International Online Pitching Workshop 2026
Join Executives from Netflix and Anonymous Content and Creators, Writers & Producers behind such shows as South Park, Fargo, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Australians in Film (AiF) announces its first-ever International Online Pitching Workshop, as a part of INSIDER SESSIONS, bringing together a high-profile lineup of Australian and international screen executives, producers, and writers to unpack what makes an effective pitch in today’s global marketplace.
Delivered across four live online sessions, the International Pitching Workshop 2026 is designed to provide practical, real-world insight into pitching at every level—from introductions and generals to personal branding and full project presentations. The program focuses on clarity, confidence, and market awareness, with an emphasis on how pitching expectations differ across territories and formats.
The workshop features studio executive and producer Deborah Liebling (PEN15, South Park), writer-producer April Shih (Fargo, Dave), Anonymous Content’s partner, manager and producer Bec Smith, Netflix Content Director of Live Action Features Jiao Chen, writer-producer Lindsay Calhoon Bring (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and writer-director-producer Stuart Beattie (Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Faraway Downs).
Participants may attend as observers plus have the opportunity to opt in to pitch live. Live pitches will be selected at random, fitting in as many as time permits during each session, and will receive real-time feedback from panelists, creating an environment that closely mirrors professional pitch meetings.
Live pitch sessions will not be recorded and attended by registered participants only.
Across the four sessions, participants will work through the three core pitch types expected of screen creatives: the elevator pitch, the personal pitch, and the project pitch.
In addition, two judges will offer a 30-minute general meeting to the participant whose pitch resonates most strongly, to be scheduled at a later date.
SESSION 1 | Pitching Basics
Hear from industry experts on what they look for in pitches, from first-time introductions to project-specific meetings. Topics include in-person vs. Zoom pitching, common mistakes to avoid, cultural differences between the U.S. and Australia, and strategies for standing out and making a lasting impression.
When:
Tuesday March 3, 3:00 p.m. PST (U.S.)
Wednesday March 4, 10:00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Duration: 90 minutes (75 min conversation & 15 min Q&A)
Panelists: Bec Smith, Lindsay Calhoon Bring & Stuart Beattie
SESSION 2 | Elevator Pitch
Selected participants will deliver a concise elevator pitch and receive feedback on clarity, focus, and impact.
When:
Thursday March 5, 3:00 p.m. PST (U.S.)
Friday March 6, 10:00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Duration: 90 minutes (5 minute introduction followed by as many pitches as time permits)
Panelists: Debbie Liebling & AiF's Rebecca Windsor
SESSION 3 | Personal Pitch
Participants will present a personal pitch designed to communicate creative identity and long-term vision, with feedback on how to become more memorable and authentic.
When:
Tuesday March 10, 4:00 p.m. PDT (U.S.)
Wednesday March 11, 10:00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Duration: 90 minutes(5 minute introduction followed by as many pitches as time permits)
Panelists: April Shih & AiF's Rebecca Windsor
SESSION 4 | Project Pitch
Participants will pitch a full project and receive detailed notes on structure, storytelling, and market positioning.
When:
Thursday March 12, 4:00 p.m. PDT (U.S.)
Friday March 13, 10:00 a.m. AEDT (AUS)
Duration: 90 minutes (5 minute introduction followed by as many pitches as time permits)
Panelists: Jiao Chen & AiF's Rebecca Windsor
April Shih – Writer / Producer
April Shih is an Emmy-nominated, WGA Award-winning writer/producer whose credits include FX’s You’re the Worst, Mrs. America (starring Cate Blanchett), Amazon’s Undone, and Season 2 of Dave, where she served as Supervising Producer. Most recently, she was Co-Executive Producer on the Emmy-nominated Season 5 of Fargo. April is a fellow of the Sundance Episodic Story Lab, CAPE New Writers Fellowship, CBS Writers Mentoring Program, and Film Independent Episodic Lab.
Alongside her partner Jen Goyne Blake, April produced the independent feature Joyland, an official selection of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best International Film and shortlisted for the 2023 Oscars. Their follow-up feature, A Sad and Beautiful World, premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival and will be released in 2026.
