2026 Pitch

Competition

Submit your pitch by July 31st

2026 Pitch Competition

It’s time for REEL QUEER’S THIRD ANNUAL PITCH COMPETITION, where filmmakers can briefly pitch a short film in front of a live audience with a chance to win a Grand Prize of $1000 and an Audience Award of $250. These funds are designed to be used during the production of your film. Additionally, once the film has been completed, REEL QUEER will feature the winning films at upcoming screening.

While REEL QUEER aims to uplift stories of the queer experience, this competition is open to all films that speak to our larger mission of diversity, community, pride, and social justice AND have an Arkansas connection.

To enter:

  1. Complete the questionnaire by July 31, 2026.

  2. Link a previous work you’ve directed.  You may include a director’s reel, a clip, or a short film, but the total runtime should be a maximum of five minutes.

  3. Using the same form, upload a pitch deck that can be shared during your presentation.  We recommend including the following:

    • Hook: Begin with a logline or question that immediately captures an audience's attention.

    • Brief Synopsis: 3-5 sentences.  We don't need to know the entire plot.  Just tell us enough to want to know more.

    • Character Descriptions: Briefly describe your lead characters, including images to help us visualize them.

    • The Look: Use compelling images that convey the visual style of the film.

    • Inspiration / Similar Films:  List a few films that are similar in tone and aesthetic.

    • Target Audience: Who will this film speak to?  Who are you trying to reach?

    • Director's Statement: Briefly introduce yourself, your connection to the material, and why this is a film you need to make.

Finalists will have an opportunity to work with an advisor to receive feedback on their pitch decks and overall presentations before our live event, where they will pitch to a panel of judges and our local audience!


All finalists must be present at the live competition on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Winners of the Grand Prize and Audience Award are responsible for updating Reel Queer on the status of their project before the 2027 festival.  

Rules and Policies

  • Reel Queer is dedicated to uplifting narratives that center the LGBTQ+ experience, but our pitch competition is open to all stories that speak to our core values of diversity, community, pride, and social justice.


    You may only pitch one idea.  All pitches must be original ideas for a short film of 20 minutes or less.  No adaptations are allowed unless you are the author of the original work.  You may pitch an existing script or a work in progress, but you may not pitch a film that has already completed production.

  • The Reel Queer Pitch Competition is open to filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience.  Filmmakers must have a clear Arkansas connection to be considered.  This may include: (1) the director or producer is an Arkansas native or currently resides in Arkansas; (2) the film will be shot in Arkansas; (3) a significant percentage of the cast and crew are current Arkansas residents.

  • Once you fill out the questionnaire on this page, a panel of judges will review your submission.  These judges will select a limited number of finalists who will be invited to pitch their project live at this year’s festival.  If selected, you will present your pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience, who will determine the grand prize winner and audience award winner respectively.

  • After you introduce yourself and the title of your project, pitches will be timed and limited to five minutes, when the participant must end the presentation.  At this point, the judging panel may ask additional questions and/or offer feedback.

  • No, unfortunately, we require that you pitch your own film.

  • Yes, though each filmmaker is limited to participating in only one pitch.  Partner must be a co-writer, director, or producer of the project.

  • Yes.  This year, pitch decks will be projected as you present during our live event.  See above for suggested elements of your pitch deck.  Finalists will have an opportunity to meet with an advisor for notes and suggestions before the festival.

  • Yes, if selected as a finalist, you will receive a release form that must be signed to participate in the live competition.

  • No, unfortunately.  While we welcome filmmakers who have entered in the past, only new works will be considered.

Ready to sign up? Fill out the form below!