Applications open for Pitch Film Idea Fund

Funding Information

• Each panel member receives a fixed fee of €500 excl. VAT plus travel expenses per day on which the pitches take place.

What is it?

• 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 their film idea to see if the 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 use 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 apply for script development, but you can use the feedback to adjust your film idea for a possible next pitch round.

What does the panel look for in your pitch?

• The pitch panel expects makers to clearly and concisely express the core quality of their film idea: what do you want to make, for whom, with whom and why? The panel members specifically pay attention to a number of questions, such as to what extent is the film appealing in terms of content as a cinema film? Is the vision of the makers on the plan found convincing and does the plan have the potential to become a distinctive film?
• Ultimately, after the pitch, the panel should be interested enough to want to read the script, be curious about the final film, and be confident that the plan is ready for the next step: submitting a script development application.

Who can nominate the team for a pitch?

• A producer (also on behalf of the team, if applicable) registers 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 demonstrable experience in professional film and/or television practice and has demonstrable experience in producing and releasing majority feature film(s) and/or animated film(s) (>70 min). The producer is not the same person as the director 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 that was released in Dutch cinemas.
  • Pitch Documentary:
    • The producer represents a production company (a legal entity, not a sole proprietorship or general partnership), which has been established for at least two years in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a member state of the EU, EEA or Switzerland and which produces and exploits films and other audiovisual productions on a continuous basis. The producer has demonstrable experience in professional film and/or television practice and has demonstrable experience in producing and releasing majority-length documentaries. The producer is not the same person as the director of the film.

For more information, visit Netherlands Film Fund.