Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch

Applications are now open!

The Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch is a new initiative providing four Canadian and international creators the opportunity to pitch their science and technology-related film or episodic project at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.

Participants will deliver a maximum 15-minute presentation in front of a live audience of industry experts and decision makers. In addition to the non-competitive pitch event, each creator will be awarded $15,000 CAD to help further their project.

What’s included

• $15,000 CAD award to help further develop the selected projects
• Mentorship from an expert pitch coach
• Participation in a pitch event at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival
• Access to the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival
• Access to TIFF’s Industry Conference, Business Centre, and Delegate Resources
• A complimentary one-year TIFF Membership, which includes discounts on film tickets at TIFF Bell Lightbox
• Membership to TIFF Talent alumni network

Eligibility

The Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch focuses on science and technology-related narrative projects. Documentary projects are not eligible.

• Applications are open to Canadian and international early- to mid-career creators with a minimum of two short-film credits or one feature-film/series credit, and a maximum of three feature-film/series credits, as a writer or writer-director
• Only one submission per applicant will be considered

Application Materials

Applicants are required to submit the following supporting documents:

• The applicant’s filmography (project title, year, role or roles, festivals/platforms screened, and a maximum of five awards or nominations received per project) in PDF format
• The applicant’s high-resolution headshot in colour (format: .jpg; orientation: portrait; minimum resolution: 300 dpi)
• A video pitch, up to two minutes in duration ― the applicant should comment on their submitted project and creative approach, as well as why they want to participate in the programme.
• The following information on the submitted project:
  • logline and synopsis
  • any confirmed attachments, if applicable
  • an outline of the audience-building strategy
  • financing projections (approximate estimate of development, production, and post-production costs)
• A completed draft of the submitted project’s script, in PDF format
• A 10-page writing sample from the script that highlights the submitted project’s focus on science and/or technology, in PDF format
• A continuous one-minute clip from a previous project (short film, feature film, or series) on which the applicant is credited as writer or writer-director

Key Dates

Submission Guidelines

• Applicants must fill out the application in full, attaching itemized supporting documents as outlined above. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Applications must be completed by applicants themselves and not by third parties (e.g. assistants, co-workers).
• Those selected for the programme will be required to include the following language on a separate frame in the main title credits of their completed project: “Funding provided by TIFF’s Sloan Science & Technology Project Pitch, supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.”

One-Minute Clip Submission

• If you would like to password-protect your Vimeo file, please use the password SPP23.
• Demo reels, trailers, and music videos will NOT be accepted.
• Collectively, the total running time of your Vimeo file cannot exceed one minute.
• Please add information on the clip’s context to the description on Vimeo.
• Submissions of full-length films indicating a time code of a one-minute segment will not be considered by the jury.
• Please ensure that the clip includes English subtitles if the language spoken is not English.

Questions?

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