WRITING CLIMATE PITCHFEST
2023 APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE APPLIED - STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!
The inaugural Pitchfest was launched in 2022 as a pilot program focused on narrative television and film projects. We received over 120 submissions from writers all over the world with varied experience levels– from major showrunners to published authors to emerging creators. Pitches included all types of genres: adventure, comedy, children’s animation, drama, sci-fi, and more! We offered a climate story-crafting workshop for all writers who submitted and pitch coaching from industry experts for the 20 finalists.
The pitch event was hosted at NBCUniversal, where the 20 finalists were each matched with 8 unique pitch meetings. Executives who heard the pitches attended from 20 different companies including NBCUniversal, Netflix, Sony Pictures, Fox Searchlight TV, Gotham Group, and more.
Judges included Sony Pictures Animation Executive Alex Schwartz, Writer/Producer Lynn Renee Maxcy, TV Writer and Indigenous Rights Activist Maya Rose Dittloff, NRDC’s Rewrite the Future Director Daniel Hinerfeld, writer and geoscientist Kim-Marie Walker, Creative Producer and PBS’s MOLLY OF DENALI writer Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Culture House Media Senior Director of Development Jaimie Woo, Netflix Manager of Sustainability and Storytelling Cheryl Slean, Greenland screenwriter Chris Sparling, Climate Story Fund Officer at Doc Society Julian Etienne, Shelterwood Collective Co-founder Layel Camargo, and Good Energy Executive Director Anna Jane Joyner.
2022 IMPACT & TESTIMONIALS
3 out of 20 projects are now in development with producers and production companies they met at the event, with other writers gaining representation
More than 60% of the projects were written by BIPOC screenwriters
There was a 40 year age range difference between participants
6 countries were represented including the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Spain and New Zealand
“The organizers are all industry professionals and are very supportive and passionate about climate change and storytelling. They really want writers to succeed. They even offered a mentoring session to practice pitching before the actual event. And you’re pitching to development execs from big and notable companies. These guys are rock stars.”
- Michael Graf, writer and 2022 Pitchfest Finalist
“This event was a unique opportunity to meet all kinds of climate change makers in the global film industry from grassroots level organizers to big studios. The range and quality of work showcased was absolutely stunning. Just as the climate emergency is a global phenomenon, the fight against it must also unite us. I was heartened to see how many good people are thinking about this and integrating climate concerns in everything they do, from protecting locations from the environmental fallout of hosting a unit to foregrounding hitherto marginal voices in the climate debate. I felt deeply privileged to be a part of this and to have my work recognised and promoted by the tireless team of young people who made this happen. If they are the future of Hollywood, then our future is in good hands.”
- Rimi B. Chatterjee, writer and 2022 Pitchfest Finalist