Do you have a great film concept that you are seeking funding and resources for? It all begins with a pitch. The Art of the Pitch workshop will help you create an effective pitch and empower you to pitch your film with confidence. Learn from filmmakers and pitch experts, Erika Cohn and Sohrab Mirmont, how to pitch both narrative and documentary projects successfully.
For Artist Foundry members and filmmakers.
Instructor Bios:
Erika Cohn is a two-time Emmy, Peabody and DGA Award-winning filmmaker who Variety recognized as one of 2017’s top documentary filmmakers to watch and was featured in DOC NYC’s 2019 “40 Under 40.” Her current releases are the Emmy-award winning, Peabody nominated, and New York Times Critic’s pick BELLY OF THE BEAST, a powerful expośe of human rights abuses in women’s prisons, and WHAT YOU’LL REMEMBER, which premiered via The New York Times Op-Docs in July 2021.Erikadirected/produced THE JUDGE (TIFF 2017), a Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary about the first woman judge appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a courts, which premiered on PBS’ 2018 “Independent Lens.” She co-directed/produced, IN FOOTBALL WE TRUST (Sundance 2015), an Emmy award-winning documentary about young Pacific Islander men pursuing their dreams of playing professional football, which premiered on “Independent Lens” in 2016.Erikafounded Idle Wild Films, which has released three feature documentaries, two short films, and produced numerous commercial spots, including Gatorade’s “Win from Within” series, which received a 2016 Webby award-nomination. She is currently in pre-production with her fiction feature debut, which she also wrote. In her spare time,Erikais an avid documentary photographer, music editor and performing artist. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is represented by IAG.
Sohrab Mirmont embarked on his filmmaking journey in war-torn Iran, nurtured by his uncle, the acclaimed Director Abbas Kiarostami. Their basement sessions ignited Sohrab’s passion for storytelling, which only intensified when his family relocated to America to escape the tumultuous political landscape. Enrolling in Full Sail University at 19, Sohrab’s talent blossomed with his debut short film, “The Beautiful Wind,” winning the Audience Choice Award at the New York Int’l Film Festival. This success catapulted him into Hollywood’s spotlight, earning recognition as a “Filmmaker to Watch” by Digital Filmmaker Magazine UK. With “The Freemason,” starring Sean Astin, Sohrab solidified his position in the industry, clinching multiple awards at the Comic Con Film Festival and achieving theatrical distribution with over 300% profits. Beyond the silver screen, Sohrab’s collaboration with the BBC on impactful documentaries, alongside his philanthropic efforts with Vision Cambodia, showcases his commitment to meaningful storytelling and global change. As the founder of Mirmont Pictures, he’s produced dozens of commercials driving tens of millions of dollars in sales. His recent feature film, “Riddle of Fire,” shot on 16mm Kodak Film, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is set for a theatrical release in March 2024. Additionally, his film “Green Flake” sparked a movement, contributing to the creation of monuments honoring its true-life characters. Currently, Sohrab is expanding his horizons with a slate of international coproduction projects, continuing his mission to inspire through cinema.
