The Film Pitch Deck | Template, Guide, & Examples

A film pitch deck is a great way to introduce your film or video project to potential investors and distributors, and get them excited. Creating a pitch deck, however, can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, it’s 2024 and there is a wide palette of templates and tips you can integrate to easily execute a fantastic pitch deck for your movie.

Hi there. I’m Viktor, a pitch deck expert, creative strategist and burger lover. My work has helped my clients win $4mill+ worth of pitches and helped 100+ companies develop decks that are currently helping them raise investments and close deals.

I’ve created some fantastic movie scripts that even HBO deemed as too radical, and I’m here to show you how to make one too.

By following the tips listed below and using the right template, you can create a great pitch deck that will help you secure funding for your film project.

Let’s begin.

What is a Film Pitch Deck?

A film pitch deck is the must-have overview of your film or movie, and how you plan on making it. No need to be reading your script for this, since it is a short presentation document that is used to showcase a film or video project to investors, distributors, agents, and other creatives who might be interested in your project.

The deck typically represents a recap of the project, information about the filmmakers, the storyline, the production company, the proposed budget or financial projections, and other key details, all visually displayed – similar to a look book. 

What Is The Purpose Of a Film Pitch Deck?

As you probably already know, the purpose of this type of pitch deck is to show potential investors and partners why they should fund your project.

You ideally want to convey an overview of the film project, its financial requirements, and prospect its potential return on investment financing.

This will also help them get to know more about what you’re trying to accomplish with their money, so they’re more likely to aim to support it and do the film financing, making it easier for you to feature films.

Shortly, it is a presentation that entrepreneurs make to gain funding for the project by convincing sponsors that the project is a good investment, presenting them with everything they need to know to accomplish that.

The idea is to entice them so they feel the need to come back and attend the next pitch meeting.

What Goes Into This Type Of Pitch Deck?

The deck will usually include a summary of the project,  the logline, a plot synopsis, a slide with information about the creative team members, collaborators, and financial projections.

In general, there are four main components:

1. A brief description of the project (including intended genre, budget range, release date, etc.)
2. A high-level breakdown of each major component (storyline/interactions/setting)
3. A list of the top talent involved in the project (writer/director/cast/crew)
4. An overview of how you can help make this project a success and what benefits that could bring to your company or organization

Things to keep in mind when creating your deck are: using strong cinematic imagery to grab attention, keeping your deck concise and organized, and making your points quickly and effectively. 

Additionally, it is helpful to use templates created by professionals to ensure that your deck is up to industry standards and captures all the key elements.

You could even create a poster that summarizes the entire pitch deck onto one page and hand some copies to the audience as promotional materials.

How To Make Your Film Pitch Deck Stand Out?

There are three primary components to a film pitch deck that make the film pitch deck stand out: a stellar summary of the story, why it matters, and what makes it unique.

You also want to include some statistics on the audience that will potentially watch your movie, attached to the project slides.

It would be great if you could provide examples of previous films that have similar themes but did not meet expectations due to poor marketing or lack of funding – which will help convince investors that this project has potential!

Focus on what makes your project unique, its keynote, and why it would be of interest to investors or distributors.

5 Tips for Creating a Great Film Pitch Deck

A crucial element of any effective movie pitch is a clear, short, and compelling elevator pitch. Here are five tips for creating a great pitch deck for your film:

1. Keep it short and sweet, similar to a bio.

You want to be able to deliver your pitch in a concise and engaging way.

2. Use strong visuals.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so make sure your visuals are clear and impactful.

3. Tell a story.

A good story will help you sell the idea and make it more memorable. To help you improve your narrative, check this selection on the best books for pitching.

4. Highlight the key points.

Don’t try to cram too much information into your pitch – focus on the most important aspects of your star – project and make a logical layout.

5. Be prepared to answer questions.

Have a solid understanding of your project so you can answer any questions that come up during the actual pitch deck presentation.

The Exact Film Pitch Deck Slide Structure You Can Steal (Thanks Viktor)

Elevator Pitch Slide

Headline: [Film Title]

• Logline: A compelling one-sentence summary of your film.
• Tagline: A striking tagline to spark intrigue.
• Date & Presenter Info: Include your name, title, and date.

Slide 1: Investor Highlights (What Makes This Film Special)

Headline: Why This Film Matters Now

• Key Opportunity: Highlight the film’s potential in the market (unique concept, untapped audience).
• Revenue/Recognition Potential: Link to comparable successful films or trends.
• Team Edge: Emphasize a star director, cast, or crew.
• Use a visually engaging background, minimal text, and bold statistics or quotes.

Slide 2: Concept Overview

Headline: The Big Idea

• Inspiration: What inspired this film?
• Genre and Target Audience: Define the market fit.
• Emotional Hook: What will audiences feel or take away?
• Visuals: Include an evocative image or concept art.

Slide 3: Logline & Synopsis

Headline: The Story in Two Minutes

• Expanded Logline: Develop the core premise.
• Synopsis: 3-5 sentences outlining the narrative arc.
• Characters & Setting: Brief descriptions of main characters and the film’s world.
• Visuals: Use a mood-defining image or still.

