The Pitch Commissioning Terms and Conditions

(collectively, below, defined as ‘Terms & Conditions’, ‘Ts&Cs’, ‘rules’)

Last updated: 05/11/26

If you have submitted to The Pitch in previous years, welcome back! And if this is your first foray into exploring The Pitch, we’re thrilled you're here.

However, whether you’re new to The Pitch or a returning Applicant, please keep in mind that The Pitch’s Ts&Cs have been reviewed and reshaped to fit the new commissioning format.

So, we ask that you actually read them and read them thoroughly, of course, as, during submission, you will be asked to confirm that you’ve read, understand and accept these Ts&Cs, and have shared information about yourself with The Pitch, if/as applicable and as indicated within these Ts&Cs (sections 11 and 12 herein).

Got questions?

By necessity, some of what follows is written in legal-speak, BUT we want these Ts&Cs to be crystal clear for everyone. So, if you’re unsure what something means while reading, drop us an email to ask for more info. As they say, the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.

The Pitch is a project supported by a number of businesses and trusts and promoted by Bible Society, which is a registered charity (details at the bottom of these Ts&Cs).

Our 2026 Commissioning brief/question is ‘What does it mean to be human in the age of AI?’ We are looking for short film concepts that draw on the Bible to inspire a fresh perspective. We have a series of lenses that invite you to explore that here. These Ts&Cs set out the context and approach we require if you want to apply to be considered for commission.

This is what you're signing up to:

The following are non-negotiable requirements of Application and participation. By completing and submitting an official Application Form, you, The Applicant, are agreeing to be bound by the Terms & Conditions set out below.

The Pitch reserves the right to amend and alter these rules (‘Change(s)’). The Pitch may make Changes without notice but will endeavour to give at least 7 days’ notice (the ‘Notice Period’) where possible. Applicants shall have the right to withdraw their Application to The Pitch in the event they don’t agree with the Changes, such request to withdraw to be made in writing (by email) and within ten (10) working days (commencing no later than the final day of the Notice Period) of notification of the Changes.

Overview

In brief, and for reference and summary purposes only, here’s an Overview of what each section of the Ts&Cs covers. This Overview does not replace the full Ts&Cs which Applicants will be asked to confirm that they have read, understand and accept as part of their Application:

1. Definitions

Explains the words and phrases used throughout these Ts&Cs.

2. Content of a Pitch

What your Application needs to include, how selection works and what happens next. Includes Commissioning milestones, information on the Writers’ Retreat (including dates and ‘accommodation and meals covered’), and the like.

3. Eligibility

Who can apply, including age requirements, entering again if you’ve applied before and/or previously received investment from The Pitch, and terms relating to if/when working with a writing partner (if applicable).

4. Attendance during The Commissioning Process

When you need to be available for writing, meetings and the compulsory in-person Writers’ Retreat.

5. Compensation

Payment and support: £2,500 for each of the five commissioned writers, plus £1,000 for the writer whose script is selected for production. Co-writers share these fees. Also covers mentoring and help developing your script.

6. Potential Production Role

Potential opportunity to take on another role in the making of your film. These are considered individually and aren’t guaranteed.

7. Withdrawal of an Application from the Commissioning Process

Why an Application might be turned down or removed by The Pitch, including an Applicant copying someone else’s work.

8. Format

How to submit your Application and record the video element(s) of your submission.

9. Ownership and Origin of a Pitch

The rules about submitting your own work, ownership and who owns it afterwards. If your commissioned script isn’t selected for production, you keep ownership, with conditions covering credit and repayment if it is later made.

10. Our Standards: Respect, Safety and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion and the behaviour expected of everyone taking part, and what happens if these standards aren’t met/followed.

11. Declaration

Anything you may need to discuss privately with The Pitch Team before applying. Raising an ‘issue’ does not automatically rule you out, although some restrictions apply.

12. Criminal Convictions Policy

How criminal convictions may affect your Application, what you need to tell The Pitch Team and when an Application fee can be refunded.

13. Force Majeure Events

What happens when events outside anyone’s control affect the Commissioning Process or your ability to take part.

14. Miscellaneous

Other important details, including recording your participation, keeping information private and how to raise concerns.

15. Data Protection

How your personal information is collected and used, including when you apply with a writing partner, if applicable.

16. Jurisdiction

Which laws apply and how disagreements are handled.

Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

The following definitions shall apply in these rules:

1.1. ‘Applicant’ (also informally ‘you’, ‘your’, ‘their’, 'they', ‘them’, ‘filmmaker’ and the like (which such informal terms may also refer to any Co-Writer)) = a person submitting an Application. Also used in the context when the Applicant has been selected as Shortlisted for Commission and/or as a Commissioned Writer and/or as a Selected Writer;

1.2. ‘Commissioned Writer(s)’ = any number and/or all five (5) of the writers commissioned by The Pitch to provide writing services to The Pitch to develop their Pitch(es) into Screenplays written and developed in accordance with the requirements of these Ts&Cs and as required by The Pitch under the terms of the Writer's Commissioning Agreement. Further, ‘Unproduced Commissioned Writer(s)’ shall refer to those writers whose Screenplays have not been selected for production by The Pitch, and ‘Selected Writer’ shall refer to the writer of the Production Commission;

1.3. ‘Commissioned Film’ = see ‘Production Commission' within these definitions;

1.4. ‘Commissioned Screenplays’ = a draft and/or drafts of an original script written by a Commissioned Writer, based on their Pitch, and otherwise written and developed in accordance with the requirements of these Ts&Cs and as required by The Pitch under the terms of the Writer's Commissioning Agreement;

1.5. ‘Commissioning Process’ (and ‘Commissioning’) = the period from The Pitch opening for submissions through to the selection of the Production Commission, comprising of, without limitation, The Pitch events, milestones and the like which take place in between such ‘opening' and ‘selection’, as set out in the Briefing, including information contained within the Commission Page, and on The Pitch Website;

1.6. ‘Co-Writer’ = a writing partner, if any, to a Commissioned Writer. Together with the Commissioned Writer, ‘Co-Writers’;

1.7. ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ = as set out in clause 4.3 herein;

1.8. ‘Fee’ and 'Additional Fee’ (individually or together, ‘Fee(s)’) = as set out in clauses 5.1 and 5.4 respectively herein;

1.9. ‘Force Majeure’ = as set out in section 13 herein;

1.10. ’the Investment’ = as set out in clause 5.2 herein;

1.11. ‘Lens’ = as set out in clause 2.1 herein;

1.12. ‘Pitch’ (and ‘Application(s)' ‘Pitches’, ‘idea’, ‘story’, ‘premise’) = a combination of written and video pitch (as indicated within the Application Form) submitted to The Pitch Website by the Applicant seeking a commission for an original Short Film based on the Theme, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of these Ts&Cs, including without limitation clause 2.1;

1.13. ‘Pitch Briefing’ (and ‘Briefing’) = pre-submission information as set out within ‘Before You Apply’ and including without limitation the Commission Page. For the avoidance of doubt, the Briefing forms a material part of these Ts&Cs;

1.14. ’The Pitch’ (also informally ‘us‘ ,’we‘ ,’our’) = one and the same as Reel Issues Films, the element of Bible Society responsible for producing the films we commission and finance;

1.15. ‘The Pitch Team’ = the individuals organising, representing and administering The Pitch;

1.16. ‘The Pitch Website’ = the website located at enterthepitch.com;

1.17. ‘Premise' = a story's central concept, the 'what if?’, driving force, core idea, foundation, etc;

1.18. ‘Production Commission’ (and ‘Commission’, ‘Commissioned Film’) = the Commissioned Screenplay selected by The Pitch to receive Investment to go into production, as set out within these Ts&Cs;

1.19. ‘Production Commissioning Agreement’ = a longform agreement between the Selected Writer of the Production Commission and The Pitch including without limitation the full terms of The Pitch’s Investment in production of the Short Film written by the Selected Writer and details relating to any Production Role to be undertaken by the Selected Writer, if any, including without limitation the setting out of services, dates, expenses, applicable production policies, and the like, relating to the same;

1.20. ‘Screenplay(s)’ = see ‘ Commissioned Screenplays’ within these definitions;

1.21. ‘Shortlisted for Commission’ = an Applicant and their Application that has been selected by The Pitch for further consideration beyond the Applicant’s initial Application. At such ‘Shortlisted for Commission' stage, the Applicant will be asked to create/provide further materials including without limitation reasonable additional Written Elements and/or Video Elements as determined by and at the absolute discretion of The Pitch Team, a writing sample, etc;

1.22. ’Short Film’ = an original scripted short film or films derived from an Applicant's original Pitch, based on the Theme and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of these Ts&Cs, including without limitation clause 2.1. Subject to the context of its use, 'Short Film’ may also be used in relation to the Premise for such a film and/or for a produced or yet to be produced short film, or Screenplay thereof;

1.23. ‘Theme’ = the inspiration and focus for the story-telling, the Pitch and the Screenplays, namely “what does it mean to be human in the age of AI?”, seen through the Lens of Biblical material and as more fully explored in the Briefing and on The Pitch Website;

1.24. ‘Video Element(s)’ (and alone and/or together with Written Elements, ‘Elements’) = video recording(s) forming part of a Pitch at submission stage(s) and, if selected, at Shortlisted for Commission, as more adequately set out, without limitation, in clause 2.3 and section 8 herein and within the submission/Application Form. The content and running time specification for the Video Elements shall be as set out within the submission/Application Form and, if applicable, at Notification relating to Pitches Shortlisted for Commission;

1.25. 'Writer's Commissioning Agreement’ = a longform agreement between the Commissioned Writer and The Pitch including without limitation the full terms of each party's undertakings in relation to the development and writing of the Commissioned Screenplay;

