|PIC1|The Pitch is a unique opportunity for one winner to have their own short film made with professional help worth over £20,000.

The winner will then take their film to Hollywood, where they’ll meet Ralph Winter, the producer of X-men and Fantastic Four.

To enter the Pitch, potential film makers have to upload their own three-minute video pitch for a short film idea.

Project Director Luke Walton said: "We want people from all over the UK to enter The Pitch. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just turned 18 or 65 – all you need is imagination and drive.

"We don’t, however, want pitches to be about any random project. We want them to be based on the greatest collection of stories ever told – the Bible.

"With prophets, prostitutes, lovers, refugees, rebels, pranksters and politicians, it’s got enough for any budding film maker to choose from. All they need to do is find a verse, character or story and use their imagination."

Once the online pitches have been judged, 10 people will be chosen to attend the final at Pinewood studios where they will pitch to the judges in person. The judges include Nick Park, creator of Wallace and Gromit, and actor David Suchet, best known for his character Hercule Poirot in the Agatha Christie TV adaptations.

The winner will be given in excess of £20,000 of professional production support to make their film. Then it’s off to Los Angeles, where they’ll show their work to Ralph Winter and a host of other Hollywood professionals.

"The Pitch is about reframing the Bible for a visual generation. We’re not looking for people to pitch costume dramas of epic proportions; instead we want people to re-tell some of the fantastic narratives hidden away in the Bible.

"Did you know that even great tales like Elijah have never been made into films – even though they’re blockbuster material? This competition gives real people the chance to make real films, based on real stories.

"What’s more people don’t have to believe in the Bible to take part – we just want them to enjoy its riches."


On the Web: www.enterthepitch.com