Recipients of AACTA Pitch: BITE in Partnership with Monster Pictures Announced

AACTA and Monster Pictures are thrilled to announce the recipients of the $10,000 development funds and distribution deal for AACTA Pitch: Bite

AACTA today announced the recipient of AACTA Pitch: Bite in Partnership with Monster Pictures; Australia’s ultimate horror and genre film development initiative focusing on original horror or elevated genre feature film concepts. Following the final pitching competition at AACTA ScreenFest, Josh and Laura Sambono have been announced as the recipients of $10,000 in development funds and an exclusive distribution deal with Monster Pictures.

Eight finalists pitched their project to a panel of judges comprised of established horror filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers such as Kathy Charles (CASTLE FREAK, JAKOB’S WIFE), Chris Brown (DAYBREAKERS, BAIT, THE RAILWAY MAN) and co-founder of Monster Pictures, Grant Hardie.

Josh and Laura Sambono’s winning concept Drop Bears demonstrated clear planning around financing, marketing, and audience development, and a highly original premise centred around “a bullied Indigenous teenager and an international marsupial expert must protect a baby koala from a hoard of vicious Drop Bears. Humans set their world on fire... now they want revenge!”

Awards and Industry Development Manager, Ivan Vukusic said “Drop Bears is a unique and fun concept that has great appeal and we're really happy to be working with Monster to help bring it to our screens. Finally, Australia's infamous drop bears will be brought to life! It's been great witnessing Josh and Laura hone their pitching and development skills over the course of the two years we've been collaborating with Monster Pictures, and it speaks to the meaningful education and training on offer by the initiative. We're really proud of this result"

Josh and Laura Sambono said of their experience:

“We feel especially honoured to have been a finalist in AACTA Pitch in partnership with Monster Pictures 2 years in a row. Going through the initiative (twice) has fundamentally changed the way we approach a new project now. By going through the process of creating a pitch deck, sizzle reel, marketing documents and planning marketing content has helped us to better formulate a story idea into a product that fits into the market place. It was amazing to have access to Grant Hardie and Alfie Lagos. They provided invaluable resources and support that gave us a new perspective on our project regarding distribution and marketing. Overall, this initiative ROCKS!”

To hear the top eight AACTA Pitch: Bite finalists and to watch the final, sign up for your free ScreenFest account here and watch on AACTA TV.