1.26. ‘Writers' Retreat’ = the in-person, residential gathering of the Commissioned Writers, The Pitch Team and industry consultants - 14-18th March 2027 in the Lake District, UK (if dates need to be changed at the discretion of The Pitch, attendees will be given forewarning) - during which the Commissioned Writers will engage with the Theme, source-material Lens and will begin writing their first draft Screenplay with industry consultants’ support, advice and input; and

1.27. ‘Written Elements’ (and alone and/or together with Video Elements, ‘Elements’) = original written materials written by the Applicant (noting without limitation clause 7.7 herein) and forming part of a Pitch at submission stage(s) and, if selected, at Shortlisted for Commission. The content and word count specification for the Written Elements shall be as set out within the submission/Application Form and, if applicable, at Notification relating to Pitches Shortlisted for Commission;

Throughout the above Definitions and these Ts&Cs, words used in the singular form shall be deemed to import the plural, and vice versa, as the context may require.

2. Content of a Pitch

(including information relating to Commissioning Process milestones)

2.1. An Applicant must demonstrate, through the core Written Elements and accompanying Video Elements, that the Theme, as explored in their Premise and storyline, has been unpacked within their Pitch with a biblical imagination and considered through a biblical lens (collectively 'the Lens’). If you’d like some more information on what we mean by 'biblical' and ‘the Bible’, check out The Brief.

2.2. In preparing an idea and a Pitch, the Applicant must take into account the Premise and nature of their proposed Short Film such that the produced Short Film would i) achieve a certification/ classification of no more than a 12A (per United Kingdom BBFC film classification), with a total running time of twenty (20) minutes or less including credits, ii) be an original work and (iii) comply with all other requirements as set out in the Pitch Briefing and within these Ts&Cs.

2.3. As set out in the Briefing, the Video Element of a Pitch should be a simple so-called ‘piece to camera’, phone or webcam recordings being sufficient; editing, music, titles and graphics are unnecessary. Further, the Video Element must not be in the form of a so-called ‘sizzle reel’ or similar format which is created from third party/copyrighted material (ie video/clips/stills etc) edited together to create a video/audio mood board Pitch. Any Pitch Video Element submitted in this way will not be considered. An Application Form, completed in full, must accompany each Application. Applications received with an incomplete Application Form will not be considered.

2.4. If a Pitch is selected as Shortlisted for Commission, the Applicant will be asked to create/provide further materials in relation to their Pitch, including without limitation reasonable additional i) Written Elements, ii) Video Elements (both i) and ii) as determined by and at the sole discretion of The Pitch Team), iii) a writing sample, etc. Full notification of the specification for such further materials will be sent to Applicants upon notification of their having been Shortlisted for Commission (‘Notification’). To be eligible for consideration to be selected as a Commissioned Writer, the Applicant Shortlisted for Commission must submit the required further materials to The Pitch no later than the deadline indicated by The Pitch Team at the point of Notification.

2.5. Commissioned Writers will be selected by The Pitch from those Pitches Shortlisted for Commission by the end of February 2027. They will be required to attend the Writers' Retreat, the in-person, residential gathering of the Commissioned Writers, The Pitch Team and industry consultants, 14-18th March 2027 in the Lake District, UK. If dates need to be changed at the discretion of The Pitch, attendees will be given forewarning. The retreat will engage with the Theme, source- material Lens and provide space for Commissioned Writers to begin writing their first draft Screenplay with industry consultants’ support, advice and input.

2.6. All accommodation and subsistence costs relating to the Writers' Retreat will be met by The Pitch. Transport to and from the Lake District is not included but The Pitch Team will be able to point to third party help that may be available to filmmakers to help with travel costs. For clarity, in-person attendance is mandatory and no substitute method of attending (i.e. via video call or similar) will be offered.

2.7. Selection of the Production Commission - the Commissioned Screenplay chosen by The Pitch to go into production - shall be at the sole discretion of The Pitch. Although subject to change, such selection is anticipated to be made in May 2027. In our 2026 Commissioning, The Pitch anticipates selecting one (1) Commissioned Screenplay to receive Investment to go into production. However, at its sole discretion The Pitch may choose to revise this number during the Commissioning Process.

2.8. A Pitch with Written Elements in excess of the stated word count and/or the Video Elements’ maximum running time (as set out in the submission/Application Form and, if applicable, at Notification relating to Pitches Shortlisted for Commission) will not be considered.

2.9. Submissions must be made in the English language or use Applicant-created, burned-in English subtitles.

3. Eligibility

3.1. Only one Application per Applicant may be submitted.

3.2. All Applicants, including those who are not residents of the United Kingdom (‘UK’) (or not currently residing in the UK), must be able to attend in person the Writers' Retreat (see here for more details).

3.3. It is the responsibility of a non-UK-resident Applicant to meet all costs of travel and accommodation, and the like - save only as expressly set out in clause 2.6 - and to arrange all necessary visa requirements (if required) resulting from participation in any aspect of The Pitch.

