Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Calling

August 6, 2023

New Deadline for Pitch Submissions

CALL FOR FEATURE DOCUMENTARY WORKS-IN-PROGRESS

New Deadline for Big Sky Pitch Submissions

The Big Sky Pitch is an exceptional opportunity for filmmaking teams to “pitch” their documentary feature work-in-progress to a panel of the top commissioning editors and funders for documentary film. The headline event of the DocShop filmmaker’s forum, the Big Sky Pitch provides pathways for collaboration, funding, and production partnerships. Documentary features of all forms, genres, and subject matters are eligible to submit. Big Sky Pitch finalists receive the following:

Travel support and an All Access pass to Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Private networking with the Big Sky Pitch industry jury panelists
Pitch coaching from industry mentors
10 minute pitch presentation and 10 minutes of feedback at the live pitch event

Past jury panelists have included representatives from HBO Documentary Films, Ford Foundation, Participant Media, BBC Storyville, CNN Films, ITVS, POV, Sundance Doc Fund, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Catapult Film Fund, ESPN Films, Film Independent, Magnolia Pictures, Gravitas Ventures, Nia Tero, Al Jazeera, XTR, Disney Original Documentaries, and TIME Studios. A maximum of 10 projects are accepted to the Big Sky Pitch.

NEW SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Historically due by the end of the year, the Big Sky Pitch submission deadline is now at the end of November. Don’t miss the new deadline! We look forward to seeing your works-in-progress.

BSFI TO PRESENT AT 25TH ANNUAL AUGUST INSTITUTE CONFERENCE

Big Sky Film Institute Director of Education Julia Sherman will present sessions on the use of documentary film in the classroom at the 25th Annual August Institute Conference taking place online and at Missoula College August 2-4. Participants can earn Montana Office of Public Instruction or University credit and thanks to Blackfoot Communications registration is free while supplies last.

A demonstration of nonfiction film exercises and media literacy activities for grades 6-12, the sessions will examine:

Short form documentary for the classroom
Story craft, media bias and media literacy
Representation and authorship in documentary
The power of the moving image

Registration is still open! Join the conversation as we explore the rich world of documentary film and the stories the powerful medium brings to life.