Good Pitch² Australia
A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to attend two launch events for Good Pitch² Australia. This fantastic initiative is set to cause so many waves that I believe by the end of the year most people will know what Good Pitch is. But if you don't already know, here's a run down.
A simple but incredible idea
Good Pitch connects the world's best social impact documentaries with new allies and partners to build a force capable of making a real difference around the issue at hand. The catalyst for this is an event where 7 teams of film makers have 7 minutes each to pitch their documentary and 'impact' or outreach strategy to a carefully chosen audience and table of people. Those at the table include foundations, philanthropists, campaigners, educators, policy-makers and distributors. You can watch the Good Pitch trailer and explainer video here.
Those who came up with the idea really did have a stroke of genius. Good Pitch solves multiple problems for film makers, namely funding, distribution and campaign strategy around the issue they are wishing to amplify. It also solves a problem for campaigners and activists, who frequently struggle to find compelling stories to illustrate the enormous environmental and social challenges we face.
Who is behind it?
Good Pitch started in the UK and is now spreading around the globe. The concept was devised by BRITDOC Foundation and the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program and founded with support from the Ford Foundation.
Here in Australia, Good Pitch has been taken on by Ian Darling and will be produced by the Shark Island Institute and the Documentary Australia Foundation. Ian Darling is a local expert on philanthropic funding for social impact documentaries, a documentary film maker at Shark Island Productions.
Good Pitch² Australia already has a number of local supporters - co-hosted by the Documentary Australia Foundation and supported by community partners Philanthropy Australia and Pro Bono Australia. The incredibly talented local Good Pitch² team with Director of Policy and Impact Malinda Wink are already making Good Pitch² Australia a huge success.
Credentials
Since 2009, Good Pitch has presented over 128 independent documentary films, forged 764 new partnerships and leveraged over $US11.5million in support of impact documentaries.
At the Sydney launch events we heard from Beadie Finzi (BRITDOC Foundation) on the topic of film and why it is such a powerful medium for impact and change.
We were equally privileged to hear from the director of the well-known documentary 'Bully' Lee Hirsch, who told us about the impact the film has made since release, and since its involvement with Good Pitch in the US. Watch the incredible story that took America from the movie "Bully" to the cultural shift of "The Bully Effect" in the video below.
Good Pitch Australia - 8 October 2014
The Good Pitch² Australia event will be held at the Sydney Opera House on 8 October 2014.
Seven outstanding Australian documentaries - each with a powerful agenda for social impact and change - have been chosen to participate in Good Pitch² Australia.
The films in Good Pitch Australia are:
Call Me Dad
Director: Sophie Wiesner, Producer: Madeleine Hetherton
A story about men who have perpetrated or are at risk of perpetrating family violence.
That Sugar Film
It's the most dominant food in the world but how has sugar infiltrated our diet and culture and what is it doing to us?
Constance on the Edge
Walk in the shoes of a Sudanese refugee as she attempts to transform her rural town of Wagga Wagga into a friendlier place.
Frackman
Reluctant activist Dayne 'The Frackman' Pratzky, takes us on a journey through the bush as we meet a bunch of ordinary people caught up in a modern day multinational gold rush to secure and exploit coal seam gas.
Gayby Baby
At a time when Australia is divided on the issue of same-sex marriage, four children with gay and lesbian parents share their stories.
The Opposition
In a David and Goliath battle over land in Papua New Guinea, Joe Moses, leader of the Paga Hill settlement, must save his 3000 people before they are evicted to an industrial waste site.
Zach's Ceremony
This film follows a city-raised boy and his quest to reconnect with his Indigenous roots as he goes through the ancient rite of initiation.
For more information visit goodpitch2australia.com.au and follow @goodpitchAUS