The Pitch Competition takes place during the Minnesota Film Festival (MFF) April 22-26, 2026 in person at the Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community and surrounding venues in Duluth, MN!

***Call for entries are now open to filmmakers residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio.***

In this annual pitch competition filmmakers from across the Midwest have ten minutes to pitch their next film production for financial support. Participants present their concepts or works in progress to a panel of judges composed of filmmakers and industry professionals, who will offer constructive feedback to all participants.

Pitch competition finalists will receive accommodations and all access passes to the 2026 Zeitgeist’s Minnesota Film Festival. There will be 10 finalists total, 2 finalists chosen from each category listed below. Selected projects will have 20 minutes on stage (10 minutes to pitch and 10 minutes for feedback).

*** If you are selected you must be able to attend the festival in person.***

Short Film Pitch:
Open to filmmakers residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio. Any genre. The pitch must be for a film with an intended length of under 25 minutes.

Feature Narrative Pitch:
Open to filmmakers residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio. The pitch must be for a fiction film with an intended length of over 40 minutes.

Feature Documentary Pitch:
Open to filmmakers residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio. The pitch must be for a non-fiction film with an intended length of over 40 minutes.

MN Filmmaker Pitch:
Open to filmmakers who are residents of Minnesota. This can be any genre, any length.

Indigenous Filmmaker Pitch:
The project can be any genre, any length. Open to Indigenous filmmakers who are tribal citizens or tribal descendants across the Midwest.

Awards & Prizes

Grants Awards for 1st place winners and runner ups:

Short Film Pitch - First Prize $1000, Runner Up $500

Feature Narrative Pitch - First Prize $3000, Runner Up $500

Feature Documentary Pitch - First Prize $3000, Runner Up $500

MN Filmmaker Pitch - First Prize $3000, Runner Up $500

Indigenous Filmmaker Pitch - First Prize $3000, Runner Up $500

Rules & Terms

Application Information:

Working Title

Logline (75 word max)

Project Description (250 word max)

Synopsis/treatment (500 word max)

Project status (250 word max)

Funding status (250 word max)

Distribution & marketing plan (250 word max)

Name & contact info with bio (175 word max each) for up to 2 pitch members

Link to video sample* (6 minutes max)

*Pitch Competition Judges will NOT have access to any video content prior to the competition. ALL Pitch Competition Judges will be judging Pitches for the first time on the day of the event.

Eligibility:

Short Film Pitch, Narrative Feature Pitch and Documentary Feature Pitch are open to filmmakers residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio.

Indigenous Filmmaker Pitch:
Open to Indigenous filmmakers who are tribal citizens or tribal descendants across the Midwest.

MN Filmmaker Pitch:
Open to filmmakers who are residents of Minnesota.
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  • Ajuawak Kapashesit

    I had a lovely time connecting with local and non-local film community at the Minnesota Film Festival! I would highly recommend visiting- the team, the movies, DULUTH! So beautiful! I hope to return soon!

    March 2025
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  • Katrina Lillian Sorrentino (Treen)

    This was such an incredible festival and experience. We pitched our documentary feature. We were supported throughout the entire experience. The team at MN Film Fest is the best. They really take care of their filmmakers. 10/10 recommend.

    March 2025
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  • Fourwind Films

    About everything you'd want from a local festival: well-run, good programming, meet filmmakers and have a local audience outside of the filmmaking world. On top of that everyone at the festival is kind.

    April 2024
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  • Jeremy Nelson

    I participated in the Pitch Competition in 2023 and received some great feedback from the judges as well as some wonderful conversations from other filmmakers who were watching the pitches. My filmmaker badge not only got me into every screening, but I also got to attend each event, like the mixer, filmmaker brunch, and the awards ceremony. Highly recommend submitting your pitch for next year's festival!

    April 2023
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  • Jacob White

    This was a FANTASTIC first ever film festival organized by some wonderful, down to earth people! The event was well attended by movie lovers and industry professionals. It was a great opportunity for networking, sharing stories and getting to know other filmmakers working in the upper midwest. I'm so proud of what the organizers were able to accomplish in their first year, and I can't wait to continue participating in future NorthxNorth Festivals!

    May 2022
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