Entries for the 2023 AACTA Pitch: Focus initiative are now open - closing 14th August.  We want to help potential entrants on their way.

Media Mentors is delighted to partner with AACTA to bring the last winners of the AACTA Pitch: Focus initiative Vee Shi and Nicholson Ren for a special masterclass with AACTA Awards and Industry Development Manager Ivan Vukusic to share their insights about what makes a successful pitch.

Vee Shi, a writer/director, is a born-China filmmaker and now based in Melbourne. He graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting from RMIT, earning the Erin Thomas Award for Most Enterprising Student. His short films have been screened at over 20 international film festivals. His latest project, Jia, won the AACTA: Pitch Focus competition in association with Sony, as well as the awards for Best Direction and Best Actor in an Australian Short Film at Flickerfest 2023. Vee was selected for the 2022 Co-Curious' Stories From Another Australia Victoria workshop and the MIFF Accelerator Lab 2023. Previously, he worked as an Associate Producer at Big and Little Films Pty Ltd, mentored by Michael McMahon and supported by VicScreen's Key Talent in a Company Placement. As of July 2023, he has assumed the role of a Development Executive. 

Nicholson Ren, a producer/cinematographer in Australian Film Industry, graduated from Melbourne University with an Accounting and Finance degree before working in the film industry. As a crew member, he has experience on offshore studio productions such as La Brea (2021, 2022) and Ricky Stanicky (2023) while producing and shooting independent projects. His past film 'Zarephath (2019)' is currently published on Amazon Prime. In 2022 he also produced and shot the AACTA: Pitch Focus winner short film Jia (2022) with his long-time collaborator Vee Shi.

The AACTA Pitch: Focus initiative launched our friend Vee's award-winning short Jia which is now in the MIFF Accelerator lab on its way to becoming a feature. You see?! Dreams – combined with a healthy diet of mentorship and sweat equity – do come true.

Don't miss this illuminating conversation and make sure you're match-fit, pitch-ready when you apply for AACTA Pitch: Focus or any other pitching opportunities, like MIFF 37 Degrees South PS&D, Content London or next year's AIDC or Screen Forever, just to name a few.

Pitching is an essential career skill and can always be refined.

Thursday 3rd Aug 1230-130pm AEDT. Online via Zoom. 

Special price - only $10