Grand Prize
Chosen by the industry jury.
FIRST LOOK - coming 2027Filmmaker Lab + Live screenings + YouTube series
First
Look Film Discovery: a live screening and pitch format for filmmakers
Eight projects. One audience. What’s next?
Eight film projects. One day in the Lab. Three weeks later, they hit the big screen in front of a live audience and industry jury, with one shot to pitch WHAT’S NEXT? and move their project forward. Then we follow what happens next on YouTube.
Selected projects get $500 to take part, an equal share of ticket income, and the chance to win prizes tailored to what they need next.
What is FIRST LOOK?
FIRST LOOK puts eight film projects on the big screen, then asks every filmmaker the same question: what’s next?
That could mean finding funding, attaching the right producer, building a festival strategy, securing a distributor or impact partner, finishing post-production, shooting more material, or simply getting the right introduction.
The Lab helps each team sharpen their audience, positioning and next move, then turn that into a clear WHAT’S NEXT? pitch. At the live event, they screen their work, pitch to an audience and industry jury, get direct feedback and compete for prizes that can help move the film forward. The YouTube series follows what happens next.
01
How FIRST LOOK works
From selection to the Lab, then three weeks later to the big screen.
- 01
Selection
Eight projects are selected: features, documentaries, shorts and proof-of-concepts. Finished? Unfinished? Either is fine. You just need something ready to screen and a real next step for the project.
- 02
The Lab
One day. Eight teams. No vague ‘we just need exposure’ pitches. We work on audience, positioning, what makes the project distinct, where it sits now, what needs to happen next and what might help make that happen. By the end of the day, every team has one clear WHAT’S NEXT? pitch. Before First Look Live, every project gets a short pitch check-in with Reframe Collective .
- 03
First Look Live
Three weeks later, it gets real. The eight projects screen for a paying audience and an industry jury. After each screening, the filmmaker makes a short WHAT’S NEXT? pitch: where the project is now, what needs to happen next and what they are looking for. The jury responds. The audience gets involved. Things start moving.
02
The real measure
Six months later.
And then we come back.
The FIRST LOOK YouTube series follows all eight teams through the Lab and live event, then checks in again six months later. Did the introduction happen? Did the money come through? Did the film get finished, selected, picked up or completely change direction?
We find out.
03
Prizes that move projects
No generic trophy and a handshake. The prizes are built around what the winning projects actually need next. Packages can include cash, edit support, sound post, grading, equipment hire, legal support, festival strategy, marketing, trailers, market materials or other production services.
Audience Favourite
You guessed it. Chosen by the audience.
Wild Card
The project that feels boldest, strangest or most left-field.
Partners
Back FIRST LOOK.
FIRST LOOK is built with partners who want to help screen projects move forward.
Partners can support the event, Lab, livestream, YouTube series and prize pool through funding, services or in-kind support.
Screen and production businesses can also contribute directly through edit time, gear, sound, grade, legal, marketing or festival support.
FIRST LOOK 2027
Keep me in
the loop.
Want to apply, come along, watch online or get involved? Sign up and we’ll let you know what’s happening with FIRST LOOK 2027.