Pitch Rules

ISFF GREENLIGHT FILM PITCH COMPETITION RULES

1. Eligibility

— Open to independent filmmakers, individuals or teams, age 18 and older.

— All genres are eligible, including narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental.

— Applicants may submit one (1) project per festival year.

— Submissions must be original and owned or controlled by the applicant(s). No generative AI.

— Film production must take place 100% in the United States.

2. Project Requirements — Micro-Budget Category

— Projects must be designed and produced as micro-budget films with a maximum total cash production budget of $5,000 USD.

— The total cash production budget may not exceed $5,000 from all sources combined. The $5,000 Greenlight production grant may not be used as part of a larger cash production budget.

— Reasonable donated or in-kind resources, including donated locations, borrowed equipment, volunteer services, and other non-cash contributions, are permitted and do not count toward the $5,000 cash production budget cap.

— The submitted budget must demonstrate a clear and realistic plan to complete the film within the $5,000 maximum cash production budget.

— Production may not begin prior to the in-person pitch presentation at ISFF 2027.

— The winning project must be completed within 12 months of the award date.

— The completed film must be delivered in time to premiere at the 2028 Indie Short Film Festival.

3. Submission Requirements

Required Pitch Deck:

— Logline

— Synopsis

— Director's Vision

— Visual Style / Lookbook

— Target Audience

— Production Plan & Timeline

— Detailed Budget Breakdown aligned with the $5,000 maximum cash production budget

— Key Creative Team

Optional:

— Proof-of-concept video, teaser, or prior work samples

4. Finalist Selection & Pitch Event

— Selected finalists will be invited to present their projects live at ISFF 2027.

— Each finalist will receive official notification and presentation guidelines.

Pitch Format:

— 5–7 minute verbal pitch presentation

— 3–5 minute Q&A with judges

— Visual aids, including slides and video, are permitted.

5. Judging Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:

— Originality & Creativity

— Story Strength & Concept

— Feasibility within the micro-budget constraints

— Director's Vision & Execution Plan

— Audience Engagement Potential

— Pitch Delivery & Clarity

6. Award & Funding Structure

— One winning project will receive a $5,000 production grant.

— Funding will be administered through a milestone-based disbursement schedule with ISFF oversight. Funds will not be distributed as a single lump-sum payment.

— The winning filmmaker must comply with the competition's production requirements, funding milestones, and completion requirements to remain eligible for subsequent disbursements.

The $5,000 Greenlight production grant will be distributed in four milestone-based payments. Each disbursement is contingent upon completion and approval of the applicable production milestones. ISFF may make reasonable adjustments to milestone requirements based on the needs of the production while maintaining accountability for the use of grant funds.

1. Development Phase — $1,000

• Final script completed and approved
• Production plan and schedule submitted
• Key creative team identified

2. Production Phase — $2,000

• Shooting schedule finalized
• Locations secured
• Production readiness confirmed

3. Post-Production Phase — $1,500

• Rough cut submitted
• Post-production plan in progress

4. Completion Phase — $500

• Final film delivered
• Required marketing and promotional assets submitted, including stills, synopsis, and poster
• Film completed and delivered in accordance with requirements for its premiere at the 2028 Indie Short Film Festival

Total Production Grant: $5,000

Producer Credit & Festival Premiere

• The Indie Short Film Festival (ISFF) will receive a Producer credit on the completed film in recognition of its funding and support through the Greenlight Film Pitch Competition.

• The ISFF logo must be included in the film's end credits.

• The filmmaker retains ownership of the completed film and its underlying intellectual property, subject to the terms of the Greenlight award agreement.

• The completed film will premiere at the 2028 Indie Short Film Festival.

• The filmmaker grants ISFF the right to screen the completed film as part of the 2028 Indie Short Film Festival without an additional screening fee.

Phase 1: Submit Your Pitch

Complete the application below to begin the Greenlight Film Pitch Competition process. There is no entry fee for the inaugural competition, but the number of projects selected to advance will be limited.

Phase 1 applicants must submit a logline and one-paragraph project summary. Following review, selected applicants will be invited to advance and submit the complete pitch materials outlined in the Pitch Rules.

Only selected finalists will advance to the live pitch competition at ISFF 2027