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Pitch-A-Thon!

Paige Miltenberger · August 21, 2024 ·

Submissions closed

View on FilmFreeway.

Learn More

Dates & Fees
Entry Materials
Awards & Prizes

Previous Winners
Previous Jury Members

Submission FAQs


All Festival Submissions:

Branded Content Competition

International Spotlight Competition

Unscripted Series Competition

Late Night Competition

Digital Short Series Competition

Independent Pilot Competition: Drama

Independent Pilot Competition: Comedy

Colorado Pilots In Progress

Pitch your script to a panel of experts—live!

Each season, the Pitch-A-Thon! highlights the art of the pitch with a live event* where content creators participate in an exclusive live and in person pitch session.  Selected Creators have 5 minutes to pitch to a panel of television experts, in front of an audience. Pitched projects must be strictly in the script phase (un-produced).

About the workshop:

In the weeks leading up to SeriesFest, creators selected for the Pitch-A-Thon, will participate in a two part virtual workshop to hone their pitch skills. Creators will be paired with an industry mentor as well as participate in an exclusive workshop led by the Working Artists Group.

*One (1) Round Trip Domestic flight to SeriesFest will be offered to selected pitchers.

“SeriesFest really is the premier place to be if you care about episodic content.“

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
Executive Director at SAG-AFTRA

KEY DATES & FEES

Submissions for SeriesFest: Season 11 open August 21, 2024.

Early Bird Deadline
10/21/24

Standard
$50

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$35

Student
$30

Regular Deadline
12/3/24

Standard
$65

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$50

Student
$45

Final Deadline
1/14/25

Standard
$85

FilmFreeway Gold Member
$70

Student
$65

Submissions are open, and listed prices are available through 11:59 PM (local time) on the date shown.

AWARDS & PRIZES

  • Cash Prize
  • Inclusivity Initiative Awards
    • Caz Matthews Fund
    • Inclusive Creator Fund presented by the Anna & John J. Sie and the Global Down Syndrome Foundations
    • Intersectionality Fund
  • Outstanding Series Format Deck Award, presented by Canva

Winner will be determined by a jury of high-profile industry and talent during the annual festival. Winners are announced at our Awards Ceremony and are included on our website and in media announcements. View previous jury members and winners below.

Special Awards

INCLUSIVITY INITIATIVE AWARDS

This category is eligible for Inclusivity Initiative Awards including The Caz Matthews Fund, The Inclusive Creator Fund presented by the Anna & John J. Sie and the Global Down Syndrome Foundations, and The Intersectionality Fund. Theses awards will be given to the episodic projects and teams who demonstrate a thoughtful, thorough, and deliberate approach to using storytelling as a means of leveling the playing field for underrepresented people including women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and alternatively abled voices.
Learn more about our Inclusivity Initiative here.

Outstanding Series Format Deck Award, presented by Canva

SeriesFest is partnering with Canva, our Official Design Partner, to acknowledge the creativity and skill necessary to build the perfect series format deck. SeriesFest: Season 11 Official Selections and Storytellers Initiative Semi-Finalists who choose to create their series format decks on Canva will have the opportunity to win the award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize.
Learn more here.

ENTRY MATERIALS

A 3–5 minute video submission of Creator(s) pitching their project.

Pilot Script

Series Format Deck
All submissions must include a Series Format Deck—uploaded to the FilmFreeway application page under “Files & Attachments”.
View an example.

An effective Series Format Deck introduces your project in a visually exciting and emotionally powerful way.  It captures the reader’s imagination, allowing them to see the full scope of the series and embrace the characters. The Series Format deck is essential to our review process, providing a clear and compelling way for us to understand your vision.

The Series Format Deck should be 2–15 pages, must be in English, and include the following:

  • Log Line
  • Pilot Synopsis
  • Season One Outline
  • Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
    • For unscripted pilots, include key onscreen subjects/talent
  • Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comparisons)
  • Producing Team
  • Key Creatives
  • Goals for your Series
  • A Creator Statement that includes: Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?

If your submission is selected for final programming you will be required to submit more information regarding your pilot, cast, and crew so SeriesFest can maximize your experience with executives at the Festival in May. Full details will be sent to submissions selected for SeriesFest: Season 11 in an acceptance email by April 2025.

