Australians in Film (AiF) will hold its first international online pitching workshop next month, bringing together a distinguished line-up of Australian and international film executives, producers and screenwriters to uncover what makes an effective pitch in today’s global market.
The workshop, which will be held in four live online sessions, will include studio executive and producer Deborah Liebling (PEN15), writer and producer April Sea (Fargo), and Anonymous Content partner, manager and producer Beck. Smith, live-action Netflix content director Zhao Chen, writer/producer Lindsay Calhoun Bring (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), and writer/director/producer Stuart Beatty (Faraway Downs) will appear.
Participants can participate as observers or opt-in to live pitches and receive real-time feedback from randomly selected panelists, creating an environment that closely resembles a professional pitch meeting.
Over the course of four sessions, participants will work through the three core pitch types expected from screen creatives: elevator pitches, personal pitches, and project pitches.
In addition, two judges will offer a 30-minute plenary session to be scheduled at a later date to the participants whose pitches resonate most strongly.
The International Online Pitching Workshop is being held as part of AiF’s Insider Sessions, which began with the Literary Adaptation Online Masterclass last June.
AiF’s Peter Ritchie said pitching was “an essential skill in the screen industry”.
“Many Australians find pitching difficult, so we’re delighted to bring together experienced industry professionals to provide practical insight into what makes pitching effective in a real-world setting,” he said.
Visit our website for more information on how to register.
The outline of the program is as follows.
Program overview
Session 1: Fundamentals of Pitching
Tuesday, March 3rd, 3pm PST / Wednesday, March 4th, 10am AEDT
Panelists: Beck Smith, Lindsey Calhoun Bring, Stuart Beatty
Moderator: Rebecca Windsor
A discussion of pitch basics, including initial meetings and project pitches, Zoom and room dynamics, common pitfalls, and cultural differences between the US and Australian industries.
Session 2: Elevator Pitch
Thursday, March 5th, 3pm PST / Friday, March 6th, 10am AEDT
Panelists: Deborah Liebling, Rebecca Windsor
Live elevator pitches with feedback focused on clarity, positioning, and impact.
Session 3: Personal suggestions
Tuesday, March 10th, 4pm PDT / Wednesday, March 11th, 10am AEDT
Panelists: April See, Rebecca Windsor
Participants will present a personal pitch that defines their creative identity and long-term goals.
Session 4: Project Pitch
Thursday, March 12th, 4pm PDT / Friday, March 13th, 10am AEDT
Panelists: Zhao Chen, Rebecca Windsor
A complete project proposal with notes on structure, storytelling, and market alignment.
