Preview

Stage 1 application form

This is exactly what applicants see and fill in at Stage 1 of the commission — nothing on this page is saved or submitted.

About you

Full name

Pronouns (optional)

Where are you currently based?

Town or city, and country.

Tell us something about yourself as a writer or filmmaker.

We are interested in your voice rather than a list of credits. What kinds of stories are you drawn to, and what shapes the way you write?

Up to 150 words (0/150)

Is there anything about your background or circumstances you would like us to know? (optional)

This is optional and helps us consider diversity, access and support. It is not a scoring criterion.

Up to 150 words (0/150)

Eligibility

The commission is open to writers who:

are over 18
are available for the Writers' Residential (14-18 March 2027) and development period (March to May 2027)
are not an employee of or consultant to The Pitch, or our supporter organisation Bible Society, or a member of their immediate family

Proposals must:

be your own original work with full control and ownership of the rights, including to any material on which an idea is based
be credibly producible within a 12A audience classification
engage with at least one biblical text, theme or interpretative lens provided in the Brief

I confirm that I am eligible to apply, and that my proposal meets the criteria above.

Your short film

What is the working title?

What is the logline?

In a few sentences, describe the central character, their situation, the principal dramatic tension and what is at stake.

Up to 50 words (0/50)

Give us a longer synopsis of your short film, including its ending.

Who is the protagonist? What is the central conflict, development and resolution?

Up to 300 words (0/300)

Your approach

How do you imagine this story working on screen?

You may refer to tone, point of view, structure, setting, genre, visual ideas or the use of sound.

Up to 200 words (0/200)

Who is this story for?

What demographic do you think will resonate with this film?

Up to 50 words (0/50)

How have biblical texts, images, characters or ideas shaped your story?

We are interested in creative engagement, not theological fluency. You do not need to hold a particular faith position, reach an approved doctrinal conclusion or retell biblical narrative literally.

Up to 250 words (0/250)

What character, story point or element do you think needs most work in development?

Up to 150 words (0/150)

Your recording

Record a short video, upload to Youtube/Vimeo, set as unlisted, then paste the link below. Keep it to 60 seconds or less.

If you need further help with uploading, follow these steps for YouTube or Vimeo.

Production quality isn't assessed - a phone or webcam is fine, and you don't need editing, music or titles.

Talk us through how you arrived at this story, and why you are the person to tell it.

What did you begin with, what did you notice in the biblical material or commissioning lenses, and how did that encounter shape or change the idea? Don't simply repeat your synopsis - we're interested in your creative process.

Unlisted YouTube or Vimeo link.

Beyond the short film

These are additional to the short-film commission and do not affect your assessment.

I would like this project to be considered for wider-development conversations beyond the short-film commissioning process.

Confirm and submit

I confirm that the information in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

I confirm that I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice.

I understand that submission does not guarantee selection, commissioning, development funding, production or distribution, and that The Pitch is selecting projects for potential further development rather than a production-ready project at this stage.

Please check your application carefully: submitted applications cannot be edited further.