3.4. For the avoidance of doubt, all previous participants in The Pitch (formerly The Pitch Film Fund), including so-called Winners/Recipients, may submit to The Pitch, but no Pitch (or near-identical Pitch) previously submitted to The Pitch or The Pitch Film Fund by that Applicant (or previous pitching partner) will be considered.

3.5. If so desired, Applicants may work with a Co-Writer to jointly develop a Pitch. However, if selected as a Commissioned Writer, only one person per Commissioned Screenplay will be invited to attend the Writers’ Retreat. Applicants working with a Co-Writer must nominate the individual at the time of entry (i.e. that being the person whose name a submission is in). Further in the same regard, also note clause 5.5 herein.

3.6. Applicants must be aged 18 or over as of the final submission date.

3.7. Employees of and Consultants to The Pitch and members of their immediate families (including any live-in partner) are not eligible to apply. Their Application will not be considered.

3.8. No Application submitted after the final submission date and time (as set out on The Pitch Website) will be considered.

4. Attendance during The Commissioning Process

4.1. The five Commissioned Writers must be available to write and develop their Commissioned Screenplays during March-July 2027, including in-person attendance at the Writers’ Retreat and participating in occasional online and/or in-person (to be agreed in good faith and contained in the Writer’s Commissioning Agreement)) Screenplay development meetings/mentoring sessions. Such availability shall be on a non-exclusive basis throughout the Commissioning Process save for being exclusive during the Writers' Retreat and, if applicable, in the fulfilment of an additional Production Role, if any, during production of the Production Commission.

4.2. The Selected Writer whose Screenplay is commissioned to go into production (aka Production Commission) must be available to write further drafts of their Screenplay, and, if so required, at the sole discretion of The Pitch Team, participate in the making of their Commissioned Screenplay in the six months immediately following announcement of the Production Commission. Exact expectations, timeline and the like to be contained within the Production Commissioning Agreement between the Selected Writer and The Pitch.

4.3. Should an Applicant be selected as a Commissioned Writer, The Pitch stresses that the Applicant’s attendance in person at the Writers’ Retreat is not negotiable and no exceptions will be made other than in the case of Force Majeure, extreme hardship, a death within the Applicant's immediate family, or the sudden onset or very recent resurgence of a serious illness as certified in writing by a practising medical doctor (individually or collectively ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ and together with Force Majeure, ‘Circumstance(s)’).

4.4. For clarity, even if an Applicant is subject to such a Circumstance - as set out in clause 4.3, or similar, at the absolute discretion of The Pitch (noting clause 4.5) - the existence of such Circumstance does not guarantee that an exception can be accommodated.

4.5. Further, by way of example, without limitation: missing a flight/train will not be considered as an Extenuating Circumstance as The Pitch expects each Commissioned Writer to be in the Lake District, United Kingdom (‘UK’) in good time to attend the Writers' Retreat (no less than 24 hours prior to the start of the Writers’ Retreat); an Applicant’s existing work commitments or exploring work-related opportunities will not be considered as an Extenuating Circumstance; etc. This is a reminder that non-United Kingdom resident Applicants must be prepared and able to travel to the UK if they are selected as one of the five Commissioned Writers.

4.6. In-person attendance by the Commissioned Writers at the Writers’ Retreat provides key learning, mentoring and evaluation opportunities within the Commissioning Process. Attending in person is required to give all Commissioned Writers equal advantage. The Pitch Team want to support the Commissioned Writers towards the best development of their idea which is why this is a mandatory requirement.

4.7. In the case that a Force Majeure event affects The Pitch and its ability to stage the Writers’ Retreat in person, then, by necessity, but at The Pitch Team's sole discretion, video conferencing may be used, unless the Writers’ Retreat can reasonably be re-scheduled. Instructions will be given to all Commissioned Writers at the earliest opportunity by The Pitch Team if such a change is needed.

5. Compensation

5.1. For writing services provided to The Pitch, the five Commissioned Writers will each receive an individual fee of £2,500 (two thousand five hundred pounds GBP) (‘Fee’) in remuneration for their writing one or more drafts of their Commissioned Screenplay. Such Fee shall be paid in several tranches as set out in a Writer's Commissioning Agreement to be entered into between The Pitch and the Commissioned Writer no later than the Writers' Retreat.

5.2. The Short Film selected by The Pitch, to enter into further/final development and production (aka the Production Commission), will receive financial investment from The Pitch, ie a budget, administered by The Pitch Team, to enable production and post production of such Production Commission ('the Investment’).

5.3. The value of such Investment, and the number of Short Films invested in (i.e. to go into production) by The Pitch, shall be determined at the sole discretion of The Pitch Team.

5.4. In addition to the Fee as set out in clause 5.1, the Selected Writer of the Production Commission will receive an additional fee of £1,000 (one thousand pounds GBP) (‘Additional Fee’) in remuneration for additional writing services scripting further drafts of the Screenplay for their Short Film, such further drafts to include a so-called 'shooting draft'. The Additional Fee shall be paid as set out in the Production Commissioning Agreement to be entered into, between The Pitch and the Selected Writer of the Production Commission, no later than the first day of principal photography of the Short Film.

