CEDI MEDIA Galway presents an intensive three-day workshop for documentary filmmakers wanting to develop and re-edit their pitch pilots. 

There is also the chance to register for a 1.5 hour in-person seminar on how to create a great pitch pilot. This will take place in the morning of the first day of the workshop. 

Observers: Industry and student observers can register to observe the full three days of the workshop, along with the seminar. 

The Galway Pitch Pilot Workshop is an intensive three-day workshop 25 to 27 May 2026 in Galway City for documentary filmmakers wanting to develop and re-edit their pitch pilots. The event combines open sessions accessible for a wide group of documentary makers and a workshop process tailored for a small group of six project teams and observers. If you are a documentary maker wanting to enhance your project’s market potential and make essential decisions about the narrative construction, this workshop is for you.

What Does the Workshop Offer?

·       A personal and hands on feedback process on your pitch pilot

·       Crucial decisions on visual approach and narrative structure

·       A high-quality pilot ready for pitching to international partners

·       One-on-one editing sessions combined with plenary sessions

Participant Profile

The main part of The Galway Pitch Pilot Workshop will be dedicated to six documentary project teams with projects in development as well as six industry observers and six student observers taking part in the entire workshop process. 

After the morning seminar on the first day, the six teams will present their documentary projects in plenary, and after receiving general advise from the workshop tutors, each team will spend the remaining part of day one and most of day two editing on their pilots. This will be done under guidance and with input from the two workshop tutors.

Day two will conclude with a short status update from each team, where they share their status with the other teams. After spending the morning of the third day editing, the third day concludes with all six teams showing their newly edited pitch pilots to the workshop group. 

What happens if you are selected? 

In order to take part in the workshop, you will need to bring your own editing station to the location of the workshop in Galway.

The Galway Pitch Pilot Workshop is organised by the Creative Europe Desk in Galway in collaboration with Paradiddle Pictures and is supported by Coimisiún na Meán.

Tutors

Ove Jensen 

Phil Jandaly

Venue

Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway

How to Apply

APPLY TO BE AN INDUSTRY OR STUDENT OBSERVER

One student and one industry observer will sit in on a particular project and observe the pitch pilot development process throughout the three days.

·       Send your bio/CV together with a half page motivation explaining why you want to an observer at the workshop and how you can benefit from it. 

Apply here to be an industry or student observer.

Note: You must be available for the three days of the workshop to be an observer.

APPLY FOR THE MORNING SEMINAR

It will be possible for documentary makers to attend the opening morning of the workshop, which will be conducted as a seminar. This will consist of a general information session on how to create a great pitch pilot.

25 industry professionals will be selected to take part in this morning seminar. Using concrete examples of successful pilots this presentation will outline general considerations about the editing of pilots. This presentation will be open to all documentary filmmakers interested in creative documentaries. 

·       Send us your bio/CV in order to register for the opening seminar on editing pitch pilots on Monday, May 25 at 9:00–11:00.

·       Apply here for a place in the morning seminar.

APPLY WITH A PROJECT FOR THE FULL WORKSHOP

Apply with a project and take part in the entire Galway Pitch Pilot Workshop. To submit your application with a project in development and take part in the workshop, you need to send us:

·       Synopsis: half a page.

·       Treatment and early reflections on the narrative: a full page.

·       A link to selected scenes, characters or other visual material of maximum five minutes.

·       An estimated time frame and total budget for the film.

·       Contact details for the director and producer.

·       Apply here for the full workshop.

·       Note: Your team must be available for the three days of the workshop. Your director and editor must be available, along with any other team members that wish to participate.

Deadline

20th April 2026 is the deadline for submissions. Selected participants will be contacted by Friday 24th April.

https://www.creativeeuropeireland.eu/news-events/the-galway-pitch-pilot-workshop