On Screen Manitoba

On Screen Manitoba (OSM) would like to congratulate Angela Heck whose project BUZZ...(Manitoba Mosquitos) was selected as the winner of the 2012 MTS Winnipeg On Demand $20,000 Pitch! earlier today during the ALL ACCESS: Producing in a Multiplatform World forum.

In a live pitch environment, participants had 3 minutes to pitch their project to a jury of industry professionals and a packed house at The Fairmont Winnipeg. Following each pitch the judges had five minutes to offer feedback and to ask questions. After all pitches were completed the jury deliberated and Angela Heck walked away the winner of the $20,000 licence fee with MTS Winnipeg On Demand!

"This is really overwhelming! It sounds trite but you really do dream about this. It's so exciting to be able to pitch in front of a hometown crowd and be so welcome and ultimately rewarded for your efforts. It's unbelievable!" said Heck moments after winning the giant cheque.

BUZZ…(Manitoba Mosquitos) examines the culture that surrounds the not-so-humble mosquito and asks what our lives would be like without it.

"The MTS Winnipeg On Demand Pitch competition offers a challenging forum where Manitoba filmmakers can share their story ideas. A warm congratulations to all of the contestants and thank you to MTS Winnipeg On Demand for providing the opportunity," said Nicole Matiation, Executive Director of OSM.

The judges, Maureen Levitt (Super Channel), Danielle Audette (APTN) and Kim Bell (MTS TV) said that they were impressed by all of the quality pitches and choosing the winner was a difficult decision.

"Thanks to everyone for coming out today and a special thanks to all the presenters for their hard work in preparing their pitches," said Kim Bell, who brought greetings from MTS TV and Cam Bennett at MTS Winnipeg On Demand.

"Seeing everyone today just proves to us the great number of wonderful stories that are right under our noses both here in Winnipeg and around the rest of the province."

Congratulations to the other nine finalists who also presented their pitches:

• Alf Kollinger - 100 Years of Speed and Daring
• Don Marks - Behind in the Count
• Jonathan Lê - Filipino Social
• Raymond Friesen - Indie 2 – Behind Indie Game: The Movie
• Geoff Banjavich - Jose – A Piano Impresario’s Journey
• Conrad Sweatman - Town Without Poverty
• Danielle Sturk - Kyden in 10 Movements
• Taavo Soodor - MurderPeg
• Bruce Claydon – Haunted Winnipeg

On Screen Manitoba’s Board of Directors and membership thank MTS Winnipeg On Demand for the generous prize they provided for the 2012 MTS Winnipeg On Demand $20,000 Pitch! Manitoba's screen-based media community values their support and looks forward to continued partnership.