5.5. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event a Commissioned Screenplay and/or Production Commission is written by Co-Writers, the Fee and Additional Fee, as applicable and as set out herein, shall be shared by the Co-Writers.

5.6. During the Commissioning Process and/or the Production Period, Applicants will receive mentoring from The Pitch Team, story and script development support, and will work with The Pitch Team film industry Producers and consultants and other industry professionals, subject to the availability of the aforementioned.

5.7. The Investment is not transferable. It cannot be exchanged for a cash payment or credit.

6. Potential Production Role

6.1. No matter the previous experience and background of an Applicant, all Applicants should have a vision for their ambition/pathway/next steps in the industry.

6.2. During the Commissioning Process, at the sole discretion of The Pitch, The Pitch Team will work closely with the Selected Writer to determine whether, in addition to being the Writer of the Production Commission, there is a potential additional role for the Writer during production of their Commissioned Screenplay (‘Production Role’). Such potential Production Role may include without limitation, without guarantee and noting the following clauses, providing services as the director of the Short Film.

6.3. It is important to note that The Pitch seeks to create opportunity, recognise talent, support next steps at all stages, help filmmakers to develop their ‘voice’, and celebrate ‘promise’.

6.4. The Pitch Team will seek to build and develop a crew and cast for the Production Commission that best supports the nature, scale and ambition of the Short Film as well as assessing opportunities for career development.

6.5. In relation to a Production Role, having their Commissioned Screenplay selected to become the Production Commission does not guarantee a specific Production Role for the Writer during production of their Short Film. In all respects the decision of The Pitch Team will be final.

7. Withdrawal of Applications from the Commissioning Process

7.1. A decision to decline to consider an Application and/or withdraw an Application from the Commissioning Process shall be at the sole discretion of The Pitch, although unless otherwise specified (either here in this section 7 or elsewhere in these Ts&Cs) such a decision is not automatic.

7.2. Unless an Application is subject to automatic withdrawal from the Commissioning Process, The Pitch may choose to allow an Application that otherwise meets the criteria for withdrawal or non- consideration to continue in the Commissioning Process. The Pitch has no obligation to inform other Applicants why such an Application, if any, has been allowed to continue in the Commissioning Process as such details may be personal and/or confidential to the associated Applicant.

7.3. Notwithstanding the above, if an Application and/or Applicant is in breach of a requirement that could result in its/their withdrawal from the Commissioning Process due to a Force Majeure Event (as set out herein) then such events will be taken into consideration.

7.4. Any content within a Pitch that is deemed, at the absolute discretion of The Pitch Team, to be blasphemous, offensive, pornographic, defamatory or obscene, or in any other way against the spirit of The Pitch, will not be considered.

7.5. At the sole discretion of The Pitch, and subject to the nature of any breach, an Applicant or Application that breaches these Terms & Conditions will be withdrawn from the Commissioning Process.

7.6. Noting section 4 herein, any Applicant who cannot attend the Writers’ Retreat in-person may be withdrawn from the Commissioning Process.

7.7. Any Pitch containing intellectual property not owned/licensed by the Applicant, or found to have been plagiarised, or found to be AI-originated/generated, will not be considered. In the case of such matters coming to light at any later stage in the Commissioning Process, then the Pitch shall be subject to automatic disqualification.

8. Format

8.1. The Applicant is responsible for ensuring that their Application is complete and, in the case of the Video Elements, uploaded to YouTube/Vimeo, and the Unlisted link copied and pasted into the Application Form. If your video format is not accepted by YouTube/Vimeo, we will be unable to view it.

9. Ownership and Origin of a Pitch

9.1. Noting also, without limitation, clause 9.4 herein, the Applicant must be the Writer and creator/ originator, or co-writer/creator of their Pitch.

9.2. A Pitch and/or short film Premise thereto (together ‘Pitch/Premise’) must not be currently under consideration by another production company, investor, development consortium or similar.

9.3. The Applicant must not have sold, conveyed, granted or assigned any right, title or interest in their Pitch/Premise and the Applicant guarantees there are no legal encumbrances on the submitted Pitch/Premise of any kind, and that the Applicant is not subject to, nor is the Applicant aware of any matters, facts or circumstances which could lead to any claims, proceedings or litigation or other allegation of infringement, in respect of their Pitch/Premise.

9.4. The Applicant must own all right, title and interest in the submitted Pitch/Premise, including without limitation the worldwide copyright in their Pitch/Premise and any and all extensions and renewals of that copyright. A Pitch/Premise must be an original work which does not infringe on the rights of any third party person, firm or company.

9.5. All rights in and to the Production Commission, together with the Screenplay and any and all development materials thereto, will be owned by The Pitch. For the avoidance of doubt, this shall apply to all and any Future Exploitation of the rights in and to the Production Commission, if any, in all media, including without limitation a feature length version, drama series adaptation of the Production Commission, etc, although this does not provide a guarantee of such Future Exploitation.

