Five emerging filmmakers have been selected as finalists for the 13th Annual RBC Emerging Filmmaker Pitch Competition.

The competition is a joint initiative from On Screen Manitoba and Manitoba’s Gimli International Film Festival (GIFF) and is open to residents of the province with a short film project. According to a news release, this year’s competition netted 32 submissions from across the province.

The filmmakers have three minutes to pitch their short film concept to a jury of industry pros in front of a live audience. The live event takes place on July 27 as part of GIFF.

This year’s five finalists are Coby Friesen with Cruising in Gomorrah, which follows two childhood friends who go camping on a haunted beach where good and evil force them to come to terms with their sexuality; Haley Charney’s comedy pitch The Tournament, about a senior ladies bowling team called The Dolls with Balls who lose a teammate during the biggest tournament of the season and disguise one their granddaughters to save the day; and Jacque Leger brings Leaving, which follows a woman who fears her grasp on reality is slipping, the story is told from the perspective of a woman with Alzheimers.

Rounding out the finalists are Shadow of a Bandmate from Thomas HJ Donnelly, about an up and coming indie rock band dealing with the fallout of a bandmate who is fired from the band for sexual assault; and Zackary Dear’s Under Her Breath, which follows two siblings as they attempt to clean out their reclusive grandmother’s home after she passes away.

The winner receives $10,000 in production funds through RBC; a mentorship from the National Screen Institute; a $5,000 equipment rental grant from Sunbelt Rentals; a $500 equipment credit and free membership from the Winnipeg Film Group; and a premiere screening of their film at the 2025 GIFF.

Each finalist receives a one-year membership with On Screen Manitoba and an industry pass to the 2024 GIFF.

Image: Unsplash.