Bring your best short film ideas to this year’s So You Think You Can Pitch? Competition at Reel Asian’s 28th annual festival!

We’re looking for submissions of short film proposals by emerging filmmakers and are open to all great film ideas, whether dramatic, comedic, documentary, animation, musical or experimental.

A shortlist of 4-5 finalists will advance to the Pitch Competition Finale, hosted during the 28th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. The winning applicant or team will walk away with our amazing prize package to kick-start and/or finish their short film, including a cash award, in-kind support and the chance to screen your film at next year’s festival.

Eligibility 

1. Applicants must be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status
2. Applicants must reside in Ontario in order to utilize the Pitch Prize Package
3. An emerging filmmaker is defined in this competition as someone who has not directed more than five short films, or been in an ‘above-the-line’ position on a feature-length film. Please submit a sample of a previous work, in order to assess your level of filmmaking experience 
4. Film projects must either be in development or production stage (post-production only projects will not be eligible) 
5. Finished films cannot exceed 20 minutes 
6. Films can be any genre live action or animation 
7. Films can be in any language 
8. Projects originating on film are acceptable, but the filmmaker is responsible for bearing transfer costs to digital (for the post-production phase)

Pitch Winner Prize Package

• $5,000 cash prize to kick-start and/or finish a short film
• Comprehensive in-kind package to support the pitch winner which includes the following (more details to follow);
• $5,000 to be used towards picture and sound post services at Picture Shop + Formosa Group Toronto (excluding VFX, sound editorial, foley and fixed costs). Some other restrictions apply, subject to availability. Valid January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
•  2 days of studio time with lighting and grip package at Archipelago Productions
• A production workflow consultation with Charles Street Video, which includes
  • $3,000 in edit suite access and/or production-equipment rentals
  • One-year membership
  • $500 cash award/artist fee for third-party equipment rental
• $2,500 certificate towards a camera package rental from Grande Camera (The certificate may be used between December 2024 and December 2025; Proof of production insurance is required).
• Two-hour studio rental ($210 value) at Armstrong Acting Studios for casting (if applicable)
• One (1) year subscription to ShotDeck
• Opportunity to premiere work at the 2025 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (subject to review), with full festival accreditation

Pitch Finalist Package

• $500 cash for participation (the Pitch winner will not receive this additional $500)
• All-Access Pass to the 28th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 
• $350 equipment rental credit plus one-year membership to Charles Street Video

Schedule

All finalist teams will be required to:

1. Attend the 1-day Pitch clinic in mid October, where Pitch mentors will coach and offer their insights, strategies and feedback on navigating the film pitch.
2. Participate in a 2-day pre-festival Bootcamp in late October, an industry program stream for the Reel Asian community
3. Pitch in front of a live jury and a live audience (November 23) to win our prize package! 

*Specific session dates TBA. Timeline subject to change. Additional consults scheduled as necessary.

Deadline – Applications must be received by August 19th, 11:59PM EST.
Please submit your application here. 

1. A completed ‘Reel Asian’s Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition’ Google Application Form.
2. A description of who you are as an artist, max 300 words.
3. A detailed description of the project, max 500 words. Include a logline (1 or 2 sentences).
4. Script or treatment: This is your chance to pitch your project in more detail (i.e., character development, story arc, visual style and inspiration, etc.)
5. A brief production schedule outlining generally which facilities will be used with approximate dates of when they will be needed. Your production must be complete by August 1st, 2025. 
6. A detailed budget that includes all sources of funding, confirmed and pending. The expense and revenues of your budget must balance along with copies of any contracts/letters of agreement from confirmed revenue sources (if any). 
7. Letters of agreement from key personnel (if applicable), including rights to an adapted work (i.e. short story), or music, if integral to the film. 
8. A video/filmography and/or curriculum vitae. If the project is a collaboration, CV’s for both artists must be included.

SUBMISSIONS NOW CLOSED

Rewatch this year’s live info session with Industry and Education Programmer Samir to learn more about Pitch. Samir also answers questions from the community and offers tips on preparing your application.

For questions or additional support please contact samir@reelasian.com

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