Documentary Story and Pitch Workshop

Oftentimes, a great idea for a documentary film needs support in the early stages - from story development to fundraising and pitching.

What is the best way to tell this story? What is the best way to pitch this story? How should you approach story structure and developing characters? How do you pitch your story and find your funding? In this immersive online workshop, you’ll be guided through how to discover, nurture, and refine your documentary film idea and prepare your project for fundraising. 

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to hone your craft, this course provides the tools and support you need to move your project forward.

How the course is structured:

From Tuesday-Thursday, you’ll meet as a large group for lecture, discussion, and exercises. On Saturday or Sunday, you’ll select a session to meet in a group of 10 with your advisor to pitch your documentary live for feedback.

For an additional fee of $100, you can meet with your advisor for a 30-minute 1-1 session during the course term.

What you bring to the course:

• an interest in documentary filmmaking. Creators at any level of experience are welcome to apply.
• a desire to workshop your idea with an advisor and peers.

What you’ll get from the course:

• how to create story structure and construct character arcs
• how to approach fundraising and grant writing
• how to pitch your project and create a pitch deck

This course will:

• provide tools and techniques to apply to any project.
• connect you with other creators via a discussion board where you can discuss core concepts and share your work.

Intensive Schedule

Tuesday, November 12:

4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (PT)

Wednesday, November 13:

4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (PT)

Thursday, November 14:

4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (PT)

You will also choose one of the following time slots to workshop with your advisor and small group: 

Saturday, November 16: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (PT)

Sunday, November 17: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (PT)

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available and are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Those who apply earlier will have a greater chance of getting support. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the registration form and follow the instructions on the left side to fill out a scholarship application.

Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.