The Pitch
What is THE PITCH?
Complete guidelines at STXIFF.com/pitch2026
The Pitch includes a live event where screenwriters pitch their idea or concept for a feature or short film to a panel of producers and film professionals. One lucky screenwriter will walk away with an award at the STXIFF awards ceremony.
To compete in The Pitch, screenwriters must submit a title, logline, 200-300 word synopsis, main characters, and concept art at filmfreeway.com/stxiff and agree to attend the festival in person if selected as a finalist. Participants may submit a script, but it is not required. The complete guidelines for The Pitch are available here.
The Pitch finalists participate in a live event in Edinburg Texas where the screenwriters pitch their idea for an original feature or short film to a panel of producers and film professionals. The finalists will receive valuable feedback on their script idea and how they pitched their film.
The Pitch competition will take place on the Saturday of the festival. Pitch finalists must be present in Edinburg on the day of the event in order to qualify for a prize. The winner will be announced that same day at the STXIFF Award Ceremony.
The Pitch Awards have two divisions:
The Pitch
Pitch-Texas Student Division (Texas high school students only)
Previous Pitch winners
The Pitch 2025
Five projects were pitched to the 2025 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Pamela Oliver Munoz, Hania A. Rocio, Arianna Lizette Salinas, Deisy Sanjuán and Hondo Constante Teran.
Candy & Caldo
The winner of the 2025 THE PITCH is Pamela Oliver Munoz for her screenplay Candy & Caldo
The Pitch 2024
Six projects were pitched to the 2024 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Sean William Chandler, Jorge Flores, David William Leeper, Irlanda Martinez, Enrique Quintanilla, Nikole Salinas, and Lynn Vincentnathan.
Polite Desertion
The winner of the 2024 THE PITCH is Nikole Salinas for her screenplay Polite Desertion
The Pitch 2023
Four projects were pitched to the 2023 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Hayley Muñoz, Nancy K Parten, Lynn Vincentnathan, Mario Alberto Zamarripa and Jose Guadalupe Zamarripa.
Poder-Rosas
The winner of the 2023 THE PITCH is Hayley Muñoz for her screenplay Poder-Rosas
The Pitch 2021
Three projects were selected to pitch their original screenplay to the 2021 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Costantino Ciminiello and Mitchell V Slan, Mac McStravick, and Desireé Nash.
La Burra: The Legend of the Donkey Lady
The winners of the 2021 THE PITCH are Mitchell V. Slan and Costantino Ciminiello for their screenplay La Burra: The Legend of the Donkey Lady
The Pitch 2020
Three projects were selected to pitch their original screenplay to the 2020 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Hyten Davidson, Scott Simpson and Jonathan Turner Smith.
Stranger to Blue Mountain
The winner of the 2020 THE PITCH is Hyten Davidson for her screenplay Stranger to Blue Mountain
The Pitch 2019
Four projects were selected to pitch their original screenplay to the 2019 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Michael Abel, Anita Azenet, Jose Fikes, Joshua David, Adam Lapallo, Karl Lentini, and Charles Gorgano.
Tulsa ‘21
The winners of the 2019 THE PITCH are Anita Azenet and Jose Fikes for their screenplay Tulsa ‘21
The Pitch 2018
Three projects were selected to pitch their original screenplay to the 2018 panel of judges. Participating screenwriters included Abel Gonzalez Del Toro, Nick Perkins and Juan Enrique Quintanilla.
Tri Again
The winner of the 2018 THE PITCH is Nick Perkins for his screenplay Try Again
The Pitch 2017
Three projects were selected to pitch their original screenplay to the 2017 panel of judges.
Creeper
The winner of the 2017 THE PITCH is Abel Gonzalez for his screenplay Creeper