#Pitchfest 4.0 Competition

What Can I Pitch?

Anything goes, but… There are a few things that make your concept more likely to succeed:

• Multimedia Flare – JAM is an audio/video based company and is more likely to back pitches that have a strong video/sound element. Marble sculptures probably won’t make the cut, but you’re welcome to try.
• Local Interest – The stronger relation to the Upper Valley the more likely it is to be picked up. Local talent, locations, topics of interest, are all good selling points.
• Feasibility – We don’t want to fund something that won’t come to fruition. How much time are you expecting to spend making your project? Are there costs besides the hours you’ll be spending on it? (We expect you to be paid for your time.)
• Presentation – You might have a thrilling concept, but can you explain it in a succinct and exciting way? What sort of feeling do you want it to leave your audience with? Do you have any visual aids to assist your explanation? Make us feel like we can’t live without seeing your pitch come to life.

Know your audience

The Pitch Fest judges have different backgrounds and different tastes. What might seem like a shoe-in for one may be a no-go for another. Can you find a middle ground that’ll they’ll all agree is worth green-lighting?

• Chico Eastridge (he/him)– I’ve worked at JAM for several years and have participated in a whole bunch of local film productions. I like things that are bizarre and unexpected but that don’t overstay their welcome. I love to laugh, especially at the expense of tropes. I’d really enjoy seeing an ongoing series whether it be a sitcom, talk show, vlog, game show, or whatever.
• Jordyn Fitch (they/them)– I’m the production manager here at JAM and I only kind of know what I am doing! I have a film and media background and am incredibly interested in the intersections between different forms of media, art, and installation. I have a penchant for all things silly and a deep love for absurd, authentic art that pushes boundaries and elevates marginalized voices.
  
• Brian Carroll  is a filmmaking sector advocate and documentary & horror filmmaker from Corinth, Vermont. In early 2025 he launched the website FilminVT.com as a resource and database solution to support the Vermont film community and industry. His documentary ‘Endlessly an Observer’, about photographer Suzanne Opton, played at WRIF in 2025 and he is a fervent fan of all that JAM does for film & creative media in the Upper Valley.

Awards

The winning pitch will be awarded up to $1500 to fund their project, and rolled into our slate of JAM Productions, utilizing JAM staff and resources of the highest quality, dependant upon the scope of the project and up to a maximum commitment of hours at the discretion of JAM staff.  Our incredibly talented and mind-blowingly handsome production team will work closely with you to bring your project to fruition within the span of one year.  Be thoughtful when crafting your pitch and the amount of time and resources necessary to enact your vision. If you have other streams of funding that can go towards your project, share that with us! We will take it all into account in our decision making.

The 2026 PitchFest winner will also receive the opportunity to appear on the Film in Vermont Podcast and chat about their project and their experience pitching!

Apply Now!

This years competition will have an application process. We will chose up to 5 projects to be pitched live on stage as a part of our competition. Application deadline is February 16th. Notification date is February 20th. If chosen to pitch, we will assign you a specific time slot between 5:45 and 7:00PM to pitch your project, so please keep an eye out in your inboxes. If none of the time-slots work for you, or if you have any questions or concerns, please email jordyn@uvjam.org.