Women and nonbinary filmmakers looking to hone their documentary project pitches, take note: the Athena Film Festival’s (AFF) Works-in-Progress Program is now accepting submissions. An intensive pitch training and storytelling strengthening initiative, the program offers participants the chance to pitch to a panel of industry figures, work with peers, receive guidance from filmmaker Judith Helfand (“Cooked: Survival by Zip Code”), and network with potential supporters and partners.
Participants will collaborate with Program Facilitator Helfand, and their cohort, to advance their pitches, projects, and materials. They will then get to pitch their project live at the Works-In-Progress Pitch Forum on March 11, during AFF 2022.
The Works-in-Progress Program is only for documentary films. Eligible projects must feature at least one woman or girl in a leadership position, have a producer attached, and already be production or have some footage shot. Stories about girls or women from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups will be accepted. Filmmakers who identify as women, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming are welcome to apply, but they must not have completed more than three documentary features.
A celebration of stories about fierce and fearless women leaders, the 12th annual Athena Fest will take place in-person at Barnard College in NYC March 11-13, and virtually March 11-20. Women and Hollywood Publisher and Founder Melissa Silverstein is the festival’s Co-Founder and Artistic Director.
Submissions to the Works-in-Progress Program will be accepted through January 14. There is no submission fee. Notifications will go out by February 18. Submit to the program or find out more via FilmFreeway.
