In-Cinema
Docpitch: Nonfiction Narratives
Upcoming Events
Australian Documentary
Terms and Conditions for the Docpitch: Nonfiction Narratives
1. Introduction
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Welcome to the Docpitch: Nonfiction Narratives , organized by Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. By entering this competition, participants agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.
2. Eligibility
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Age: Participants must be at least 18 years old.
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Residency: Open to residents of all countries, but pitches must be submitted in English.
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Originality: Only original documentary concepts that have not been published or produced into books are eligible.
3. Submission Guidelines
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Format: Pitches must be no longer than 650 words, detailing the documentary's concept, narrative, key characters, unique selling points, and potential market appeal for adaptation into a book.
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Content: The pitch should include a compelling story, the documentary's theme, intended audience, and why it would make an engaging book.
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Deadline: Submissions must be received by 1st July 2025. Late entries will not be considered.
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Method: Pitches must be submitted digitally through our designated online portal at www.mdff.org.au the cost of submission for this competition is free!
4. Judging Criteria
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Pitches will be evaluated based on:
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Story Strength: The narrative's power and uniqueness (30%).
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Marketability: Potential appeal to publishers and readers (30%).
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Originality: Fresh concepts or novel approaches to storytelling (20%).
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Writing Quality: Clarity, style, and engagement of the pitch itself (20%).
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5. Prizes
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First Prize: Up to aone-hour consultation with a Publisher. Simply to discuss how to turn your documentary into a book. The publisher reserves the right to publish a book or not and is under no obligation to do so.
6. Intellectual Property
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Participants retain the rights to their documentary concepts but grant [MDFF] the right to use the pitch for promotional purposes, should they win or be shortlisted.
7. Confidentiality
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While we take reasonable steps to protect your pitch, we cannot guarantee confidentiality beyond what is inherently provided by our submission process. Do not include sensitive personal information in your pitch.
8. Rules
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No Plagiarism: Entries must be the original work of the submitter. Plagiarized concepts will be disqualified.
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One Entry per Person: Each participant may submit only one pitch.
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Disqualification: Any form of cheating, such as multiple submissions under different names or manipulation of the competition process, will lead to disqualification.
9. Notification and Publicity
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Winners will be notified via email within 30 days after the submission deadline.
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Participants agree to allow [MDFF] to use their name and likeness for promotional purposes if they win or are shortlisted.
10. Acceptance of Terms
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By submitting your pitch, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms. Any violation of these terms can result in disqualification at any stage.
11. Changes to the Competition
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[MDFF] reserves the right to amend these terms, cancel or suspend the competition at any time without prior notice, though such actions will be rare.
12. Governing Law
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This competition is governed by the laws of [Australia], and any disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts there.
13. Contact
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For any questions regarding these terms or the competition process, please contact us at [[email protected]].
By participating, you agree to these terms, and we look forward to reading your transformative pitches that turn compelling documentaries into must-read books. Good luck!
