Pitch for the New York Times’ Op-Docs in Sheffield

Are you familiar with The New York Times’s Op-Docs? If not then you better head over to their page as you’re missing out on some quality documentaries. Now, filmmakers from anywhere in the world are invited to apply to pitch for a slot at this year’s Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Op-Docs is the New York Times (NYT) editorial department’s forum for short, opinionated documentaries. There’s no set format but the quality is high. The docs are creative, informative and generally cover current affairs, contemporary life and historical subjects.

At the New York Times’ Op-Docs Pitch in Sheffield the team of NYT commissioners will be looking for a 10-minute (or under), opinionated documentary short that fits the editorial and creative scope of Op-Docs.

Previous contributors include top of the range filmmakers Errol Morris, Alex Gibney, Roger Ross Williams, Jessica Yu and Jon Shenk but equally the series have featured work from emerging filmmakers and artists. You can view all the films at  NYTimes.com/OpDocs.

The pitch will take place at the festival on 13 June and the winner gets an opportunity to produce an Op-Doc for The New York Times with a budget of $5,000.

Charlie Philips, marketplace director at Sheffield Doc/Fest said: “The New York Times’ Op-Docs online series is already gaining a great international reputation for opinionated, quality short documentaries, and we’re delighted to give filmmakers in the UK and beyond the chance to be part of it. This is a unique pitching opportunity for documentary makers, and it’s very exciting to be offering it as part of our 20th anniversary festival.”

The deadline for entries is Friday 12 April. For more information and a link to the online application visit the Sheffield Doc/Fest website.