How to pitch your project (and stay alive)

Duration
90’
You need to present your documentary project on many occasions: to find a producer, to attract co-producers and funding bodies, to gain a sales agent. It may become very stressful, the more you become aware how much depends on it. What information should you reveal, and what should remain untold? How can you present your work in an entertaining way but not end up with egg on your face?

In his presentation Adam shares observations from six editions of Doc Lab Poland pitchings, gives advice on what to avoid and how to prepare for your presentation, how to remain calm but not boring, and how to survive the stress of pitching.

DOC LAB POLAND – organised by the Wladyslaw Slesicki Film Foundation since 2015 – is the biggest programme for developing, presenting and promoting documentary films in Poland. It includes Docs To Start and Docs To Go! pitchings at the Krakow Film Festival, group workshops and individual consultations, as well as the international CEDOC (Central European Documentary Coproduction) Market. Over 150 projects have participated in the programme so far, with 55 of these films completed. A further 180 producers took part in the co-production markets; around 750 individual meetings are held every year with producers, distributors, sales agents, TV and festival representatives and top experts from all around the world at DOC LAB POLAND and CEDOC MARKET. 

Speaker: Adam Ślesicki

Adam Ślesicki is founder and president of the Władysław Ślesicki Film Foundation (established in 2014); also head of DOC LAB POLAND, the biggest training and pitching programme for documentary filmmakers and other training or development programs in Poland. He has been the producer or executive producer of documentary movies, including the Oscar nominee Joanna, the EFA nominee Paparazzi and 20 others. He’s also an occasional amateur DJ who has yet to be discovered.


This workshop is organised in partnership with the Adam Mickiewicz Institute and DOC LAB Poland.

22 INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
 6 — 13 
June 2025
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