ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

➤ European Short Pitch is open to individual authors or creative teams developing international short film projects. It is therefore open to writers, directors, and producers. Writer-directors developing a project on their own are very welcome to participate in the programme. Yet it is strongly advised to already have a national production company interested or attached to the project, especially at the time of the Coproduction Forum.

➤ The programme is aimed at up-and-coming authors and emerging talents.

➤ The author’s nationality or country of residence should be one of the member states of the Council of Europe. 

➤ Applicants must confirm their availability for all sessions. 

➤ The working language of European Short Pitch is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate.

➤ European Short Pitch accepts live action, animation, documentary or hybrid short film projects, inferior to 59’.

PROGRAMME / ORGANISATION

Development workshop, 12-16 January, 2026 (dates TBC) – online

During five days, participants work intensively on their projects with a scriptwriting tutor heading the process, alternating plenary, group and one-to-one sessions. The aim of this first session is to enhance the quality of the script, particularly in an international framework, and to prepare participants to present their projects.

Intermediate sessions, February – May 2026 (dates TBC) – online

Between the two main sessions, the 12 participants receive further feedback from their scriptwriting tutors in an online individual session. They also receive production coaching from a producer experienced in European coproductions, who provides tailor-made advice during individual coaching sessions. Moreover, they benefit from: a training in pitching: a specialized tutor gives a lecture about pitching and meets the project holders individually; and group and individual sessions with distributor/sales agent, where writers/directors and attached producers are presented with relevant case studies and offered adapted feedback for their own projects, as well as sessions about audience design and AI.

Coproduction Forum, May/June, 2026 (dates TBC) on site at Leiden Shorts & online

The aim of the Forum is to create a platform of promotion for the selected projects, to encourage encounters and collaborations between film professionals and to initiate short film coproductions. Invited producers, financiers, decision makers and participants meet for four days in order to establish future collaborations.

The Coproduction Forum takes the form of a hybrid event, proposed both online and offline. It includes a Pitching and Q&A Live Event, one-to-one meetings, several panels and talks, and the European Short Pitch Awards Ceremony, where the best projects are awarded by an international Jury and receive cash and in-kind prizes from our partners.

PARTICIPATION FEE

The participation fee for one project is 700 Euro. 

The fee covers tuition, as well as accommodation and subsistence in case of residential session for one person – director. The fee does not cover travel costs, which will be at participants’ expenses. European Short Pitch accepts a maximum of 3 persons per project; extra participants have to cover their own expenses: accommodation, subsistence and travel.

Many countries support such training costs. We advise participants to apply for scholarships through their national film funds.

REQUIRED MATERIAL              

• Please register by filling out THIS REGISTRATION FORM (https://forms.gle/ZV5TZVJB42d3ETih7)

• Gather the following materials in a project application package:

1. Completed application form containing the general project information (DOWNLOAD the application form)

2. Project synopsis (max. 1 page);

3. Author(s)'s intention note(s) (max. 1 page);

4. Links to previous audiovisual works (max. 2) and/or teaser/visual materials related to the submitted project: we will only accept links to watch online, please do not send us files to download. All works must have English subtitles added if applicable. 

5. Motivations and goals to take part in European Short Pitch (max. 1 page);

6. Producer’s note (if applicable, max. 1 page);

7. CVs of team members (writer, director, producer/production company, if applicable);

8. Script in English (no word-count limitation);

9. Additional materials (optional): i.e. estimated budget, financing plan, etc.

GUIDELINES

• Please send the full project application package to info@europeanshortpitch.org. Please note that the materials should be:

• all in English,

• in the order indicated in the list above, 

• in one PDF file (max. file size 25MB), 

• named after the project title and director’s full name (i.e. THE PIANO LESSON_Jane Campion)

• Please keep to the number of pages and ensure that the information is clear and readable (for example, avoid using too small fonts or complex layouts).

• Please note that you are free to submit pitch decks and other additional materials: however, reading them is totally optional for the ESP reading and selection committees. So please do not rely on additional materials for key information about your project: all relevant information for the application should be present in the mandatory requested materials. 

• The scripts must be entirely original; borrowing, in any way whatsoever, of any pre-existing work protected by copyright or any other legal protection, or violating the rights of third parties is not permitted.

• In some exceptional cases, treatments might be applicable, i.e. documentary / experimental projects, etc. Please reach out to the team, to learn more.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will be carried out in two steps. First, a reading committee composed of scriptwriters, producers, participants of previous editions of European Short Pitch, etc. will assess all the applications and carry out a pre-selection. The shortlisted projects will then be reviewed by the selection committee composed by the European Short Pitch team. Participants will be informed by email of their selection / non-selection in the first fortnight of December, 2026.

THE TUTORS

The tutors – many of them returning regularly to ESP – are experienced and well-connected film professionals. 

You can have a look at the team of tutors and consultants for ESP 2025 here.