Bec Smith – Partner / Manager / Producer at Anonymous Content
Bec Smith is Partner, Manager and Producer at Anonymous Content, representing acclaimed directors and writers while developing globally ambitious, culturally resonant film and television projects. Her credits include Foe, Catch-22, Disclaimer, Christy, Spotlight, The Revenant, True Detective, Schitt’s Creek, Mr. Robot, Time Bandits, Nickel Boys and The Stranger, with upcoming titles including East of Eden, Little House on the Prairie, and Neuromancer.
Formerly a partner at United Talent Agency, Bec packaged, financed and/or sold films including Lion, Dream Scenario, Animal Kingdom (which she executive produced), Margin Call, and The Spectacular Now. Earlier in her career, she was Head of Development at Working Title Australia and Australasian Bureau Chief for The Hollywood Reporter.
Deborah Liebling – Producer / Executive
Deborah Liebling is a veteran film and television producer and influential programming executive with a career spanning studio leadership and independent production. Her producing credits include Carved (Hulu), Jules (starring Sir Ben Kingsley), 65 (Columbia Pictures), Plus One (Audience Award, Tribeca Film Festival), and Emmy-nominated series PEN15. She is currently in pre-production on multiple feature films including Ikeaville, Old Pals, Me, You, and Drew, and Truth Be Told, alongside an active television slate in development.
Previously, Deborah served as President of Production at Universal Pictures, overseeing hit films including Bridesmaids, Pitch Perfect, Ted, and Tower Heist. She was also President of Red Hour Films with Ben Stiller and Head of Original Programming at Comedy Central, where she executive produced South Park.
Jiao Chen – Content Director at Netflix
As a Content Director at Netflix, Jiao Chen oversees the creative development and production of a slate of live-action feature films. His recent projects include Remarkably Bright Creatures, starring Sally Field, and the upcoming feature Positano, starring Matthew McConaughey and Zoe Saldaña.
Prior to Netflix, Jiao served as VP of Creative Development at Sony Pictures, working on films such as Bullet Train, Uncharted, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Bad Boys for Life. He has also held positions at 20th Century Fox and Rideback
Lindsay Calhoon Bring – Writer / Producer
Lindsay Calhoon Bring is a writer, producer, and co-showrunner known for her work in television. After years working as an assistant and writers’ assistant on series including Good Girls, Frequency, and Hindsight, she was selected for the Warner Bros. Writers Workshop, which led to her first staffing role on Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She remained with the series for its full four-season run, producing episodes on set in Vancouver.
Lindsay went on to co-create and co-showrun Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin for HBO Max. She has since developed and sold multiple projects, including the Peacock pilot The Astrology House, continuing to build a slate of bold, character-driven television.
Stuart Beattie - Writer / Director / Producer
Stuart Beattie is an Australian director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his screenplay for Collateral, which earned BAFTA, Satellite, and Saturn Award nominations. He also co-wrote Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl and has written key titles including Australia, 30 Days Of Night, 310 To Yuma, and G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra.
As a director, Stuart wrote and directed Tomorrow When the War Began, earning the AACTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. His additional credits include I, Frankenstein, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, and Netflix’s Interceptor. His television work includes Deadline Gallipoli, Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Faraway Downs, as well as the stage musical Bat Out of Hell.
Pitch Formats Covered
Elevator Pitch (2–3 min)
A tight, high-impact introduction to your project: logline, hook, emotional core, and why this story matters—designed to spark interest and invite follow-up.
Personal Pitch (5–7 min)
A narrative introduction to you as an artist. Focus on what drives your work, the stories you’re drawn to tell, and where you’re headed creatively—without turning it into a résumé.
Project Pitch (8–10 min)
A clear, compelling overview including:
- The world and main characters
- Tone and comparable projects
- Broad story arcs (not beat-by-beat)
- Season arcs (for series)
- Why this story needs to be told now and why you are the right person to tell it
Participants are expected to rehearse and carefully time their pitches to ensure clarity, confidence, and professionalism. To respect everyone’s time, any pitch that exceeds the allocated time limit will be stopped.
PITCHES ACCEPTED
Narrative series, features or shorts. No documentary or unscripted projects at this time, please.
REGISTRATION:
US$125 for all sessions.
At no extra cost, during the registration process, you may opt in to one or all of the pitch sessions for the opportunity to be called up at random during the session to pitch live for in the moment feedback. Opting in does not guarantee you will be called up.