Participants examine their projects at their current stage of development, identifying creative and strategic strengths and learning how to recognize and address weaknesses without undermining the project. The session introduces the core elements of a pitch package, clarifying which materials matter at different development stages, what different stakeholders expect (funders, distributors, sales agents, broadcasters), and the most common mistakes that weaken an otherwise strong project.

A hands-on writing and feedback session focused on the core language of each project. Participants write and refine a logline and a flexible 30 to 60 second elevator pitch. The session covers how to prioritize information, cut what slows a pitch down, and adapt language depending on the room and the relationship. A live pitch exercise is included, with structured peer discussion and feedback.

A pitch deck is not just a document, it is a visual argument for your project. This session covers the structure and contents of an effective pitch deck, design principles specific to film presentation materials, and how the visual identity of your materials should reflect the tone and genre of the project. The session draws on graphic design fundamentals applied to spec posters, lookbooks, and pitch documents, and addresses what producers, distributors, and grant bodies actually look for when reviewing a deck.

Participants step back from the immediate project and think in longer terms. This section addresses how to align development goals with realistic pathways, how to avoid stagnation from over-relying on a single funding stream, and how labs, co-productions, markets, and festivals fit together as part of a career and project strategy. Participants are guided to think about distribution, format, and audience positioning before a film is made, not after, and to understand how the decisions they make in development affect what a finished project can do in the market.

Item descriptionSecuring funding is a consistent challenge at every stage of a film career. This session covers what makes a grant application competitive, how to read and respond to funding guidelines, how to tailor an application for artist-based grants (CADA, AFA, CCA) versus production-level funding (Telefilm, provincial bodies). Participants draft or review their own application materials and receive feedback. This session can also be offered as a standalone consultation or writing service for filmmakers and organizations outside of a workshop context.

Networking is a professional skill, not a personality type. This session covers the practical mechanics of industry networking: how to approach conversations at different types of events, how to introduce yourself and your project without overselling, how to identify who you actually need to meet at your current stage, and how to follow up in ways that build real long-term working relationships. The session also addresses how to use a market or festival strategically, which conversations to prioritize, and how to prepare before you arrive.

This is a hands-on format designed for filmmakers and delegates who are preparing to attend a market, festival, or pitch event with a specific project. Working closely with participants, the session reviews all existing pitch materials and project documentation, identifies gaps, and prepares participants for the specific audience and context they will be pitching to. This includes mock pitch sessions, feedback rounds, and targeted work on materials like the pitch deck, logline, director's statement, and finance plan. Beyond the pitch itself, the session also covers the practical side of attending a market: how to plan travel and accommodation efficiently, how to navigate accreditation and scheduling, which events and meetings to prioritize, and how to make the most of limited time on the ground. This offering is particularly relevant for organizations looking to prepare filmmakers or delegates for events such as Marche du Film, TIFF Industry, or Hot Docs Forum, among others.