Project Pool

Call for Project Pool is open

The call for projects for the Project Pool is open from 2 to 31 July.

Project Pool was created to give more visibility and opportunities to filmmakers to help them find potential partners and gain feedback without pitching their projects on stage.

Producers and screenwriters are welcome to apply. We believe that this is a unique space to find a partner or a producer who will drive your script or idea for a story to the next level at Young Horizons Industry.

Thanks to our partnership with PFX, the projects from this section will have a chance to win the PFX award. You can read about it at the end of this article.

How does Project Pool work?

Around 10 film and series projects at different stages of development and production will be selected for the Project Pool. Each project has its own table for one-to-one meetings in a special area at our forum. This allows producers and screenwriters to invite experts to their table and schedule meetings with potential partners.

The projects shortlisted for the Project Pool have visibility on the Young Horizons Industry website, event platform, and in the catalogue. As additional promotion, the producers and screenwriters of qualified projects will be able to record a 1-minute elevator pitch, which will be available to watch by the YHI guests on the event platform and promoted among the experts attending the forum.

Note: The projects qualified for the Project Pool will not be presented on stage during the pitching day.

Rules for the projects applying to the Project Pool section

Producers and screenwriters can apply with:

• Full-length film and TV specials or series projects
• Aimed at: preschoolers, kids, teenagers, young adults (up to 18yo), families
• Live-action, documentary, animation, transmedia
• Projects with international potential

Project Pool is open to projects from all around the world, looking for producers, co-producers, and partners.

Information about the project needed for application:

• Project title
• Logline
• Synopsis (max. 1000 characters with spaces)
• Metrics: category (film/series, type (live-action/animation/documentary/transmedia), genre, target audience (preschool, children 7–9, children 10–12, teens, young audience (up to 18yo)
• Production company and company profile, co-production company, if applicable (if you are applying as screenwriter, you don’t need to have a production company behind you)
• Project photo – it can be a mood photo which we can use for the promotion
• Short film material/teaser/mood video, animatic (optional)
• Treatment or detailed synopsis (max. 3 pages)
• Pitch Deck (it should include information about your visual concept, a brief overview of your budget, your target audience and distribution strategy, information about the creators)
• What are you seeking for your project during your One-to-One session at Young Horizons Industry? (distributor, VOD platform, co-producer, sales agent, etc.)

Important dates and information:

2–31 July – applications for the Project Pool are open. Submit your project.
August – selection results. We will notify everyone about the results via email.

Project Pool accreditation fee for Project Pool

Project Pool accreditation fee for one representative of the project is: PLN 340 / PLN 418.20 incl. VAT (EUR 80 / EUR 98.40 incl. VAT).

This accreditation doesn’t cover accommodation and travel expenses.

Each accompanying person who wants to take part in the event must buy the accreditation for attendees (see: Buy accreditation).

The PFX award – Mentoring and Development

Projects from the Project Pool section will have a chance to gain an award in the form of individual mentoring and expert advice offered by the PFX team.

The awarded project will receive dedicated mentoring support, tailored to its stage of development and needs, which may include:

• analysis of potential funding pathways (grants, funding, co-productions)
• advice on sales potential in international markets
• pitch deck analysis
• evaluation of literary materials
• recommendations for a project development strategy

PFX aim is to support original, valuable projects for young audiences – with both artistic and commercial potential. Through mentoring, we want to help creators find the best way forward for their work and – if the opportunity arises – co-create the future of the project with them.

The PFX team will award the project based on:

1. originality and creativity of the idea
2. quality of the treatment and synopsis
3. clarity of the pitch deck and application materials
4. potential for international co-production
5. artistic or commercial potential
6. maturity of the project (is it ready for discussions with partners?)
7. compatibility with the Project Pool profile:

• target group: 0–18 years and families
• genres: live-action, animation, documentary, transmedia

PFX

From original IP creation to full-scale production – we bring ideas to life.

PFX is a full-service post-production studio operating across Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

With nearly 400 talented artists, we have provided world-class services to film, TV, animation, and commercial creators for over a decade. Alongside creative services, we assist with tax incentives in our countries of operation, enhancing project viability. We collaborate as co-producers on projects in development or currently in production. Infusing every collaboration with creativity and innovation, to deliver the best possible results.