#Festival: Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Competition open for entries

Since it’s inception in 2005, The Galway Film Fleadh Pitching Competition has emphasised that good writing is still the backbone of the audio-visual sector and provided many writers with an opportunity to get their foot in the door of the industry.

All that is required is a 500-word written pitch (from beginning to end – no cliff-hangers!) from writers of any skill level. Any genre of feature drama, documentary or animation will be considered.  Finalists will be selected to pitch their idea as an ‘Elevator Pitch’ of 90 seconds, in front of an audience and a panel of industry judges on the closing day of the Galway Film Fleadh. The winner will be announced at the Awards Ceremony that evening and will receive a cash prize of €3000.

In addition to the prize money, and the opportunity to pitch to industry professionals, the real benefits of being selected for the Film Fleadh Pitching Competition are multifarious. Previous participants have cited: opening the door to producers, having their project optioned by producers, being invited on mentorships to hone their craft, bolstering their confidence and providing the first opportunity for them to win over an audience. As for the winner, the prize can allow them the time to develop and expand their pitch into a full feature film script, as was the case with Will Collins and My Brothers.

As perhaps the best example, Collins won the Film Fleadh Pitching Competition with his pitch for My Brothers, and the film opened the festival three years later, before Collins went on to write the Oscar® nominated Song of the Sea and the hotly anticipated Wolfwalkers.

The regular deadline for entry to the Pitching Competition is Friday May 31st 2019 at 5p.m. G.M.T. and the entry fee is €40. The late deadline is Friday June 7th, 2019 at 5p.m. G.M.T. and the fee is €50.

For further information or to submit a pitch, visit www.galwayfilmfleadh.com.