9.6. All rights in and to the Commissioned Screenplays which have not been commissioned for production by The Pitch will be owned by the Unproduced Commissioned Writers. For the avoidance of doubt, this shall apply to all and any Future Exploitation, if any, of the rights in and to such Commissioned Screenplays. This clause is subject to clauses 9.7-9.10 herein.

9.7. Each Unproduced Commissioned Writer undertakes to ensure that production of any film, drama, series or other audiovisual production, without limitation, which is based on or inspired by their Commissioned Screenplay ('Third Party Production’) - whether produced by the Unproduced Commissioned Writer, a company connected with the Unproduced Commissioned Writer, or an unrelated third-party producer (in this context, individually or together ‘Third Party’) - shall include a credit in its closing credits, 'Developed from an original screenplay commissioned by The Pitch – enterthepitch.com' (‘Credit’) or similar wording to be agreed in good faith between The Pitch, the Unproduced Commissioned Writer and the Third Party producer. Such Credit shall appear in all and any closing credits, whether, without limitation, in a single film, multi-episode/ series drama, etc.

9.8. Further to clause 9.7, in relation to such a Third Party Production a first day Principal Photography repayment of the individual Fee(s) actually paid by The Pitch to the Unproduced Commissioned Writer together with the uplift percentage, if any, paid to the development investors of such Third Party Production (‘Repayment’). In the case no other development investors have been involved in development of the Third Party Production, then an uplift of 20% shall be applied upon repayment of the individual Fee(s).

9.9. Noting clause 9.10, Unproduced Commissioned Writers undertake to ensure that any option, assignment or production agreement for any such Third Party Production contains the Credit and Repayment obligations set out herein. Where such a production does not involve conventional Principal Photography, the Repayment shall be made to The Pitch on the commencement of production.

9.10. In the case of the Commissioned Screenplay i) being produced as a short film of under 20 minutes running time (whether 'as is’ or with revisions to the Screenplay) and also ii) being produced by the Unproduced Commissioned Writer (i.e. not by a third party), in support of the filmmaker and the independent production of the Commissioned Screenplay The Pitch will be open to good faith negotiation in relation to the Repayment.

10. Our Standards: Respect, Safety, and Inclusion

10.1. The Pitch is committed to a proactive culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion across the screen sector. We believe that diverse perspectives are the lifeblood of authentic, innovative, and impactful storytelling. We seek to champion projects, creators, and crews that reflect the full breadth of society - regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

10.2. Further, Reel Issues Films and Supporters of The Pitch are committed to playing their part in seeking to eradicate anti-social behaviour in the film and television industries. They do not tolerate bullying and/or harassment, racism or any other forms of discrimination.

10.3. Applicants agree that they will not commit, participate in or condone any act of bullying, harassment, racism or victimisation – as described in the BFI/BAFTA ‘Guidance: A practical workplace guide for the prevention of bullying, harassment and racism in the screen industries’ (the ‘Guidance’) – i) at any point in the Commissioning Process, ii) if selected as Shortlisted for Commission iii) if selected as a Commissioned Writer and iv) if applicable, at any point during development, production and post production of a Selected Writer’s Short Film, aka the Production Commission (individually and collectively, ‘Production Period’ to include, where applicable, exploitation of the Production Commission).

10.4. An Applicant (and/or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) chosen as Shortlisted for Commission and/or as a Commissioned Writer will be required to confirm that they have read in full and will follow the Guidance during each and any stage of the Production Period in which they are involved.  Applicants understand and acknowledge that failure to follow the Guidance will be considered a material breach of these Ts&Cs which will result in the Applicant’s withdrawal from the Commissioning Process.

10.5. In the case of the Selected Writer whose Screenplay is selected as the Production Commission, failure to follow the Guidance will be considered a material breach of these Ts&Cs and the terms of the Production Commissioning Agreement and will, under the provisions of such Agreement and these Ts&Cs, result in immediate termination of the Production Commissioning Agreement and withdrawal of the Investment/Commission.

11. Declaration

11.1. The Pitch relies on the support of its sponsors and financiers, and representatives thereof (collectively ‘Supporters’), many of whom are charities with required codes of operation and conduct. As such, The Pitch needs to retain the right during the Commissioning Process and the Production Period to reflect the focus, heart and priorities of The Pitch and the Supporters in decisions made by The Pitch Team and in relation to the content of the Applications Shortlisted for Commission, the Commissioned Screenplays and the Commissioned Film.

11.2. The Pitch may decline to consider or withdraw an Application from further consideration at any point in the Commissioning Process and/or Production Period if The Pitch Team or Supporters become aware of any fact, matter or allegation concerning either an Applicant (and/or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) or Application that brings or might bring The Pitch, any member of The Pitch Team, Reel Issues Films or any of the Supporters into disrepute in any way.

