(Columbus, OH) — Film Columbus, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Gateway Film Center and Columbus Pictures will give away $10,000 to one accomplished central Ohio filmmaker or creator. Pitch Cbus 22 will showcase six applicants giving them a chance to pitch their project live, in front of a jury and an audience, on October 13, 2022, during the Gravitate Marketplace & Conference. The winner will be chosen that evening and will walk away with $10,000 to help develop their project.
“This is yet another exciting program made possible by central Ohio film industry supporters, including Gateway Film Center and Columbus Pictures,” says John Daugherty, Film Columbus director and film commissioner. “It’s important for us to support Columbus-based filmmakers. We work year-round on statewide issues like the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit, but this is something uniquely Columbus. We have given away more than $40,000 over the past couple of years to local filmmakers. We’re more than excited to continue that support.”
To enter the contest, applicants must make it through a preliminary round of judging through the online portal Film Freeway. Pitch Cbus 22 accepts narrative, documentary, series, docu-series, experimental, or animation projects. Submission fees range from $25 per project to $15 for students. All applicants must be from Franklin County or the contiguous counties (Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison) and be 18 years of age or older.
“This is a great opportunity for Gravitate to partner with Film Columbus, the Film Center and Columbus Pictures,” says Chief Strategy Officer Joe Niedecken from Elevate Pictures. “We continue to explore more opportunities to help local filmmakers improve their work and more importantly, get their work noticed by industry execs. That’s the impetus behind Gravitate. And holding this first-ever pitch contest for Film Columbus in partnership with Gravitate accomplishes both of those initiatives.”
Creators can go to filmfreeway.com/pitchcbus to provide the required materials. They can upload a script, a pitch deck, IP ideas or a combination of all three. The more engaging, professional and thought-out the project is, the more likely a project will be a top-five finalist.
Pitch Cbus 22 has also partnered with the Columbus Black International Film Festival (CBIFF) and automatically enters the winner of their pitch contest into the finalists for Pitch Cbus 22.
“A new opportunity like this one can excite the city and get people motivated to make homegrown content,” says Cristyn Allen-Steward, founder of Columbus Black International Film Festival. “This will open up many doors to Columbus filmmakers.”
“I’m super proud of the work I’ve seen develop over the past few years from Columbus-based filmmakers. We will continue to redefine the ‘film industry’ to include gaming, animation, VR, AR, and even distribution,” says Daugherty. “This reimagining of the industry will provide more opportunities for up-and-coming filmmakers and content creators from here in central Ohio. And in the long run, provide more opportunity for filmmakers to stay here, live here and work here in a booming, high-paying industry.”
About the Greater Columbus Film Commission The Greater Columbus Film Commission (Film Columbus) aims to grow the film industry in Columbus and central Ohio by creating jobs and providing significant economic impact for the area. Film Columbus strives to build Columbus as a top city for film education, exhibition, and production. Film Columbus is a division of the Greater Columbus Arts Council and is primarily supported by funds provided by the City of Columbus. For more information, visit www.filmcolumbus.com.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org