2026 VQFF Pitch Competition

Applications Open |  July 20, 2026 at 12:00am PDT
Applications Close | August 9, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Please review all information on eligibility, requirements, and procedures.

Selected candidates contacted | August 20, 2026
All applicants, including those rejected to pitch, will be contacted by September 6, 2026. Due to the number of applications, we cannot provide feedback on entries.

Pitch Training Session | TBD
The selected candidates will be sent a Zoom meeting link to join the training session virtually.

Live Pitch Competition | Saturday, September 19, 2026
Pitches will take place in front of a live audience and jury members!

Location: SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Vancouver, BC

• The primary applicant and pitch participant must identify as 2SLGBTQIA+
• The primary applicant must be based in British Columbia. 
• Must be 19 years of age or older at time of application.
• Be a creator with at least one producing, directing, or writing credit.
• Must commit to attend the pitch training session prior to the pitch date.
• Must be able to attend the live competition event in-person and cover their own related costs.

• One application per applicant.
• Applicant must be either the producer, director, or writer of the project.
• A writer must be attached.
• In addition to a writer, either a director or producer must be attached. Co-directors are welcome to apply.
• Project must be in the development stage. 
• Project must be scripted/narrative (no documentary, factual, or reality).
• Project must be Scripted/Narrative (no Documentary, Factual, or Reality).
• If the project depicts a storyline highlighting an underrepresented and/or underserved community, the Director, Writer, or Producer must be a member of said community.

Application deadline is Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm PDT. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

All documents must be submitted through the online form. We accept the following file formats: .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, and .xlsx.

The application must include the following:

• Project logline (max. 2 sentences)
• Project synopsis (max. 150 words)
• Artist statement and/or visual treatment (to be written by the individual pitching – max. 3 pages) 
• Script sample (max. 10 pages) 
• Project budget top sheet
• Writer Bio (max. 150 words)
• Writer Resume (max. 1 page)
• Director and / or producer bio (max. 150 words) 
• Director and / or producer resume 

JURYING PROCESS

The VQFF Festival Team will do an assessment of projects and select up to 5 projects to participate in the Live Pitch Competition event.

Each selected candidate will prepare a brief presentation on their project. The VQFF Pitch Competition event will take place in front of a live audience, and a jury of film and TV industry professionals.

The VQFF festival team and jury will take into consideration the following criteria to select candidates and allocate prizes: 

• Originality of concept;
• Quality of script or script sample;
• Strength of the Director, Writer, and Producer’s vision;
• Feasibility of project and budget;
• Potential impact the project will have on the community.
• Barriers teams or projects have faced to accessing resources;
• The needs of the project.

The jury may allocate all the prizes to one winner or they may divide the prizes between multiple winners.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS

If you have further questions or concerns about applying to the Pitch Competition, you may contact us at selections[@]outonscreen.com .