Film Columbus presents Pitch Columbus 23, the Columbus pitch competition presented by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Gateway Film Center, and Cinema Columbus Film Festival.

*** Amid the challenges posed by the ongoing SAG/AFTRA strikes affecting our industry, Film Columbus remains committed to supporting our community. We are pleased to announce that we have eliminated submission fees this year and substantially boosted our awards. We stand with our fellow union members, eagerly anticipating a swift resolution to enable the industry to resume operations. ***

The top TEN projects entered through FilmFreeway will be invited to pitch their idea LIVE in front of a panel of entertainment execs and industry representatives on Friday, November 3, 2023 from 6:30pm - 9:30pm.

*** ALL applicants must live in Franklin or the contiguous counties in Ohio and be at least 18 years of age. ***

Prizes include:
- Overall Highest Score: $15,000
- Feature (narrative, doc, experimental, animation): $10,000 and $5,000
- Short (less than 40 mins; narrative, doc, experimental, animation): $10,000 and $5,000
- Five additional finalists: $1,000 ea

Please read the rules below very carefully.

- Overall Highest Score: $15,000
- Feature (narrative, doc, experimental, animation): $10,000 and $5,000
- Short (less than 40 mins; narrative, doc, experimental, animation): $10,000 and $5,000
- Five additional finalists: $1,000 ea

1) Submitted scripts, treatments, clips, pitch decks, or similar must be original projects, and the sole property of the applicant(s). Submissions must not have been previously sold or produced. Unfinished projects are accepted (i.e., funds needed to finish a project which has already been filmed). Adapted or based-on screenplays are also accepted. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to register their screenplay and secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials included within the submitted screenplay. All entrants, including the nominees and winners, retain complete and exclusive rights to their work. Works accepted may be narrative, documentary, series, docu-series, experimental, or animation.
2) Award winners from the prior year pitch contest are not eligible.
3) Scripts, projects, pitches and related materials which are notified as being “accepted” to pitch their idea will have the opportunity to pitch a panel of industry executives and/or professionals on Friday, November 3, 2023. To win a prize, the pitch must be made in-person on Friday, November 3, 2023, and applicant(s) must be present to win.
4) All entries must be in English.
5) We accept screenplays, documentary scripts, and pitch decks only in PDF format. No exceptions. Professional presentations highly encouraged. Sample work/links highly encouraged. Hint: the more information on how your project could be a success and the more professional your presentation, the better.
6) Include how you will use or allocate the winning funds in your pitch.
7) Only one entry per person/group/team/organization.
8) All screenplays and documentary scripts must be written in industry-standard format (e.g., screenplays in Courier 12 pt font; documentary script in column format describing scene, video, audio, etc). Scripts not in industry-standard format will not be accepted. No exceptions.
9) Substitutions of either corrected pages or new drafts of the entry screenplay(s) are not accepted.
10) Competition judges, readers, and employees of our competition, past and present, are NOT eligible to enter.
11) Competition is open to individuals or a team of individuals only.
12) Entries must be received on or before the deadlines. We do not provide feedback.
13) By entering, you agree to all the rules listed. Regardless of your status (winner or finalist), please note that your script, logline, and contact information may be shared with our partners and sponsors, and by submitting you agree with that. You also agree to release and hold harmless Pitch Columbus Competition, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Gateway Film Center, Cinema Columbus, and their subsidiaries, parent and affiliated companies, partners, and sponsors from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to damages and negligence to property and persons, including but not limited to invasion of privacy, defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, copyright, infringement of trademark or other intellectual property rights relating to a participant’s entry, participation in the contest and/or acceptance or use or misuse of the prize.
14) The top five winners must participate in a post-event workshop. This workshop is designed to provide valuable insights, strategies, and practical guidance across various aspects of film production. Topics covered will include budgeting, production, post-production, marketing, and more, all aimed at enhancing the quality and success potential of your project. Your active participation in this workshop is vital for maximizing your chances of delivering an outstanding final product.
15) *** ALL applicants must live in Franklin or the contiguous counties in Ohio and be at least 18 years of age. ***
16) *** ALL contest winners are required to participate in and fully engage with a mandatory workshop hosted by Film Columbus on the subject of filmmaking, encompassing essential topics such as proper budgeting and accounting, casting and hiring actors, safety protocols, and more. ***

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Kaylin Allshouse

    Had a great time at Pitch Columbus! The Gateway is an awesome venue to have this at and the crowd was great. There was a reception after the presentations, where I had the chance to connect with the many film makers that attended the event. I would highly recommend submitting to this competition, it made me a better advocate for my film and gave it lots of exposure. Looking forward to next year!

    December 2022
  • Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The panel of judges was surprisingly small (just 2), which didn't afford much diversity in the scoring. It would be helpful to the candidates to receive feedback to help them understand what they could do better.

    October 2022