Lights, camera, 2017!

So 2016 turned out to be an interesting year! The social and political choices were reflected in the pitches that we saw submitted. No doubt there will be more surprises ahead in 2017 but above all I hope you have a fruitful year for filmmaking and that you will want to be a part of what we have planned.

Look out for the 2017 Film Matters programme we have talks lined up for later this month, February and March, with more to be published shortly. These talks are a fantastic way to think through your filmmaking skills, learn about adaptation and to gain some feedback and advice on developing a successful pitch. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be one of the first to know about these events. If you would like to host one of these talks, please get in touch with us and we can discuss dates, topics and venue.

There is now a particularly exciting year ahead for The Pitch 2016 competition winner. You can hear more from our Pitch winner Harry Lighton on Pinewood, pitching and the film idea that won him first prize at the finals weekend.Congratulations also go to our all other finalists, especially runners-up Nour Wazzi and Henry Steedman in what was an extremely strong selection of talented filmmakers. I hope that a number of these projects will still see development. It is exciting to hear news of progress for runners-up Kelly Holmes (2014) and Hannah Lee (2015) and we will let you have more news soon.

An exciting year is also in store for The Pitch 2015 competition winner Vanessa Perdriau. Her winning film The Widow’s Last was screened to crew and cast at Pinewood Studios on Saturday and is now setting off on the festival tour. Vanessa will be off to Los Angeles in March for meetings with industry professionals so watch this space for news about how Vanessa is getting on. Congratulations to Andy Toovey The Pitch 2014 for winning the Winchester Film Festival and continuing to do well with his film Only Child on the festival circuit.

Finally why don’t you enter The Pitch 2017 and make it the year you take off for LA?