for the pitch for a feature film or long documentary.
• Pitch feature film/long animation:
  • The producer represents a production company (a legal entity, not a sole proprietorship or general partnership) that has been established for at least two years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and that produces and exploits films and other audiovisual productions on a continuous basis. The producer has been primarily responsible for the realisation and release of at least 1 independent, non-commissioned majority Dutch film production (> 70 min.) in the professional Dutch film and/or television sector.
  • The producer is not the same person as the director and/or screenwriter of the film.
  • Only in the case of a feature film or long animation film: an experienced screenwriter can independently make a pitch for a feature film if he also chooses to independently follow the phase of scenario development. The screenwriter must have previously been primarily responsible for the scenario of at least one feature film or long animation film (> 60 min.) that has been released in Dutch cinemas.
• Pitch Documentary:
  • The producer represents a production company (a legal entity, not a sole proprietorship or general partnership) that has been established for at least two years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and that produces and exploits films and other audiovisual productions on a continuous basis. The producer has been primarily responsible for the realisation and release of at least 1 independent, non-commissioned majority Dutch film production (> 70 min.) in the professional Dutch film and/or television sector.
  • The producer is not the same person as the director and/or screenwriter of the film.

Application Requirements

• When registering for the pitch, the following will be requested in the participation form:
  • Concise written elaboration (max 2A4), consisting of:
    • A logline
    • Description of the plan: what is the story, the intended style, theme, genre and how do you want to portray the story? Why, for whom and with whom do you/the team want to make this?
  • Short biography of the team members and key stakeholders (max. 1 A4)
  • Mood board (optional)

For more informarion, visit Dutch Film Fund.