QPIX, Queensland’s development centre for film and TV will launch the QPIX Express to Pitch series this month giving emerging film and TV makers the chance to pitch their TV and feature concepts to national and international TV executives at two of Australia’s biggest screen industry conferences.

QPIX CEO Mr Kerry O’Rourke said ‘We do a lot of development with early and mid-career filmmakers at QPIX and we’ve had some great successes with our development projects including ‘Shintaro’ a documentary for SBS and the 13-part series ‘The Money Fish’ has been bought by US production company Riveille.'

QPIX’s Express to Pitch series was designed to uncover the best TV and film concepts in Queensland to give them professional development and to put them in the national and international buying arena.

‘We’ve found that often the hardest thing about getting a TV show off the ground for early-mid career filmmakers, is getting their idea in front of the industry decision makers. We wanted to kick open the doors to the TV execs and producers so these great TV ideas can break through,’ said O’Rourke.

On May 15th QPIX’s Express to Pitch series will launch with Round 1: The Pitch, Round 2: The Super Pitch will follow later this year.

The Pitch is a beginner/intermediate masterclass for people with a TV or film concept who want to hone their pitching skills, gain professional development of their concept and win the chance to advance to Round 2 of QPIX Express to Pitch series, The Super Pitch.

‘Filmmakers who secure a place in The Pitch are extremely lucky because they’ll be coached by David Franken, past Head of Programming and Commissioning Editor at Network 7 but and now an independent TV producer/writer,’ said O’Rourke.

The top 3 pitches selected from The Pitch will win free personalised development with David Franken. The winning pitch will also be awarded free registration to The Super Pitch.

The winner of the Super Pitch will be flown to the Screen Development Australia (SDA) Pitch at the Screen Producers’ Association of Australia (SPAA) Fringe Conference in Sydney where they will pitch to win $1,500 cash, flights and registration to the 2010 SPAA Conference (valued at $1,650) and the chance to pitch at the national Holding Redlich Pitching Competition.

The winner of the Holding Redlich Pitching Competition at the 2010 SPAA Conference in Sydney, will not only pitch to international and national TV executives and producers but will also have the chance to win $2,000 in cash, airfare for one to the Cannes Film Festival, and free registration to the 2011 SPAA Conference (valued at $1,650).

Sponsorship and Special Events Manager at SPAA, Emma Beaumont said ‘The SDA pitch is the gateway for filmmakers into the 'establishment'. This is the opportunity to show industry decision-makers what you're made of, you'd be mad to miss it.’

‘QPIX is delighted to offer an outstanding chain of opportunities to filmmakers,’ said O’Rourke.

The first Round of the series (The Pitch) starts next weekend. We will run the first round again in June though so we are encouraging people to register their interest even if they are too late to attend the Saturday May 15th course.

QPIX encourages anyone with long-form TV content (ie. TV series, feature-length drama or documentaries etc) to register for Round 1 of the Express to Pitch series: The Pitch. For more information or to register email Camilla or phone 07 3848 8000.