Screen Talent Europe Pitching Forum 2025

Open Call for the 2025 Screen Talent Europe Pitching Forum  

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV and Ardán are excited collaborate again with Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad on the 10th annual Screen Talent Europe Pitching Forum!  

In association with Screen Talent Europe and Mediefabrikken, a selection of European filmmakers will be invited to pitch their short film projects during the festival. The winner will receive a production grant of €2,500. 

Screen Talent Europe (STE) is a network of film workshops and media centres across Europe, with 16 partners in 9 countries, of which Ardán and NTAFT are proud members.

The NTA for Film & TV and Ardán are now seeking pitch applications from producers, directors, and screenwriters, who wish to attend and represent both organisation as the Irish nomination. 

 

Course Overview:  

The STE Pitching Forum is set to occur during the Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad, Norway. The festival will run from the 11th to June 15th of June, whilst the Pitching Forum itself will take place on the 11th and 12th of June. 

A total of 12 emerging filmmakers will be carefully selected present their projects in a 4-minute pitch before a jury and an audience.  The pitch itself is scheduled for Thursday, June 12th, preceded by a mandatory preparations workshop on Wednesday, June 11th. Travel, accommodation, and meals from June 10th to June 13th will be fully covered by the event. 

If you are selected, please note that you will need to attend an online meeting on the 4th of June to review the details of your experience and participation during your stay in Grimstad. 

Following the pitch on Thursday, all participants and festival attendees are invited to join us for a delightful boat trip along the stunning Norwegian fjords of Grimstad. The winner of the pitching contest will be officially announced later that evening. 

 

Dates/Duration:  

• Pitching Preparations on Wednesday, June 11th, and for the pitch itself on Thursday, June 12th. It is therefore advisable to plan travel to Grimstad on June 10th. 
• Participants must attend the online meeting on June 4th to review the details of the STE Pitching Forum. 

How To Apply:  

Applicants must apply by completing the application form link here.  

Deadline for application is April 21st, 2025

Irish applicant may list The National Talent Academy Film & TV and Ardán as the host film organisation. 

 

Who Can Apply:   

• Applicants must be between 22 and 32 years old. 
• Producers, directors, and screenwriters must have produced at least two films (short fiction or documentary). 
• Applicants must apply with a project in development, either fiction with a maximum length of 20 minutes. 
• Participants must have a connection to one of the Screen Talent Europe partners, either by working or living in their region/country. A list of partners can be found on the application form and the Screen Talent Europe website. 
• The pitch will be conducted in English. 

 

Selection Process:   

Applications made for the Pitching Forum assigned to the National Talent Academy Film & TV / Ardán will be passed onto the NTA Film & TV & Ardán to be assessed.  

You will receive notification of your selection status by May 2nd . Please hold the dates for the STE pitching forum until participants have been announced. 

One candidate will be nominated to represent the NTA Film & TV & Ardán at the Pitching Forum. The selection committee at the Pitching Forum will then make the final selection of what applicants will get to pitch. The NTA Film & TV & Ardán are not guaranteed a place at the Pitching Forum.  

If selected to attend the Pitching Forum, the successful candidate will be contacted by the festival to arrange their flights and accommodation.  The attendee will have their flights, accommodation and travel to Grimstad and their shared meals covered. 

 

Further Information:   

If selected to attend the Pitching Forum to represent NTA Film & TV & Ardán, participants’ accommodation, flights / travel to Grimstad and their shared meals during the festival will be covered.  

The National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland and is managed by Ardán.  

 

About Screen Talent Europe: Screen Talent Europe is a network of film workshops and media centers in Europe. The purpose of the network is to promote and foster co-operation between our partners. We also help filmmakers exchange knowledge, experiences and methods through talent camps, network meetings and co-productions. The network collaborates to produce international talent development projects such as pitching forums, film production camps, networking and social events. Furthermore, Screen Talent Europe works to strengthen the workshop model for support-based talent development and also assists countries in Europe currently without film workshops in developing similar resources and models. 

About Norwegian Short Film Festival: The Norwegian Short Film Festival is a short film festival with a competition programme for Norwegian and international short film, short documentaries and Norwegian music videos. In addition to the competition programmes, we present retrospectives, organize panel debates and industry meetings, arrange workshops and seminars, concerts, boat trips, and many other interesting events and programmes. The competition programme for international short films attracts filmmakers from all over the world to Grimstad, and the festival facilitates networking and connections between Norwegian and the international film community. The films from both the Norwegian and international competitions are discussed during daily participant gatherings. 

About Mediefabrikken: At Mediefabrikken you can get help to develop projects, and to develop yourself as a filmmaker. We offer mentoring, free production equipment, production grants and development programs. Our task is to facilitate development, to meet you where you are, regardless of background and experience. We are a resource for all filmmakers from high school age to established industry.  Mediefabrikken has Viken and Oslo as its catchment area, but is also involved in activities and projects at a regional, national and international level. Read more about the projects and our partners. Mediefabrikken is a unit in the Section for Cultural Development, Volunteering and Outdoor Life in Akershus County Municipality .