Not sure where to get started on your Series Format Deck? You don’t have to start from a blank page. Check out our template—created in Canva, and make it your own!

FilmFreeway Entry Fee
(see above)

Please note, entry materials will not be returned

Previous Award Winners

Robyn Matuto & Malachi Ellis

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Writer and Audience Award for Best Comedy:
Jocko Sims

Brittany Ballard

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best International Comedy:
Leena Manro & Agam Darshi

WHO’S ANNIE?

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Director, Comedy:
Sophia Peer

PUNCHER’S CHANCE

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Performance, Drama:
Garland Scott

CHANSHI

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Performance, Comedy:
Aleeza Chanowitz

HUMANIZED

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Supporting Performance, Drama:
Key Taw

HIT MAN: SECRETS OF LIES

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Director, Drama:
Elias Plagianos

THE BIG IDEA: LAST MILE

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Director, Unscripted:
Sarah Klein & Tom Mason

THE EMPTY CHAIR

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Best Writer, Drama:
John Semander

I DIDN’T MEAN TO GO MENTAL

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

Audience Award for Best Drama:
Carly Glenn

Previous Award Winners

Robyn Matuto & Malachi Ellis

The Haunting of Trisha Lozada

Brittany Ballard

Death Doula

Harold Abrams

Grave Affairs

Amy Janes

Honkers

Margaret Byrne and Rachel Pikelny

Fighting Time

Previous Jury Members

Sarah Minnie

Head of Artist Development & Production, OTV

Kyle Castellanet

VP, Development and Production, Echo Lake Entertainment

Christin Davilia

TV Development Executive and Producer

Jessika Borsiczky

Writer, House of Lies

Thank you to our partners

Royal Bank of Canada Emerging Artists

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is a longstanding supporter of the arts and film around the globe. Through its RBC Emerging Artists Project, RBC has supported over 24,000 alumni since 2015. To date, more than $90 million has been donated through the RBC Foundation to benefit thousands of arts organizations around the world.

“Through the RBC Emerging Artists Project, we strive to support organizations that will provide the best opportunities for artists to accelerate their career trajectory,” said Mark Beckles, Vice-President, Social Impact and Innovation, RBC. “Our partnership with SeriesFest will help to provide the much-needed opportunities that underrepresented artists require to take their next step — as we believe all artists deserve equal and equitable opportunity to meet their full potential. We look forward to watching their careers unfold in the years ahead and hearing the stories informed by their diverse perspectives.”

Working Artist Group

Working Artist Group (or WAG), was created in 2014 by expert industry insider, Krista Gano, as an umbrella brand that encompasses all elements necessary for a professional career in the entertainment industry. Offering coaching services, and specialized workshops, it is a one-stop shop for the needs of the working artist and a trusted seal among casting directors, producers, directors and agencies. Krista has spent a career working and advising within every aspect of the industry and has a keen understanding of how the business works. In addition to being a dynamic creative herself, she has helmed the SeriesFest Pitch-a-Thon for many years, presenting the program throughout the US and Canada. She is currently working with creators all over the globe, creating a safe place for creatives to focus on the all important pitch.

Each season, the Pitch-A-Thon! highlights the art of the pitch with a live event where content creators participate in an exclusive live and in person pitch session.  Selected Creators have 5 minutes to pitch to a panel of television experts, in front of an audience. Pitched projects must be strictly in the script phase (unproduced).

Netflix CCO Ted Sarandos spoke to the importance of fine-tuning your pitch during his SeriesFest: Season 5 Innovation Talk:

“I love that you have pitch sessions here because that is the one thing they don’t teach you in film school, they don’t teach you in college and it turns out to be probably the most important function of creating a show and getting it on the air is this 30 to 60 minute meeting that you’ll have with a programmer that you will be able to passionately sell. And it’s a real sales job and you either close or you don’t in the room mostly.”

Ted Sarandos, Netflix CCO

Submissions are Closed

Check out our Submission FAQs or email us at info@seriesfest.com. 
Visit our page on FilmFreeway.

WORKSHOP

In the weeks leading up to SeriesFest, creators selected for the Pitch-A-Thon! , will participate in a two part virtual workshop to hone their pitch skills. Creators will be paired with an industry mentor as well as participate in an exclusive workshop led by the Working Artists Group.