Slide 4: Themes & Tone

Headline: Why This Story Will Resonate

• Themes: Core messages (e.g., love, resilience, justice).
• Tone & Style: Describe the atmosphere (dark, comedic, uplifting).
• Audience Impact: How it connects with current cultural or emotional trends.
• Visuals: Include mood boards or stylistic references.

Slide 5: Market Validation (Comparable Films)

Headline: Proven Success in Similar Stories

• 3-5 Comparable Films: List with genre, themes, and box office data.
• Highlight Differences: What sets your film apart?
• Visuals: Include posters of comparable films with overlayed box office stats.

Slide 6: Director’s Vision

Headline: Bringing the Vision to Life

• Director’s Statement: Personal connection to the story.
• Creative Approach: Visual storytelling techniques, unique cinematic style.
• Past Success: Brief highlights of previous work (awards, recognition).
• Visuals: Include concept art, key frames, or a mood board.

Slide 7: Cast & Crew

Headline: The Dream Team

• Main Cast: Brief bios with images and previous hits.
• Key Crew: Highlight the cinematographer, editor, production designer, etc.
• Why They’re Perfect: Unique qualifications tied to this film’s vision.
• Visuals: Use headshots with captions and accolades.

Slide 8: Marketability & Distribution

Headline: Getting It to the Audience

• Target Audience Profile: Demographics and psychographics.
• Distribution Plan: Theatrical, streaming, festival circuits.
• Marketing Strategy: Key promotional campaigns, partnerships, or digital outreach.
• Visuals: Incorporate mock posters, festival logos, or streaming banners.

Slide 9: Budget & Financials

Headline: Investing in the Vision

• Estimated Budget Breakdown: Production, post-production, marketing.
• Secured Funding: Grants, investments, or in-kind contributions.
• Additional Ask: What’s needed and how it will be used.
• Visuals: A clean pie chart or infographic for clarity.

Slide 10: Production Timeline

Headline: From Script to Screen

• Key Milestones: Pre-production, shooting, post-production, release.
• Progress to Date: E.g., script completion, initial casting.
• Anticipated Challenges: Risks and mitigation strategies.
• Visuals: A sleek timeline graphic.

Slide 11: Investment & ROI

Headline: Why Partner with Us?

• Opportunities: Equity, profit participation, credits.
• ROI Potential: Based on comparables and market trends.
• Investor Perks: Premieres, set visits, credits.
• Visuals: Use financial projections and tangible benefits creatively.

Slide 12: Closing & Contact Information

Headline: Join the Journey

• Summary: Reiterate the unique opportunity and emotional resonance.
• Call to Action: Encourage investors or partners to connect.
• Contact Details: Email, phone, and social links.

Film Pitch Deck Template

A film pitch deck template can be a helpful tool for filmmakers who are looking to raise money for their projects. It can provide a structure for the presentation and help ensure that all of the important information is included.

Moviemakers can get templates for film pitch decks from several different sources.

There are many different types of film pitch decks, but most follow a similar outline.

However, a deck can always be modified to meet the unique requirements of each project.

These decks can be created using various software programs or online models.

Some popular options include online template databases, such as Canva, and software programs like PowerPoint.

You can find tons of templates on sites like Canva, Slidesgo and Google Slides, but none of them will be in line of the brand you represent. What will happen is you’ll need to spend hours adjusting these templates to fit your brand guidelines. There’s a better way. My clients have used my written template to craft a stellar pitch in half the time and designed decks that secured their investments.

Examples of Movie Pitch Decks

Don’t Go

2018 psychological thriller “Don’t Go” received funding only a few weeks following the creation of its feature pitch. To aid in obtaining finance for the project, the director and producer recruited a graphic designer to create this pitch deck. The designer discusses creating the pitch deck and some of the ideas that went into it in the mentioned link. This deck features excellent cinematic images that give you an accurate feel of the movie. It serves as a good illustration of the kinds of details pitch decks frequently include.

Adventure Time

This pitch deck does a fantastic job of describing the show’s visual environment and its essential components. It gives us a glimpse into the characters, explains the plot of the show, and is just beautiful to look at! Since the show is animated, it seems sensible that the pitch deck is visually heavy. Live-action pitches should completely engulf the reader in a visual experience. Pitch decks should not have a lot of text. Let the graphics take the lead in a pitch deck!

Conclusion

It’s time to get to work now!

Here are some tips for using the deck to find investors and make your movie a reality:

1. Use the templates. It’s a simple way to make sure you have all the information you need to convince potential investors that your movie will be a success.

2. Use the examples. They will give you ideas on how to present an idea in an engaging way that will show off what makes your movie unique and worthwhile.

More Resources For You

If you’re specifically looking to create a startup pitch deck, check my cornerstone guide on pitch decks that helped my clients win more than 4,000,000$ in funding:

Startup Pitch Deck Guide: How To Create A Pitch Deck For Investors (Template Incl)

You’ll learn how to create an investor pitch deck by following my bulletproof step-by-step guide that helped my clients get $4+mill in funding. It includes information on:

• Building each slide (including elevator pitch slide, financials slide, and more)
• Best startup pitch deck examples
• What investors want to hear
• What a pitch deck is
• What a pitch deck isn’t
• Best practices when creating a pitch presentation