Pitch THIS! 2025
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Do you have a great idea for an animated series you want to get off the ground?
Presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund (CMF), Pitch THIS! is the OIAF’s annual pitching contest; an opportunity for Canadian creators to get noticed and kickstart their animated series concept!
This year up to EIGHT Pitch THIS! Semi-finalist projects will be selected and paired with established industry mentors. Over the course of the summer, semi-finalists will meet with mentors to refine their 10-minute-long pitches before presenting them live at The Animation Conference (TAC) in September.
The 2025 Pitch THIS! semi-finals will be held in front of the TAC audience on September 24th. Two projects will then be selected by the semi-finalist jury to go head-to-head against one another on the TAC mainstage the following day at the Pitch THIS! finale! These pitches will be presented before a live audience of TAC attendees, studio executives, and potential project financiers. The winner will be awarded a grand prize, including two TAC AnimaPasses to OIAF 2026, to return for more professional development, pitching, and networking opportunities!
The winner will be awarded a Grand Prize, including:
- One-year subscription to Harmony 24 Premium and online training courtesy of Toon Boom
- $1,000 in legal services courtesy of Edwards Law
- Two TAC AnimaPasses to OIAF 2026
The Pitch THIS! runner-up will receive:
- A free 1-hour legal consultation courtesy of Edwards Law
2025 Participants
Semi-Finalists:
Rajan Kapila, Brown Kid Adventures
Mya Roy-Royer and Eloïse Rompré, Candlecoop
Ruby Saysanasy, Cryptid
Bouchera Tahraoui and Jihad Jibaida, Dolly Baby
David Du, DUNG FU! Beetle Royale
Miranda Li and Joy Zhou, On The Haunt
Stephanie Ramón, The Sisters Sangre
Ri Webb, The Story Tree
Selection Committee:
Archita Ghosh, President, Rezolution Pictures International
José Pou, Director / Story Artist / Animator
Bradley Cayford, Storyboard Director, Mainframe Studios
Mentors:
Emerald Wright-Collie, Creative Producer & Development Executive
Sam Chou, Director / Showrunner, Lakeside Animation Studios / Cutting Class Media
Adrian Thatcher, Series Director
Brenda Tracy Nietupski, Producer / Development Exec / Collaborator, Rezolution Pictures International
Semi-Finals Jury:
Carolyn Hay, Content Creator / Executive Story Editor / Writer
Damien Dornford, Creative Director, AirStride Entertainment
Maral Mohammadian, Producer, National Film Board of Canada
Finale Jury:
Andrea Griffith, VP Content and Development, Sphere Media
Jordan Askins, Manager of Development, Adult Swim
Kirsten Hurd, Commissioning Editor, TVOkids
Lisa Cinelli, Executive in Charge of Production, Children & Youth, CBC Kids
Sierra Martin-Persi, Supervising Producer – Digital Content, A Studio Digital / BentoBox Entertainment
Submitting a Project
Submissions open annually between May and early June and usually close near the end of June.
A cornerstone of TAC, Pitch THIS! has helped launch careers and spotlight animated series, including past participants Tarun Padmakumar and Joanna Fishbein (The Hare of High Park), Beccs Champagne (Ghost Stories), Mansa Chintoh and Malachi Ellis (Project Blackout), and Mike Geiger (Winston Steinberger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong). The opportunity is open exclusively to Canadian projects across all target demographics, from preschool to adult series.
Inclusive projects and creators from underserved communities are strongly encouraged to apply, particularly those who are racially or ethnically diverse, living with disabilities, women, gender non-conforming individuals, and 2SLGBTQIA+ members of the animation community.
Congratulations to the creators of The Hare of High Park, Tarun Padmakumar and Joanna Fishbein, who won the Grand Prize for Pitch THIS! 2024
And a special mention to Pitch This! Runner-up Nick MacDonald who pitched Phil Joins a Cult.
2024 Pitch THIS! Participants & Jury
2024 Participants
Projects:
Agnes & Cookie, Helena Love
Duchess & Drooler, Robert Pincombe
Gubbles Save The Day, Jeffrey Stewart Timmins
Moon Saloon, Mike Gilbert and Klara Woldenga
Neighbourhood Watch, Matthew McPhee
Phil Joins a Cult, Nick MacDonald (Pitch This! 2024 Runner-up)
Reunion, Harrison Seeley
Sully and Beet, Sima Naseem and Ridaa Khan
The Hare of High Park, Tarun Padmakumar and Joanna Fishbein (Grand Prize Winner for Pitch THIS! 2024)
Vampire Melodies, Talia Chase and Nathan Slowly
Semi-Finals Jury:
Sierra Martin-Persi, Supervising Producer, A Studio Digital / Bento Box
Travis Williams, Development Executive / Production Manager, GAPC Entertainment Inc.
