Deal Makers Live the hit pitching event of the Banff World Media Festival is back, bigger and better than ever! Submissions are now closed, but stay tuned for an announcement of this year's contestants.
Deal Makers Live is an innovative pitch competition reflecting the realities of creating, selling and producing shows in the 21st century. With unique format elements such as audience voting, real-time data reflecting the judges' inner thoughts and world-class life-lines on stage ready to help, this is was one of the most entertaining and talked about events at BANFF.
We're looking for six talented professionals who have a great pitch for a TV series with cross-platform potential and solid ideas about brand funding or revenue possibilities. Eligible genres are factual entertainment, lifestyle, reality, variety, documentary and any other non-scripted genres. No scripted projects (drama or comedy) are eligible in this year's competition.
The competition is open to industry veterans, emerging producers, writers, digital thinkers, anyone who thinks they can deliver a great elevator pitch and then, if selected by the audience, sell their concept in a meeting of the minds to six major international content gatekeepers.
One gifted participant will be named Ultimate Deal Maker in this entertaining, high profile Banff World Media Festival event.
*Deal Makers Live is created by Allan Novak and co-produced with AllScreen Entertainment.
Six selected finalist pitchers will take the stage on Monday June 11th at BANFF for a fast paced and fun high-tech event complete with live interactive audience and judges feedback. Round one has finalists delivering a concise and compelling 60-second elevator pitch. After that, the audience will select three finalists who will then step up to pitch to our panel of powerful global decision makers. As an added twist, finalists will have available to them world-class lifelines such as an international format expert and a top Hollywood agent to help out in a pinch. It's an entertaining and fun event designed to find great pitchers with great concepts and for all of us to learn more about what goes on in the minds of the gate keepers. There are no Power Point or video presentations allowed, it's all live, in-the room, on-your-feet pitching.
What Makes a Winning Pitch?
Successful pitches will be original concepts that meet as many of the following criteria as possible:
- Entertaining and original format for television
- Strong cross platform or multi-screen potential
- Good potential for brand integration or brand funding
- Good possibilities for the project to generate revenue outside of broadcast
Six contestants (can be individuals or groups) will be selected based of their submission.
Submissions are made up of a short written entry, along with a short, one-minute video telling us why you should be chosen to present live on stage. Showcase your pitching style and creative prowess and give us a taste of what our judges and audience will be seeing on the pitching floor if you're selected. Your videos need not have big production values, simply communicate who you are and your style of presentation.
