submit to pitch sessions for a chance at $250,000 to fund your fIRST Feature film.
the 3rd edition of “Pitch Sessions”, in partnership with Telefilm + Raven Banner, returns at the 9th edition of the Chilliwack independent film festival.
what can you win?
The top 10 teams will receive 1 nights accommodation + all access passes to the 9th Chilliwack Independent Film Festival, where they will pitch LIVE in-person before our studio audio on Saturday October 25th.
The winning team will be announced at our award ceremony Sunday October 26th and become our 2025 Telefilm Talent To Watch nominee for the opportunity to receive $250,000 in funding towards their first feature film.
Get coaching from industry professionals and have your pitches developed for the best chance of success.
Submissions close midnight September 7th.
submit to pitch sessionsthe process
- 1) Submit your pitch deck - (midnight september 7th Deadline)
Logline,
Synopsis,
Director's Vision,
Video Pitch (1-2 minutes max)
$25 entry fee
submit via the button above. fill out the form + ensure all your pitch deck is complete.
- 2) Submission review stage
Our panel of industry Professionals will use their many years of experience to select 10 teams to go to the next round. All judges are externally sourced and currently working for top Canadian distribution companies. each judge is looking solely for the best pitch, no matter the genre or project.
- 3) top 10 teams selected - (october 1st notification)
The top 10 teams will be notified by october 15th. each finalist will receive virtual coaching in the lead up to the festival to help refine their pitch decks. (virtual coaching times to be determined - around the first week of november).
each top 10 team will receive:
1 nights accommodation (1 double suite room)
2 x all access passes to the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival running october 22-26th.
- 4) in-person pitch competition - (saturday october 25th)
the top 10 teams take turns to pitch in-person to our industry judges on the opening day of the film festival,
saturday october 25th. New to this year is the pitches will take place in front of a live studio audience.
there will be 5 - 10 minutes allocated to pitch. then 5 - 10 minutes for feedback + questions.
- 5) winning pitch annouced - (sunday october 26th)
The winning project is announced at our closing award ceremony Sunday october 26th.
The winner will receive:
a physical award.
additional virtual coaching to help further refine their pitch.
will become our Telefilm Talent To Watch nominee for a chance at $250,000 in funding.
the Telefilm Talent To Watch industry stream is one of the most exclusive and difficult streams to be put forward for, as partner organizations are only allowed to put forward one nominee per year. It is also one of the streams with the highest success rate in funding.
the winning team must submit their pitch to telefilm by the telefilm april 30th 2026 deadline.
general eligibility criteria
The Producers, Directors and Screenwriters are considered as the key members of the creative team.
To be eligible, all the key members of the creative team must:
a) be Canadian citizens, within the definition of the Citizenship Act, or permanent residents within the definition of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (unless the project is an audiovisual treaty coproduction);
b) be emerging talent, i.e.: - they must have previously produced, directed and/or written at least a:
short film (a film of 30 minutes or less);
web production;
television content;
commercials;
music videos;
Or equivalent experience in the screen-based industry.
AND - they must not have previously held the same key position on a feature film .
c) A pitch team must have a producer, director and screenwriter attached.
To be eligible the top 10 teams must be present to pitch on Friday November 22nd + be present at the Sunday November 24th award ceremony.
