Rules

YOUNG HORIZONS INDUSTRY 2026 – SUBMISSION RULES – PITCHING

Requirements and submission

To submit the project, please log in or create an account on the Young Horizons Industry online platform and choose the right submission form.

• Deadline for submissions: 12 May 2026.
• Each company can submit max. 2 projects (in total).
• Projects from all around the world can be submitted to all pitching categories.

Pitching categories

IN-DEVELOPMENT

In this section you will have a 5-minute on-stage presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the experts.

Conditions

• Full-length film, series projects, TV special
• Target audience: preschoolers, kids, teens, youth, family
• Live-action, documentary, animation, transmedia
• In development
• With international potential
• Looking for co-producers and partners
• With a producer on board

Materials for submission

• Fully completed online In-Development form which includes information such as: project title, format, genre, target audience, duration and number of episodes (if series), producer’s and screenwriter’s bios and filmography, company profile, co-producers (if any), countries of production
• Photo or key visual of the project
• Logline, synopsis (respectively: max. 300 and 1000 characters including spaces), and project description (film, 2 pages) or episodes outlines (series, 2 pages)
• Planned financing structure (in euros)
• Moodboard
• Optional materials: green and sustainability concept, marketing concept, bible

All documents need to be in English.

WORK-IN-PROGRESS

In this section you will have an 8-minute on-stage presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the experts.

Conditions

• Full-length film, series, TV special
• Target audience: preschoolers, kids, teens, youth, family
• Live-action, documentary, animation, transmedia
• At production or postproduction stage with shooting started by the end of August 2026
• With international potential
• Looking for co-producers and partners (broadcasters, sales agents, etc.)
• With a producer on board

Materials for submission

• Fully completed online Work-in-Progress form which includes information such as: project title, format, genre, target audience, duration and number of episodes (if series), producer’s, screenwriter’s, and director’s bios and filmography, company profile, co-producers (if any), countries of production
• Photo or key visual of the project
• Logline, synopsis (respectively: max. 300 and 1000 characters including spaces), and project description (film, 2 pages) or episodes outlines (series, 2 pages)
• Planned financing structure (in euros)
• Moodboard
• Optional: link to the film materials/ footage
• Optional materials: green and sustainability concept, marketing concept, bible

All documents need to be in English.

Selection process

Around 20 projects will be selected and presented in the In-Development and Work-in-Progress sections. The projects will be selected by the Selection Committee. The decision taken by the Selection Committee is final.

The Selection Committee will be announced at the Young Horizons Industry website. The Selection Committee will take into consideration, among other aspects:

• the creativity of the project and its innovative approach,
• the original topic or format,
• the co-production and international potential,
• the potential of the execution of the project.

The final decision whether the project will be presented in the In-Development or Work-in-Progress is being made in cooperation with a producer after the project is selected.

For accepted projects

1. Accreditation fee for the Pitching Teams

The accreditation fee for the Pitching Team costs EUR 250 excl. VAT per team (max. 2 people, preferably producer and screenwriter).

Accreditation includes:

• 2 online Pitching Trainings,
• dedicated table in one-to-one meetings area,
• promotion in the catalogue and on the platform,
• accommodation (2 nights for 2 people in single rooms with breakfast),
• lunches and coffee breaks,
• access to the whole event during the Young Horizons Industry forum and free admission to all the screenings of the Young Horizons International Film Festival (in selected cinemas in Warsaw),
• access to the Young Horizons Industry online platform.

Any additional costs not listed above are not covered by the organizer.

Option: If the Pitching Team would like to include more than 2 members to be present at the forum, the cost of the accreditation for any extra members need to be covered by the Pitching Team.

2. Selection announcement and completing the accreditation form

When selected, the producer will be notified by email or by phone if contact by email will not be effective.

The producer will have 1 (one) week to confirm the participation by filling in the participation form and paying the accreditation fee (EUR 250 excl. VAT per team). The link to the accreditation form for the Pitching Team and payment details will be attached to the email with the results. By confirming the participation, creators from each Pitching Team declare that they will attend the forum (28-30 September 2026, Warsaw) to present the project.

Each member of the Pitching Team needs to fill in the participation form separately. A correctly completed participation form by each Pitching Team member is necessary to set up an account on the platform.

3. Preparation for the pitching and the pitching itself

Before the event

• Pitching Trainings – July, each Pitching Team will have a possibility to have 2 individual online Pitching Trainings.
• Pre-recorded elevator pitch – each Pitching Team will be asked to pre-record an elevator pitch (1 minute) which will be available on the Young Horizons Industry platform for our experts and accredited guests before, during, and up to one month after the event to build visibility of your project. This is optional but highly recommended.
• Materials for the pitching on stage – any materials (presentation, videos) needs to be sent to the Young Horizons Industry team before 16 September.

During the event

• Pitching on stage – for pitching on stage at Young Horizons Industry, each Pitching Team will have:

– In-Development – 5 minutes for the pitch* + 5 minutes for the Q&A
– Work-in-Progress – 8 minutes for the pitch* + 5 minutes for the Q&A

*If the Pitching Team is not able to present the project live in Warsaw due to serious reasons, the Pitching Team is obliged to pre-record the 5-minute pitch and send it to the organizers together with the elevator pitch.

4. Withdrawal of the projects

Once the production company confirms the participation of the project, the withdrawal is not possible, unless there are some serious circumstances, which are independent of the Pitching Team. In that case the withdrawal has to be discussed with organizers. The accreditation fee (EUR 250 excl. VAT) will not be returned.

GDPR consent statement

INFORMATION ON THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA

1. The Controller of your personal data is Stowarzyszenie Nowe Horyzonty (New Horizons Association) with its registered office in Warsaw at ul. Ludwika Zamenhofa 1, 00-153 Warsaw, Poland (hereinafter “SNH”).
2. SNH will process your personal data indicated in the above form:
   2.1. under Article 6.1.(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), i.e. based on your consent given by completing and submitting the above form in order to carry out the selection of projects for the Young Horizons Industry 2026 (hereinafter the “Forum”);
   2.2. under Article 6.1. (f) of the GDPR i.e. based on SNH’s legitimate interest in establishing, investigating, or defending against claims that may arise from the project selection process.
3. Your data contained in the above form will be processed by SNH for the period necessary for the process selection process unless you withdraw your consent to SNH processing your personal data beforehand. By withdrawing your consent to the processing of your personal data, you will be deemed to have opted out of the project selection process.
4. In the event of circumstances giving rise to a claim by SNH against you or your claims against SNH, SNH will be entitled to process your personal data until the relevant legal proceedings have become final or the statute of limitations for claims under the relevant legislation has expired.
5. SNH may pass on your personal data for further processing or share your personal data with the co-organisers of the Forum and with entities cooperating with SNH, such as IT solution providers.
6. You have the right to ask SNH for access to your personal data, for its rectification, deletion, or limitation of processing as well as its portability.
7. In the case referred to in paragraph 2.1. above, you can withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time by contacting SNH through any communication method. Remember that your withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out based on the consent before its withdrawal.
8. In the case referred to in paragraph 2.2. above, you have the right to object to the processing of your personal data by SNH.
9. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority, i.e. to the President of the Personal Data Protection Office, in connection with the processing of your personal data by SNH.
10. The submission of personal data is voluntary. However, if personal data is not provided, it will not be possible to participate in the selection of projects for the Forum.

If you have any questions about the submission, please contact: magda.wylezalek@nowehoryzonty.pl