11.3. In all aspects of The Pitch, the Commissioning Process and Production Period, The Pitch Team work closely with Applicants, the Supporters, cast, crew, consultants and the like, to ensure that the safeguarding of under 18s and vulnerable adults is given due and proper priority and prominence. Please also keep this in mind when responding to the following, below.

11.4. To be eligible for consideration to be selected as Shortlisted for Commission or as a Commissioned Writer, in light of previous clauses in this ‘Declaration’ section, if there are any matters (‘Issues’) that the Applicant (and/or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) thinks may impact their full participation in the Commissioning Process and/or Production Period, or hinder The Pitch and Supporters being able to fully engage with them (for example, without limitation, noting section 12 herein, a criminal conviction/caution, an allegation of bullying/abusive behaviour, etc), then the Applicant (and/or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) must declare the same, in confidence, and prior to completing an Application to The Pitch, by contacting and talking with The Pitch Producer, Luke Walton (as set out in clause 11.8).

11.5. To be clear: if an Applicant (and/or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) makes such a declaration, this will not automatically prevent them from participating (other than in the case of clause 12.1.2). The Pitch Team and Supporters believe in second chances. This is about being informed, upfront discussion, avoiding surprises, and The Pitch seeking to help filmmakers take next steps.

11.6. For clarity, in addition to the other clauses outlining our processing of personal information, in terms of processing information about criminal convictions and the like - such as declared to Luke Walton under the provision and requirements of sections 11 and 12 herein) - please note that, for the purposes of GDPR, we are both controller and processor of this information. This personal information which you choose to disclose to us, if any, is on a consent basis. This information will only be processed in relation to these Terms & Conditions and the Commissioning Process in which you are participating (or hope to participate in) and will only be retained for as long as necessary. In the event that The Pitch decides to reject an Applicant (or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) or would-be Applicant/Co-Writer based on their disclosure of a Issue, in accordance with the relevant terms herein, details of said disclosure will be erased by The Pitch.

11.7. If the Applicant (or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) has anything to declare in regard to the above clauses (noting also clause 11.8, and section 12 herein), then please contact and talk with Luke Walton (as set out in clause 11.8). For the avoidance of doubt, if no communication is received by Luke Walton from an Applicant - in relation to these sections 11 and 12 - then the Applicant not declaring any Issue is the Applicant's affirmation/declaration that the Applicant has nothing to declare. Further, please note, if an Issue is not declared, but is subsequently brought to the attention of The Pitch or Supporters, then The Pitch reserves the right to withdraw an Applicant (or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) from the Commissioning Process - and/or withdraw the Investment (if applicable) - for failing to disclose the Issue.

11.8. Having also reviewed all clauses within section 12 herein, if the Applicant (or Co-Writer thereto, if any/applicable) is at all unsure about the need to declare any matter, above/below, then, in confidence, and prior to completing their Application to The Pitch, the Applicant should contact and speak with Luke Walton, here, providing their daytime telephone number and name to enable a discussion by phone.

12. Criminal Convictions Policy

12.1. Bible Society works in prisons to help offenders turn their lives around. The Pitch Team share Bible Society’s values, while also needing to put guidelines in place for aspiring filmmakers who might have a criminal conviction. For clarity:

12.1.1. if a filmmaker has a criminal conviction and it’s spent, they don’t have to tell The Pitch about it;

12.1.2. if a filmmaker, exploring making an Application to The Pitch (and/or Co-Writer to the would- be Applicant), is still serving a sentence – for instance if their sentence was suspended and the suspension period has not yet ended, or they’ve been released on licence and their sentence has not yet expired, or they’re under supervision or doing community service – such a filmmaker(s) is not eligible to make an Application to The Pitch;

12.1.3. if a filmmaker's conviction is spent but they’re on the Sex Offenders Register, they should tell The Pitch by contacting and talking with Luke Walton (as set out in clause 11.8) before they submit an Application; and

12.1.4. if a filmmaker's conviction is not spent, they should tell The Pitch by contacting and talking with Luke Walton (as set out in clause 11.8) before they submit an Application.

In the case of clauses 12.1.3 and 12.1.4 The Pitch can’t guarantee that a filmmaker will be able to make an Application to The Pitch, but The Pitch Team will talk with them and assess the Issue(s). If they’ve already made an Application to The Pitch and paid an Application fee, and The Pitch decides they can’t continue because of the status of their conviction, The Pitch will refund their Application fee (if any paid).

13. Force Majeure Events

13.1. The following is a non-exhaustive list of Force Majeure Events (events outside of any party’s control):

13.1.1. war, acts of terror, act of a hostile army, riot, civil commotion or disorder;

13.1.2. any act which hinders, stops, prevents, interrupts or breaches the supply of any material, power or resource required under these Ts&Cs;

13.1.3. exposure to any hazardous or dangerous or otherwise unsafe material, chemical or substance that threatens the health and safety of either The Pitch or the Applicant(s);

13.1.4. pandemics, floods, fire, arson and ‘Acts of God’;

13.1.5. theft, vandalism, criminal damage, sabotage or any other criminal acts causing damage or destruction and death, injury and/or illness of key personnel; and

13.1.6. Government action, orders, commands or similar limiting travel domestically and/or internationally.

14. Miscellaneous

14.1. The Pitch shall have the right to record and broadcast, or otherwise disseminate as it so desires, any aspect of The Pitch (including without limitation the Commissioning Process and the Production Period) and the Applicants’ participation in it.

