In the competitive landscape of film financing, a high concept logline and compelling treatment can only take you so far. To secure grants, funding from studios, streamers, and private equity, your project must be translated into a visual language that investors understand.
The Alchemy of the Pitch is an intensive, dual-track workshop designed to bridge the gap between cinematic vision and market viability. We are seeking 4 Film Projects (Director/Producer teams) and 4 Graphic Designers to participate in a unique, collaborative experiment. Over the course of one month, participants will move from theoretical strategy to practical application, culminating in the creation of a professional, investor-ready pitch deck.
The Program Structure:
This workshop combines high-level strategy webinars with a "collaborative sprint," finishing with an in-person critique.
Stage 1: The Foundation (Online Webinars)
Dates: December 20, 27, & 29, 2025 (3 Hours Each)
Three intensive sessions establishing a shared vocabulary for filmmakers and designers:
- The Anatomy of a Winning Deck: Deconstructing the 10 essential slides, from the "Hook" to the "Ask." We cover how to read world trends, define your territory, and present a viable business model.
- Visual Storytelling for Persuasion: How to use design as a narrative tool. We will explore the psychology of the "investor gaze," avoiding visual stereotypes, and using typography to guide the reader’s emotional journey.
- The Collaborative Blueprint: Establishing synergy. Filmmakers will learn to write "design briefs" and designers will learn to interpret "cinematic language," preparing both sides for the partnership phase.
Stage 2: The Collaborative Sprint (Remote/1-on-1)
Theory meets practice. Filmmakers and Designers will be paired based on genre affinity and style to co-create a pitch deck.
- Onboarding & Briefing: Pairs are matched to develop a comprehensive creative brief.
- Design & Iteration: From mood boarding and structure to the first draft of the 10-12 slide deck.
- Webinar 4 (Check-in): A focused review session on January 10th, 2026, to align strategy before final revisions.
Stage 3: The Final Pitch (In-Person)
Date: January 20th an 21st, 2026 (On-Site)
A final, in-person workshop where teams present their polished, investor-ready pitch decks for critique and strategy refinement.
Why Apply?
Most workshops focus solely on writing the pitch. This workshop focuses on designing the investment.
- For Filmmakers: Learn the art and strategy of selling your film—and apply it directly to your project. You’ll be paired with a dedicated designer to craft a visually compelling pitch deck that makes your story shine, integrating powerful visuals, audience insights, and financial plans into a presentation as persuasive as your narrative.
- For Designers: You will learn to use you design skills to create pitch decks for cinema, translating narrative empathy and cinematic gaze into typography, layout, and data visualization.
Who Should Apply?
- Film Projects (4 Selected)
- Open to Directors, Writers, or Producers.
- Must have a short or feature film project currently in development.
- Must have a completed outline, script or advanced treatment and be ready to define the budget, audience, and distribution strategy.
- Designers (4 Selected)
- Open to Graphic Designers, Art Directors, and Visual Communicators.
- Must have a portfolio demonstrating strong layout, typography, and conceptual skills.
- An interest in cinema and visual storytelling is essential.
Key Dates
- Webinars 1-3 (Online): December 20, 27, & 29, 2025 (3 Hours Each) January 7 , 2026
- Participants go on a Collaborative Design Sprint until Jan 18 with a Progress Review Webinar on January 10 2026.
- In-Person Workshop: 20th and 21st January 2026 (Location: Liwan design Studios and Labs - Doha)