WestDoc names PitchFest winner

September 19, 2012 by Barry Walsh

Spirit/Will/Loss, a documentary directed by Erinnisse Heuer (pictured) claimed a prize package worth US$25,000 at the close of the WestDoc documentary and reality programming conference, held in Culver City.

The film follows six artists who continue to create following life-changing experiences and personal tragedies. The prizing included a US$10,000 cash prize, a one-year all media music license from FirstCom Music; a $5000 post/edit package from Hollywood post facility Chainsaw; a Z-Finder PRO 2.5X DSLR optical viewfinder from Zacuto; and a 1HD Hero2 camera from GoPro Cameras.

The runner-up pitch was for Heart: Flatline to Finish Line, about heart patients running a triathalon, from Donald Bowman.

Winners were chosen from 12 finalists by a 15-member jury including: Elizabeth Jane Browde, Veria Living; Dave Davis, PBS Oregon; Laura Fleury, A&E; John Judalena, TLC; JT Ladt, National Geographic Channel; Megan Lawrence, WeTV; Melanie Moreau, CMT; David Padrusch, Travel Channel; David Sherman, agent, Kris Slava, Ovation; Adam Steinman, Warner Bros. International Television; Joe Weinstock, Discovery; Lee White, William Morris Agency; Brent Zacky, Logo; and Sean Zeid, agent, Kaplan Stahler.

“The quality just keeps getting better and better each year, and in watching the pitches, I definitely would not have been able to pick the winner because I think there were half a dozen of them that each could have won,” said WestDoc co-founder and PitchFest committee chair Chuck Braverman.

The WestDoc Documentary and Reality Conference was held from September 9-12.

Tags: Erinnisse Heuer, Spirit/Will/Loss, WestDoc