New Orleans Film Society South Pitch

Overview

The South Pitch is an annual live pitching competition hosted by the New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) during the New Orleans Film Festival. Five documentary and five narrative teams are selected to pitch their film projects to a panel of industry professionals in five-minute presentations, receiving direct feedback and competing for grant funding and additional support.

The program is designed specifically to surface stories from and about the American South -- a region that NOFS considers systematically underrepresented in independent film distribution and in the national documentary funding landscape. The South Pitch combines the competitive grant element with structured pitch training and one-on-one coaching sessions, making it useful for filmmakers who are still developing their pitching skills alongside their projects.

What It Funds

Each of the ten selected teams receives a $2,000 grant and travel support to attend the New Orleans Film Festival and participate in the live pitch event. Winning teams are also eligible for up to two AlumiFund grants -- follow-on funding available to South Pitch alumni as their projects advance. Additionally, selected participants receive one-on-one pitch training ahead of the live event, which has standalone value for filmmakers preparing to approach broadcasters and co-production partners.

The South Pitch does not restrict projects to a particular stage of development. Both early-stage projects and works in progress are eligible, as long as the team can present a compelling pitch.

Eligibility

Projects must be documentaries or narrative films made in or about the American South, or by filmmakers with a demonstrated connection to the South. Both emerging and established filmmakers are eligible. Teams can include up to two members for the live pitch presentation.

Applications are accepted annually ahead of the New Orleans Film Festival, typically in summer. Filmmakers should consult the NOFS website for current application windows and updated eligibility requirements.

Who Should Apply

Documentary and narrative filmmakers with stories rooted in the American South who are at the development or production stage and who want both financial support and direct access to industry professionals through a live pitching context. The South Pitch is particularly well suited to filmmakers who are developing their ability to pitch their work in person, as the training component adds value beyond the grant itself.

See Also

For building a documentary financing strategy that combines pitching competitions with other funding sources, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack. For preparing a documentary pitch, see Film Grants and the Development Pathway.