Pitching Forum is an international film financing and co-production event focused on the facilitation, development, and financing of film projects.

The forum is divided into four categories:

• Fiction Feature Films (of the minimum runtime of 55 minutes) in early stages of development;
• Fiction Short Films (up to 55 minutes) in early stages of development;
• Documentary Films (both feature and short length) in early stages of development;
• Short, Feature and Documentary Films in advanced production stages;

In total, 28 projects will be selected. Selected finalists will have 5 minutes to pitch their work in progress to the international film industry decision-makers: producers, investors, fund managers, sales, distributors, and festival programmers in order to win awards, receive feedback and partake in one-to-one meetings. They will also have access to a three-day training headed by world-renowned project development experts, who will guide them on a way to preparing a perfect pitch.

In 2020, FEST – Pitching Forum took place online. It was a new opportunity, as the new format allowed a bigger panel of experts and a worldwide audience, accessing industry gatekeepers that would otherwise not be available to travel to Espinho for the physical part of the Pitching Forum.

Each participant has 5 minutes to pitch their project to our jury and a panel of world-renowned experts, including producers, distributors, and financiers that will be revealed closer to the event. Each pitch is followed by a 5 minute Q&A, between the participants and the jury and panel.

After each session, the Pitching Forum award winners will be announced, as voted by our jury.

Participants will also have the opportunity to partake in exclusive individual scheduled meetings with the FEST – Pitching Forum Jury for private feedback and counseling about their project.