How do you create a winning pitch deck for your film?

1 Know your audience

Before you start designing your pitch deck, you need to know who you are pitching to and what they are looking for. Different types of investors, partners, or distributors may have different expectations, preferences, and criteria for evaluating your film. For example, a film festival may focus more on the artistic vision and originality of your film, while a streaming platform may care more about the genre, target audience, and potential revenue of your film. Therefore, you need to tailor your pitch deck to suit your specific audience and highlight the aspects of your film that appeal to them.

2 Tell a story

Your pitch deck is not just a collection of facts and figures, it is also a storytelling device that showcases your film's narrative, style, tone, and emotion. You want to capture your audience's attention and imagination from the start and make them curious and invested in your film. To do that, you need to craft a clear and concise logline that summarizes your film's premise, conflict, and hook. You also need to provide a brief synopsis that outlines your film's main characters, plot points, and themes. Additionally, you can use visual elements such as images, graphics, fonts, and colors to convey your film's mood, genre, and aesthetic.

3 Show your credentials

Your pitch deck is also an opportunity to showcase your film's team, track record, and achievements. You want to demonstrate that you have the skills, experience, and resources to execute your film successfully and deliver on your promises. To do that, you need to include a section that introduces your key crew members, such as the director, producer, writer, cinematographer, and cast. You also need to highlight their relevant credits, awards, accolades, or testimonials that showcase their expertise and credibility. Additionally, you can include a section that shows your film's progress, such as the script status, production schedule, funding sources, or distribution deals.

4 Explain your budget

Your pitch deck is also a financial document that explains how much money you need to make your film and how you plan to use it. You want to show that you have a realistic and detailed budget that covers all the costs and contingencies of your film production and distribution. To do that, you need to include a section that breaks down your budget into major categories, such as pre-production, production, post-production, marketing, and distribution. You also need to indicate how much money you have already raised, how much money you are seeking, and what kind of return or benefit you can offer to your investors or partners.

5 Highlight your market potential

Your pitch deck is also a marketing document that shows how your film can reach and engage your target audience and generate revenue and impact. You want to show that you have a clear and viable market strategy that matches your film's genre, tone, and message. To do that, you need to include a section that identifies your target audience, such as their demographics, psychographics, and behaviors. You also need to outline your distribution plan, such as the platforms, channels, and territories you plan to use to release your film. Additionally, you can include a section that showcases your film's competitive advantage, such as the unique selling points, market trends, or social issues that make your film relevant and appealing.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?