(NEW
Pitch Winners 2017 with their winning concepts selected by a judging panel of
industry professionals at last year’s event. Shivan Parusnath: “Illegal Trade
in South African Reptiles’, a focus on the Sungazer Lizard; Fidel Tshivhasa: “Seeking
Giants”, a story about Humpback whales along Durban’s coastline; Thembelihle
Ngidi (EnviroChamps): “Edendale…Valley of Flowers, Birthplace of Rivers” and Mikhale
Singh: Leap of Faith, A story about the endangered Pickersgill’s Reed)
Deadline:
May 31, 2018
Win the chance to produce a documentary
short
The N.E.W Pitch short documentary pitching
competition is aimed at discovering the next generation or nature, environment,
wildlife and adventure conservation filmmakers, and is one of the key sessions
at the Nature Environment and Wildlife Filmmakers Congress (NEWF) taking place
from July 16 to 18 at Durban Botanic Gardens and surrounds.
“Do you have an engaging, innovative or
inspirational natural history, environmental, conservation or adventure story?”
asks Pragna Parsotam-Kok, Founder and Congress Director of NEWF. “If you do, we
invite you to submit your documentary short concept and you could be one of
eight finalists selected to pitch at the N.E.W Pitch competition during NEWF
2018. Submissions are open to all emerging and aspiring filmmakers, scientists
and conservationists over the age of 18.”
The N.E.W Pitch is targeted towards
emerging and student filmmakers in order to provide them with pitching
experience and the opportunity to win a production grant to produce a short
documentary film in this genre. During the NEWF Congress, the eight finalists
will be invited to participate in a pitching session before a live judging
panel. Coming out of the pitch session, four winners will be selected to win
R50,000 to develop and produce their documentary short. The four winners will
have access to mentorship during the production of their shorts. The films need
to be completed within a year, and the four films will be combined into a
once-off 48-minute TV documentary, which will be broadcast on national television.
During the NEWF Congress this year, the
winners of last year’s Pitch will screen their film for the first time. The
winners of last year’s competition were, Fidel Tshivhasa for his story on the
humpback whale migration that takes place in KZN; Shivan Parusnath for an
undercover look at the illegal reptile trade, Mikhale Singh whose project is
about the endangered Pickersgills’ Reed frog and the Ashdown and Imbali
EnviroChamps (Liberty NPO and DUCT) who are a group of individuals working to
protect the wetlands and rivers in their area. These four films will be
complete by end of May.
“It is hoped that the Congress will promote
outstanding environmental, conservation, wildlife and adventure films from
professional, aspiring and student filmmakers and that we will contribute
towards transformation through our developmental programmes aimed at enriching
the industry with an increased pool of diverse content creators,” she said.
To pitch for your documentary – register on
the NEWF online portal – and enter the N.E.W Pitch competition with all the
necessary supporting documentation. Visit www.newf.co.za to enter, for
submission requirements, guidelines and more information or visit the NEWF
Online Portal to enter now.
For more info email info@newf.co.za or
contact Pragna on 064 294 0669.
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