As part of Breakthroughs: The Sloan Science on Screen Programme, the Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch is a new initiative providing four Canadian and international creators the opportunity to pitch their science and technology-related film or episodic project at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
Funding for this programme provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Public Understanding of Science and Technology program, which supports books, radio, film, television, theater and new media to reach a wide, non-specialized audience and to bridge the two cultures of science and the humanities.
Participants will deliver a maximum 15-minute presentation in front of a live audience of industry experts and decision makers. In addition to the non-competitive pitch event, each creator will be awarded $15,000 CAD to help further their project.
BEFORE STARTING YOUR SLOAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECT PITCH APPLICATION, REVIEW THE CHECKLIST BELOW:
1. You meet the eligibility requirements for Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch and agree to provide all the required submission materials.
2. You have created a new project under the “My Projects” section of your profile for this specific programme application. The project is titled “FIRST AND LAST NAME – SLOAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECT PITCH – 2023” and is a Film / Video project type.
NOTE: After saving your new project, return to the Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch FilmFreeway event page to fill out the application.
3. You have uploaded the materials listed below to the “My Projects” section. (NOTE: Go to https://filmfreeway.com/projects and click “View” on your project to upload your video files.)
a. A video pitch about the submitted project, no more than two minutes in duration. The video should tell us: i. a bit about your project; ii. your creative approach/voice; and iii. why you’d like to participate in the Sloan Science and Technology Project Pitch.
Upload this file in the “Add an Online Screener” section of your project. Use the upload tool to add your video pitch.
NOTE: You will not be evaluated on the quality of the video, but on the content. This can be recorded on a cell phone.
b. A continuous one-minute clip from a previous project on which you are credited as a writer or writer-director, uploaded in the “Add a trailer” section of your project. Please follow these guidelines for your clip submission:
i. The clip must be no longer than one minute.
ii. Ensure that the clip is high resolution.
iii. After the project title on the video file, include in parentheses if the clip is from a short, feature, or series.
iv. Ensure that the clip includes English subtitles if the language spoken is not English.
v. Demo reels, trailers, and music videos will not be accepted.
vi. Submissions of full films or episodes with time codes of a one-minute segment will not be considered.
c. The following supporting documents:
i. The applicant’s filmography (project title, year, role or roles, festivals/platforms screened, and a maximum of five awards or nominations received per project) in PDF format
ii. The applicant’s high-resolution headshot in colour (format: .jpg; orientation: portrait; minimum resolution: 300 dpi)
iii. A completed draft of the submitted project’s script, in PDF format
iv. A 10-page writing sample from the script that demonstrates the submitted project's focus on science and/or technology, in PDF format