Screen Illawarra x SCWC In-Person Pitching Session 2025

Learn how to pitch your long form script to commissioners, practice with your colleagues and then enter your project for consideration to be 1 of 6 to pitch to Australia's top development commissioners.

“AND…PITCH!” RETURNS

Screen Illawarra is starting off 2025 with a bang with the return of one of our most successful workshops to date, “And…Pitch!”

Several cohorts of Illawarra writers have just completed the year long inaugural Screenwriting program, under the guidance of Graham Thorburn.
https://southcoastwriters.org/film-screenwriting-programs
A new 2025 cohort are about to start and there are other writers and filmmakers within SCWC and Screen Illawarra who should attend this workshop. 

These writers have developed their scripts and it’s now ready to take them to market.
What a shame if these scripts just floundered on the laptops hard drive.
What if one of them were to be picked up and greenlit?

In this three part series, on three separate nights, attendees will be
- trained on the pitching process
- undertake a practice session with feedback
- and then 6 pitches will be able to pitch, in person to Australian development commissioners, in front of a live audience.

Last years commissioners:
Bobby Romia, Head of Development, Screen Australia
Hayley Johnson, Screen Investment Manager, Screen NSW
Graham Thorburn, South Coast Writers Centre
Rosie Lourde, Executive Producer, Unless Pictures
Ally Henville, Producer, Easy Tiger

Pitches selection
Those writers wishing to pitch to the commissioners, please submit your information here for consideration by our judges.
6 writers will be put forward for the final session.
Submissions close February 18th
Notification: Pitchers notified on March 4th to give you a week to prepare for the Pitching session on the 11th, which Nick will help you with.

Cost:
The cost to attend all three sessions is by a small donation, and everyone must be a member of South Coast Writers Centre or Screen Illawarra.
The successful 6 pitchers will also be asked to pay $100 to cover costs for the commissioners to attend from Sydney.
Attendees can elect to just attend the final session.

Session Overviews

Session One: What is pitching
- introduction to pitching
- overview of the development and funding process for feature films and tv series in Australia
- overview of supporting documents required in pitching
- run through the SBS Scripted Pitch Deck template and the Screen Australia ‘What is a synopsis’ template
- where to pitch - run through of the Australian pitching markets
- example of a pitch - Nick and a colleague run through a typical pitch

Date: Tuesday 4th February
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Location: Online on Zoom and in person at SWSC
Facilitator: Nick Bolton, Chair of Screen illawarra
Capacity: Unlimited attendees

Session Two: Pitching practice session

The pitchers practice their session with the cohort and facilitator providing feedback, in a 5 minute pitching session.

Date: Tuesday 11th February
Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Location: Online on Zoom and in person at SWSC
Facilitator: Nick Bolton, Chair of Screen Illawarra
Capacity: 2 participants practice their 5minute pitches in front of everyone followed by 15minute group review
Split into breakout rooms and pitch to each other and give feedback
Unlimited attendees

Session Three: And Action: Lets pitch!
Our team of pitchers present to industry commissioners and receive feedback
Other SCWC and SI members are invited to observe and network, in particular local producers who may wish to collaborate with the writers in the development process

Date: Tuesday 11th March
Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm
Location: SCWC, Coledale Community Hall, Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coledale
Facilitator: Nick Bolton, Chair of Screen Illawarra
Capacity: Six pitches
70 observers
Rules: 15 minute pitch comprising 5 minute pitch and 10 minute review