Sep 27, 2010

The People’s Choice Awards (PCA) and American Film Market (AFM) have teamed again to host the second annual Favorite Film Pitch contest during the 31st annual AFM, Nov. 3-10, in Santa Monica.  PCA President Fred Nelson and AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf made the announcement today.“We had a very enthusiastic response in 2009. This is a terrific opportunity for both filmmakers and fans,” Nelson said. “The People’s Choice Awards is the only major awards show that lets real people choose their favorites in entertainment and pop culture. We look forward to the diverse entries and the great fan reception that this contest inspires.”

 Wolf commented, “The Favorite Film Pitch contest gives filmmakers a unique audience for their projects – the public! The winner will be able to say, ‘The public voted my film the one they most wanted to see get made.”

 Submissions to this year’s Favorite Film Pitch contest will be recorded live Nov. 6-9 on a mini-set at the American Film Market.  Pitches will be limited to two-and-a-half minutes each.

 A group of industry leaders will then select five finalists whose pitches will be posted on www.PeoplesChoice.com – the official PCA website – following CBS’ broadcast of the People’s Choice Awards on January 5, 2011. Fans will vote online for the pitch they want to see turned into a film.

In addition to receiving the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Film Pitch, the winner will also receive an AFM 2011 package that includes full access for two to the AFM, including all seminars and conferences; hotel for five nights in Santa Monica; and scheduled meetings with producers and distributors. For more information and contest guidelines, visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.com/favorite-film-pitch.

 Last year’s winner, David Minnihan, will be presented his People’s Choice Award during this year’s “Pitch Me!” seminar at AFM on Saturday, Nov. 6.  He will also shop his winning project, Father John, during meetings with producers and distributors throughout the market.

Now in its 37th year, the People’s Choice Awards is voted on entirely by the public for fan favorites in music, movies and television.  The People’s Choice website at www.PeoplesChoice.com serves as a year-round destination for entertainment enthusiasts to voice their opinions on pop culture by voting in and creating polls and features an extensive video archive and photo gallery of People’s Choice Awards footage. PeoplesChoice.com houses the voting platform where fans determine the categories, nominees and winners for the annual awards show.  Fred Nelson is the President of People’s Choice, and the awards show is produced by Procter & Gamble Productions, Inc., which is represented by MediaVest Worldwide, Inc., supervisors of the production. Queen Latifah is the host of the People’s Choice Awards and Mark Burnett is the Executive Producer.

The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade association representing the world’s producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs.  For more information, visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.com.

# # #