Do you have a great idea for an animated series? In partnership with Mercury Filmworks, the Ottawa International Animation Festival‘s (OIAF) annual Pitch THIS! contest is a chance for Canadian creators to get noticed and kickstart their animated series concept.
Up to 10 Pitch THIS! semi-finalists will be selected and paired with established industry mentors. Over the summer, semi-finalists will meet with mentors to refine their 10-minute long pitches before presenting them live at The Animation Conference (TAC) held in September as part of the OIAF. The semi-finals will be held in front of the TAC audience on September 20. Two projects will then be selected by the judges to go head-to-head against one another on the TAC mainstage the following day before a live audience of TAC attendees, studio executives, and potential project financiers.
The winner will be awarded a grand prize that includes:
- $5,000 cash prize from Mercury Filmworks
- Toon Boom Harmony Premium Annual license and online training
- Two TAC AnimaPasses to OIAF 2024
Pitch THIS! is open to Canadian animation projects only; the lead creator(s) must include at least one Canadian resident or citizen. A maximum of two submissions will be accepted per creator. Pitched series can target any demographic (e.g. preschool, adult, etc.). All submissions should be in English.
Interested applicants should complete the online form by 11:59pm EDT Friday, June 16. If you have any questions, please contact industry@animationfestival.ca. Creators from underserved and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply, in particular BIPOC, people living with disabilities, women, gender non-conforming, and 2SLGBTQIA+ members of the animation community.
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