Pitching Sessions 2020
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Pitch your project to professionals & pitching prep workshops
IFFR Pro 2020 gives filmmakers the unique opportunity to pitch to professionals from the film industry and to receive constructive feedback.
In preparation of this, there will be three intimate group sessions with a top coach, who will guide you in sharpening your presentation skills.
In the Prep Sessions you will gain insight into the art of presenting yourself and your ideas effectively. You’ll have the opportunity to develop and enhance your pitch in a supportive and constructive environment. Discover how to ensure that your message comes across to whoever you’re talking to!
During the Pitching Sessions you will be able to present your completed film or project in development and to receive direct feedback from specially invited top international professionals. You may also strike useful connections with future collaborators, as during the past editions filmmakers were able to find a sales agent or attract an investor following their pitches.
The Pitching Sessions will be held in a collaborative and small-scale environment. The Prep Workshops will be done in a closed setting with a limited number or participants.
Pitch out! – Prep Workshops – 120 Minutes in the Art of Presenting
January 24 15:00 - 17:30
January 25 10:00 - 12:30
January 26 10:00 - 12:30
Dark Room, de Doelen, 4th floor
You know what your film project is about, but do you know how to get it across?
Do you come across effectively and create the impact you want to have?
How do you earn the right to someone’s attention?
One of the key skills required to get ahead in the film industry is that of communicating in the right way. These two prep sessions have been designed to sharpen your skills on how to summarize your ideas and how to communicate these concisely. Also you will learn how to feel comfortable in front of your audience.
Pitching instructor Marjorie Bendeck will help you synthesize your content and communicate this clearly. Top coach Bonnie Williams will help you to gain the skills to adjust your pitch and to build your confidence.
Pitching Sessions
Pitch your project in development or finished film to funds, producers, buyers, sales agents, festivals & markets and receive constructive feedback on the content and its viability from top professionals in a supportive environment. The two panels will be moderated by Marjorie Bendeck. Please sign up in advance to reserve a spot.
26 January (16:00 - 18:00)
with Sales Agent Lison Hervé (Stray Dogs), producer Oskar Pimlott (Sungazer), international film-market expert Lucas Rosant, film consultant Anita Voorham (Biennale College-Cinema, Torino Film Lab) and buyer and festival programmer Eddie Bertozzi (Academy Two).
27 January (16:00 - 18:00)
with Fay Breeman (Hubert Bals Fund), producer Ben Giladi (Pulse X AI Film), programmer Thibaut Bracq (Open Doors - Locarno FF), curator and distributor Nico Marzano (Institute of Contemporary Arts) and film producer and festival programmer Lorna Tee (International Film Festival & Awards Macao).
Marjorie Bendeck
Originally from Honduras, holds a BA in communications and marketing, and an MA in organizational psychology, besides film production studies in Mexico and the EICTV in Cuba.
Based in Germany since 2003, where she headed the selection committee of Berlinale Talents until 2012, while also working for funds and training initiatives in Europe and Latin America. Her areas of expertise include evaluation of feature film projects as well as workshops for pitch, script and project development. Engaged as a regular consultant with organizations like the Mediterranean Film Institute, Guadalajara Talents, ACE Producers and the Berlinale (NATIVe, World Cinema Fund). Since 2018, she is head of Connecting Cottbus East-West CoProduction Market focused on the broader Eastern European region.
Bonnie Williams
Bonnie Williams is a Pitch & Performance Coach for public speakers & industry professionals.
Her extensive experience includes coaching and advising on pitching, presenting and interview techniques for filmmakers and producers, writers and artists, heads of industry, moderators, startups, thought leaders, etc. She is a long-term speaker coach for TEDxAmsterdamWomen and other TEDx events.
Recent industry-related experience includes coaching projects in development for roundtable pitches at IDFA Forum 2019 and leading pitch workshops for VERS Film Festival 2019. She also partnered with FilmarketHub to coach the selected projects at the Sitges 2019 Pitchbox (Sitges Film Festival) and at 2nd London TV Pitchbox (coll. Raindance Film Festival 2019). She is a returning consultant at IFFR and has worked across various industry platforms including RotterdamLab, BoostNL, VR Pro, and IFFR ProHub, advising individuals and project teams, as well as running focused pitch prep workshops with Marjorie Bendeck.
As the founder of The Whole Package, she also specializes in supporting international English speakers in finding their own voice and speaking with impact.
Her focus is on helping you shape and shares your message to make the impression and impact you want.