14.2. Applicant agrees that at any and all points in the Commissioning Process and, if selected, during the Production Period and, if applicable, exploitation of the Commissioned Film, they will not, other than to their professional advisors, make any statement, announcement, or disclose any ‘Sensitive Information’ (defined here as information stated to be sensitive and/or which can reasonably be regarded as sensitive) directly or indirectly relating to The Pitch and/or, as applicable, the Production Period (or individuals or organisations associated with The Pitch and/or involved during the Production Period) to a third party.

14.3. In addition, Applicant shall not at any time present or future do anything detrimental to or say anything detrimental about The Pitch, the Commissioned Screenplays or the Commissioned Film, any of the persons or companies detailed herein, or any persons involved in or associated with the Commissioning Process, the Production Period or The Pitch, such as doing or saying anything with the intention of or that has the effect of causing damage or harm (whether physical, financial, reputational or otherwise) to the Short Films or The Pitch or any individual or organisation associated with The Pitch or the Short Films including Reel Issues Films as Producer of the Short Films (‘Producer’), anyone employed by or acting as agent for The Pitch and/or the Producer, any member of the cast or crew of the Short Films, and the like.

14.4. Such undertakings (in relation to clauses 14.2 and 14.3) shall include all and any so-called postings on social media - directly relating to the Commissioning Process, the Production Period or The Pitch - which have not been pre-agreed in writing by The Pitch Team and/or the Producer.

14.5. The Pitch and The Pitch Team hold themselves accountable to the highest standards … but we don’t always get it right. So, for the avoidance of doubt, clauses 14.2 and 14.3, above, shall not restrict the right of the Applicant to make a formal complaint (biblesociety.org.uk/complaints-procedure) and/or, if not pursuant to such a formal complaint, the right of the Applicant to express, in the first instance to any member of The Pitch Team or Bible Society, any concern, observation or the like relating, without limitation, to clause 10.3 herein at any point in the Commissioning Process and, if applicable, during the Production Period.

14.6. Notices sent by The Pitch concerning these Ts&Cs will be in writing, generally by email. Please make sure to check your emails regularly (including junk/‘spam’) and let The Pitch know if your email changes during the Commissioning Process and/or the Production Period.

15. Data Protection

15.1. By completing and submitting an official Application Form and agreeing to these Ts&Cs, The Pitch will by necessity need to collect personal data information. The Pitch also requires your consent to use your personal data (such as name, picture, etc.) in relation to the Commissioning Process.

15.2. By agreeing to these Ts&Cs, you consent to The Pitch using your personal data in relation to the Commissioning Process, the Production Period (if applicable) and day to day operation of The Pitch.

15.3. The Pitch will process your data according to our Privacy Policy and only in relation to The Pitch and related purposes as described in these Ts&Cs in order to adhere to the clauses herein. Your data will not be used for any other purposes.

15.4. In the case of Applications developed by Co-Writers, the Applicant representing the Co- Writers, and who completes the Application Form, certifies that their Co-Writer partner has read, understands and agrees to these Ts&Cs and specifically, without limitation, to the provisions of this section 15 and clause 10.3. Further, if applicable, the Co-Writer has made a declaration, prior to an Application being submitted, to Luke Walton in relation to and as set out in sections 11 and/or 12 herein.

16. Jurisdiction

16.1. These Terms & Conditions, duly formed in England, shall be subject to and will be interpreted in all respects according to the law of England and Wales.

16.2. Subject to clause 16.4, in the case of any dispute arising under or in relation to these Terms & Conditions, neither party shall commence court proceedings until after the parties have attempted to settle the dispute through mediation or other alternative dispute resolution.

16.3. Any dispute that cannot be settled in accordance with clause 16.2 or relief sought under clause

16.4 shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

16.4. Clause 16.2 shall not apply if it is necessary for either party to obtain urgent relief in order to protect its assets or reputation through court proceedings. Once any hearing or headings in relation to such urgent relief have been concluded, the parties shall attempt to settle any aspect of their dispute that remains to be resolved in accordance with clause 16.2 before continuing the court proceedings.

Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

During the Application, the Applicant will be asked to confirm that they have read, understand and accept these rules, noting, without limitation, clause 15.4 in the case of a Co-Writer’s involvement, if any, and such Co-Writer's corresponding consent to the contents of these Terms & Conditions.

If you have a query about these Terms & Conditions please email [email protected]

As mentioned at the beginning of these Ts&Cs, The Pitch is promoted by The British and Foreign Bible Society (‘Bible Society’), charity number 232759, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG.