2024 AACTA Pitch: Focus

AACTA Pitch: Focus in partnership with Sony is a national short film development and production initiative. Now in its fourth year, Focus challenges student filmmakers to form teams and pitch an original production to be assessed by a panel of esteemed industry judges. The initiative offers emerging creatives an opportunity to be mentored throughout the development and production process, and is a great way to break into the industry and build a supportive network.

Teams can be made up of directors, writers, producers, editors, and/or cinematographers with at least one member of the team actively pursuing studies in film or screen. Teams are asked to submit their creative ideas for a short fiction film (4 – 10 minutes). The top five teams will be provided with state-of-the-art Sony equipment kit on loan (valued at over $2,500) to shoot a short proof of concept.

This year’s recipients will receive $15,000 in production funds toward their short film, a loan of Sony equipment kit (valued at over $20,000) to shoot their short film and receive complimentary AACTA Award consideration, invaluable feedback and guidance throughout the production process, ongoing mentoring opportunities, and tickets to the 2025 AACTA Awards presented by Foxtel Group.

Projects that demonstrate the following are likely to be the most successful:

• New, creative and unique ways to engage audiences;
• Strong characters that resonate with audiences;
• Ideas that bend genres and break new ground.

Round one calls for a 3-minute video pitch outlining the short film idea. A longlist of 10 projects will be determined by a judging panel of leading short film industry figures and representatives of Sony and AACTA who will be required to submit additional materials supporting their project. A shortlist of 5 projects will be determined by the judging panel and the five finalist teams will be provided Sony equipment and given two weeks to shoot a proof of concept short. The teams will be invited to present their films in front of the judging panel and industry experts.

AACTA encourages teams comprised of new, emerging, and student content creators to enter, particularly those from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. Entry is $50 for teams that have at least one AACTA member and $90 for teams comprised of non-members. AACTA recently introduced a youth membership for people under 25. For $25, youth members can view and vote on the AACTA Awards, access to AACTA TV (our exclusive member streaming service), invitations to our year-round programming, with industry events showcasing some of Australia’s incredible talent, screen community networking opportunities, and discounted entry to AACTA’s development initiatives, aimed at discovering and supporting emerging screen talent. For more information on AACTA membership, click here.

Initial entry requirements include:

• Title and logline
• 500 word synopsis
• Three minute pitch video, and
• Résumé of the team.

Round one entries close 9am AEST Monday, 26th August 2024. 

The 2024 Judging Panel will be announced soon.

July 25 – Call for Entries Opens (Round 1)

Entrants are asked to submit a Title, Logline, three minute video pitch, 500 word synopsis, and resumes of the team members.

August 26 – Round 1 Entries Close

Entries are due by 9am AEST, Monday August 26 2024.

August 30 – Longlist of Top 10 Confirmed & Start of Round 2

The Top 10 teams are asked to submit a pitch deck, first ten pages of a screenplay and budget.

September 16 – Round 2 Materials Submissions Closes

Submissions are due by 9.00am AEST, Friday September 16, 2024.

September 20 – Top 5 Finalists Confirmed

The top five teams will be provided Sony gear on loan to shoot a proof of concept.

w/c September 23 – One on One Meetings with Judges

The judges will provide advice on finalists’ project/POC shoot. 

w/c September 23 (TBC) – Top 5 Finalists Announced at Sony’s Catchlight Film Festival

Top 5 finalists will be announced at Sony’s Catchlight Film Festival.

October 14 – Proof of Concepts to be Delivered

October 22 – Final Pitch to Judges, and Recipient Confirmed. 

Late October – Winner Announced

Finalist’s proof of concepts are screened as part of Sony’s Scene Festival, and winner is announced.