KEY DATES & FEES

Early-Bird Deadline
OCT 01, 2023
Regular Deadline
DEC 01, 2023
Final Deadline
JAN 11, 2024
Standard$35$45$65
FilmFreeway Gold Member$25$35$50
Student$15$20$40

AWARDS & PRIZES

One (1) Round Trip Domestic flight to SeriesFest will be offered to selected Pitchers

Winner is decided by a panel of experts following the live event during SeriesFest: Season 10

The winning pitch will receive a cash prize of $2,500 sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada

OUTSTANDING SERIES FORMAT DECK AWARD PRESENTED BY CANVA

SeriesFest is partnering with Canva, our Preferred Design Platform, to acknowledge the creativity and skill necessary to build the perfect series format deck. SeriesFest: Season 10 Official Selections who choose to create their series format decks on Canva will have the opportunity to win the inaugural Outstanding Series Format Deck Award, a $5,000 cash prize, for the best series format deck submission created in Canva.

learn more

ENTRY MATERIALS

Pilot Script

Pitch Video
3-5 minute video submission of Creator(s) pitching their project

Series Format Deck

All submissions must include a Series Format Deck which can either be submitted using a Canva file URL hyper linked under “Project Links” or as a PDF under “Files & Attachments” . An effective Series Format Deck introduces your project in a visually exciting and emotionally powerful way. It captures the reader’s imagination, allowing them to see the full scope of the series and embrace the characters.

The Series Format Deck should be no longer than 15 pages and include the following:

  • Log Line
  • Pilot Synopsis
  • Season One Outline
  • Main Character Descriptions (Up to 5)
  • For unscripted pilots, key onscreen subjects/talent
  • Tone of your series (can include no more than 2 comparisons)
  • Producing Team
  • Key Creatives
  • Goals for your Series
  • A Creator Statement which includes Why This Idea, Why Me, and Why Now?

Not sure where to get started on your Series Format Deck? You don’t have to start from a blank page. Check out the SERIESFEST – APPROVED TEMPLATE created in Canva. Personalize it, and make it your own!

Entry Fee

Please note, entry materials will not be returned



Previous Winners

AMY JANES

HONKERS

In a small country town comedy, Twyla, our uber-manicured, totally spoiled suburban house-wife, struggles to maintain her flawless status while reviving her recently deceased husband’s dilapidated auto shop and building a family of woman-chanics that becomes the heartbeat of a community she once rejected.

    HAROLD ABRAMS

    GRAVE AFFAIRS

    A disgraced funeral planner returns home to redeem her tarnished reputation and reclaim her dominance in the serious and sometimes funny death business.

      BRITTANY BALLARD

      THE DEATH DOULA

      When Shay, a seasoned Labor and Delivery Nurse, fails to prevent the traumatic loss of a Black birthmother, she strikes out on her own to forge a new path as a Death Doula.

        Season 8 Jury

        Jon Vandergriff

        Writer, Producer

          Lu Law

          Founder
          Dilettante Productions

            Aaliyah Williams

            Founder & Producer
            Just A Rebel Productions


              Sponsored by Dilettante Productions

              Dilettante Productions has produced independent projects for film and television since 2008, including Love In The Time Of Cholera, starring Javier Bardem, and most recently Apartment 212. Projects in development include an episodic series about the groundbreaking science of Edwin Hubble, a reality show starting young Capitol Hill staffers and a world travelogue of musical genres. Dilettante’s features have all earned a theatrical release and continue to be available across all platforms.

              Sponsored by Working Artists Group

              Working Artist Group (or WAG), was created in 2014 by expert industry insider, Krista Gano, as an umbrella brand that encompasses all elements necessary for a professional career in the entertainment industry. Offering Business of Acting classes, coaching services, and specialized workshops, it is a one-stop shop for the needs of the working artist and a trusted seal among casting directors, producers, directors and agencies. Krista has spent a career working and advising within every aspect of the industry and has a keen understanding of how the business works.


              Questions?

              VIEW SUBMISSION FAQS

              Email info@seriesfest.com

              Festival Submissions, Internal, Open Submissions, Pilot Competitions, Submissions

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