Entries are now open for AACTA Pitch: Focus, delivered in partnership with Sony.

Now in its second year, the national short film pitching initiative offers emerging creatives an opportunity to break into the industry by challenging student filmmakers to form teams and create an original production to be assessed by a panel of industry judges.

Teams can be made up of directors, writers, producers, editors, and/or cinematographers, with at least one member of the team actively pursuing studies in film or screen. Teams are asked to submit their creative ideas for a short fiction film (4 – 10 minutes). The top five teams will be provided with a state-of-the-art Sony equipment kit on loan (valued at over $2,500) to shoot a short proof of concept.

This year’s recipients will receive $15,000 in production funds toward their short film, a loan Sony equipment kit (valued at over $6,000) to shoot their short film which will be featured in the Sony Catchlight Film Festival, feedback and guidance throughout the production process, mentoring opportunities, and tickets to the 2022 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group.

Projects that demonstrate the following are likely to be the most successful:
– New, creative, and unique ways to engage audiences.
– Strong characters that resonate with audiences.
– Ideas that bend genres and break new ground.

Round one calls for a three-minute video pitch outlining the short film idea. A long list of 10 projects will be determined by a judging panel of leading short film industry figures and representatives of Sony and AACTA who will be required to submit additional materials supporting their project. A shortlist of five projects will be determined by the judging panel and the five finalist teams will be provided Sony equipment and given two weeks to shoot a proof of concept short. The teams will be invited to present their films in front of the judging panel and industry experts.

AACTA encourages teams comprised of new, emerging, and student content creators to enter, particularly those from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Entry is $50 for teams that have at least one AACTA member and $90 for teams comprised of non-members.

Initial entry requirements include title, logline, 500-word synopsis, 3-minute pitch video, and résumés of the team members.