Tammy Semen, COO, Industrial Brothers
Semi-finals Host:
Bradley Cayford, Storyboard Director, Mainframe Studios
Finale Jury:
Andrea Griffith, VP of Content and Development, Sphere Media
Cameron Tang, VP of Development, Adult Swim
Kirsten Hurd, Commissioning Editor, TVO Kids
Swin Chang, Development and Production Executive, CBC Kids
Tommy Gillespie, Senior Director, Content Production, PBS Kids
Finale Hosts:
Chantal Ling, VP Original Series and Co-Productions, Mercury Filmworks
Emmanuelle Gignac, Supervising Director, Mercury Filmworks
The 2025 winners were awarded a grand prize, including:
- $5,000 cash prize from Mercury Filmworks
- Toon Boom Harmony annual license and Harmony Fundamentals on-demand videos from The Animation Study valued at $400
- $1,000 in legal services courtesy of Edwards Creative Law
- Two TAC AnimaPasses to OIAF 2025
The 2025 Runner-up received:
- A free 1-hour legal consultation courtesy of Edwards Creative Law
2023 Pitch THIS! Participants & Jury
2023 PARTICIPANTS
Projects:
Beccs Champagne, Ghost Stories (2023 Winner)
Paula Peroff, The Breakfast Guild (2023 Runner Up)
Allison Lownie and Onyka Gairey, Best Witches
Daniela Smith-Fischer, Claudia Heights
Elton Su, Crimson Mandate
Emma Fiorante, Earth to Schneider
Hugo van Essen, Ferdinand The Self-Aware NPC
Justin Smith-Fischer, Marley and the Underdogs
Sadaf Amini, Maple Treehouse School
Shannon Fewster, Monster Problems
Mentors:
Casey Gonzalez, VP of Development, FredFilms
Emerald Wright-Collie, Director of Development, Sony Pictures Television Kids
Kris Pearn, Director, Sony Pictures Animation
Niki López, Creator/EP/Showrunner/Writer/Designer, Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Rikke Asbjoern, Writer/Director/Executive Producer
Semi-final Jury:
Grégory Magné-Grand, Original Content Director, Tonic DNA
Hoda Elatewi, Executive Producer, President / CEO, GAPC Entertainment
Sam Chou, Director/Creative Director, Look Mom! Productions
Semi-final Host:
Spencer Moreland, Animator/Filmmaker
Finale Jury:
Kirsten Hurd, Commissioning Editor, Kids TV, TVO Kids
Lauren Martinez, Vice President, Original Series and Movie Development, Cartoon Network
Lisa Cinelli, Executive in Charge of Production, CBC
Niki Williams, Sr Manager, Production and Development for Pre-K, Nickelodeon
Tommy Gillespie, Senior Director, Content Production, PBS Kids
Finale Host:
Heath Kenny, Chief Content Officer, Mercury Filmworks
2022 Pitch THIS! Participants & Jury
2022 PARTICIPANTS
Semi-finalists:
Mansa Chintoh and Malachi Ellis, Project Blackout (2022 Winner)
Peter Ricq, Mini Police Chief (2022 Finalist)
Mike Regis, Taxi Underground (2022 2nd Runner-up)
Alex Lemay, Misery Loves Company
Anne Douris and Joel Buxton, Knights of the Folding Table
Joy Zhou and Miranda Li, Ivy & The Sunset Hearts
Michael Melanson and Stuart Buckley, Big City Mech
Rajan Kapila, Brown Kid Adventures
Zi Chen, Pine Point
Mentors:
Adrian Thatcher, Showrunner, Super Wish, Nelvana
Casey Gonzalez, VP of Development, FredFilms
Dave Padbury, Development Executive, Guru Studio
Melvin Benson, Development Coordinator, Atomic Cartoons
Phil Rynda, Producer, Artist (Independent)
Vanessa Esteves, Showrunner, Super Wish, Nelvana
Hosts:
Heath Kenny, Chief Content Officer, Mercury Filmworks – Finals
Sarah Lamoureux, Development Manager, OIAF – Semi-finals
Semi-finals Jury:
Chantal Ling, VP, Production & Co-Productions, Mercury Filmworks
Grégory Magné-Grand, Director, Original Content, Tonic DNA
Marney Malabar, Consultant
Finals Jury:
Alfredo Marun, Director of Development, Disney Television Animation
Kirsten Hurd, Executive Producer, TVOkids
Leslie Wishnevski, Manager of Development, Nickelodeon
Lisa Cinelli, Executive in Charge of Production, CBC Kids
Sam Chou, Director, Creative Director of Development, Look Mom! Productions