For faith-based filmmakers, producers, and content creators, the NRB 2026 Convention offers unparalleled opportunities to secure distribution and broadcast deals. Two premier events, the annual TV Showcase and the Pitch-A-Thon, serve as the primary gateways for these professional connections.
NRB TV Showcase: A Spotlight for Ready-to-Air Content
The NRB TV Showcase brings together programming executives and content creators to preview more than 25 program trailers created for broadcast and digital platforms. From feature films and documentaries to series and educational programming, producers will showcase broadcast-ready projects for 2026, connecting broadcasters directly with content ready to air.
“This is an exciting moment in digital media, where great content and the Gospel converge,” said John Ondo, who leads the annual NRB TV Showcase. “With a powerful mix of new voices and veteran producers across broadcast, feature, and short-form work, this year’s Showcase represents one of the strongest collections I’ve seen.”
For independent producer and director Suzanne Finnell, stepping into this space was a new, and unexpectedly productive experience.
“I had always worked in secular television and media,” she shared, but when she partnered with “Twin Factor,” an outdoor hunting and ministry show featuring brothers Chad and James Hampton, she quickly realized the potential of the NRB Convention to open doors.
“NRB was a little bit overwhelming to start,” she admitted. But the opportunity to participate in the TV Showcase stood out. “I got us signed up for the Showcase right away and really had no idea what to expect with any of it, but I can truly say the Showcase is what spotlighted the show. …It was definitely the most important thing that we did at NRB to become known and to become recognized.”
From the moment their sizzle reel played, the momentum began. “We had people approach us right after it ended. They didn’t even wait till the Showcase was finished.” By the end of the event, “Twin Factor” secured deals with five networks, all directly from NRB: “That’s where they saw us.”
Reflecting on the experience, Finnell noted, “We stayed the whole time…and it just created more connections. It was the Showcase that opened all the doors for us.”
“Each year, featured programs thank us for connecting them with influential broadcasters and distributors,” Ondo said. “No other place does that like the NRB Showcase.”
If you are a program director, distributor, or represent an online platform, the TV Showcase at the NRB 2026 Convention is the place to be. With a strong lineup of projects and dedicated time to connect with the creators behind them, the Showcase is designed for meaningful industry engagement.
This year, the event will run an additional hour, extending networking time after the trailers and awards to give producers, distributors, and programming executives ample opportunity to connect.
The NRB 2026 TV Showcase will take place Tuesday, February 17, 1:00–4:00 p.m. in Davidson B Ballroom. Attendees will need a Full Registration or a Tuesday Only Registration type to be admitted. You must have your badge to access this event. Expo Only Registration types will not be admitted.
NRB Pitch-A-Thon: The Gateway to Distribution
Each year, the NRB Pitch-A-Thon connects creators with a room full of distributors ready to hear new pitches. Ministries, churches, nonprofits, and media companies with projects in development as well as with broadcast-ready works are invited to pitch directly to leading distributors in face-to-face meetings.
Distributors are actively seeking documentaries, films, series, talk shows, and educational programming. For creators with a project to pitch, the event offers direct access to these decision-makers.
The opportunity resonates with industry veterans like Bill Curtis, who has spent more than three decades in Christian media as president of Redeem TV and Vision Video under the Christian History Institute. He has witnessed over decades the transition from “16mm film, to VHS, to DVD, and now digital.”
At NRB’s Pitch-A-Thon, Curtis has sat behind the table, listening to back-to-back 5-minute pitches from faith-based filmmakers hoping to get their projects picked up for distribution.
Amidst the fast-paced setting, Pitch-A-Thon creates real opportunities for filmmakers: “Every year we find one or two projects that we’re significantly interested in,” he said. “We end up partnering with the producer to help them distribute it.”
What makes a pitch successful? Curtis shared his advice:
- Keep it short. “Most people come in and this is their baby. …They want to tell us everything about it, which is virtually impossible in 5 minutes.” Instead, he recommends using the first 2 minutes to give a quick overview, then stop and let the distributor ask questions.
- Bring something physical. Curtis finds it key when creators leave behind a business card, one-sheet, flyer, or postcard with their name, phone number, and email address.
- Follow up. “We’ll certainly follow up with the ones we’re keenly interested in. But there’s some that…may not be at the top of the list. …If someone calls and follows up, that can help nudge things forward.”
- Relax. “They tend to be nervous. They feel pressure …so they talk really fast. They almost need to talk slower because it takes my brain more time to comprehend it with all the noise in the background.”
At its core, the Pitch-A-Thon is about making the right connections, an opportunity to open doors, spark conversations, and set the stage for future collaboration.
The NRB 2026 Pitch-A-Thon will take place Friday, February 20, 3:30–5:30 p.m. in Davidson AE Ballroom. A Full Registration or Friday Only Registration is required to participate in the NRB 2026 Pitch-A-Thon.
Once registered for the NRB Convention, you may sign up to participate in the Pitch-A-Thon for no additional fee. Click here to sign up.
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