As the largest gathering of Christian communicators, the NRB International Christian Media Convention is the place to form partnerships within the world of faith-based media that benefit your organization long into the future. What if you’re a TV program director or content distributor who wants to streamline the process and find new content immediately? Consider coming out to the NRB TV Showcase, where you can preview production-ready content and possibly secure a deal during the very week of the Convention.
“We really need TV program directors and content distributors to come to the Showcase,” said John Ondo, who is heading up the TV Showcase. “We already have the producers and creators locked in, who are going to be showing their trailers. … But if you’re a program director, looking for content, you need to come to the Showcase.”
The 2025 NRB TV Showcase will feature the work of producers who have programming ready for immediate distribution. The event will run from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and feature over 25 program trailers created for broadcast and online distribution, including children’s content, documentaries, TV shows, and feature-length films that broadcasters can use immediately. This is an opportunity for programming executives to come meet new content creators in person.
“I find that there’s always two groups of people who come to NRB every year: producers and media,” said Ondo. “Content creators who are looking to get their shows on air, and then distributors and program directors who are looking for new content. The TV Showcase allows us to bring those two groups together and show off what’s available right now that these distributors and program directors could put on their air very soon.”
“This is one of the best lineups I’ve seen coming up,” Ondo said of the 2025 TV Showcase.
This year’s showcase also highlights exciting new developments, including a revamped format with entries from international creators and categories with programs available for both broadcast and online streaming. The showcase will also feature a podcast that has been adapted for television, showcasing the innovative approaches being taken by faith-based creators.
“We live in the wild west of broadcasting and online programming right now,” Ondo said, highlighting the unique era we’re in, where a single program can enjoy the benefits of both traditional television distribution and strategic online streaming.
“We’ve been around for over 20 years,” Ondo said. “And there are some amazing programs that are still on the air that got their start because they were at the TV Showcase.
Whether you’re a broadcaster looking for the next big thing, a program director seeking ready-to-air content, or simply someone passionate about the future of Christian media, the 2025 NRB TV Showcase is an event you won’t want to miss. Featuring innovative programming, international contributions, and a dynamic atmosphere, this showcase is the ultimate destination for finding fresh media in faith-based television and online content.
Mark your calendars for Monday, February 24, from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m., and come prepared to discover programs that will inspire, entertain, and engage audiences around the globe.
A Full Registration or Monday-Only registration is required to attend the TV Showcase. Rates to attend NRB 2025 will increase on Friday, January 24, so be sure to secure your spot now at nrbconvention.org.
Unlike the TV Showcase, which highlights programs already selected and prepared for broadcast or streaming, the Pitch-A-Thon is where creators of all kinds can present their concepts to find the right partners for distribution. A lineup of distributors will be attending the event, seeking all types of finished, ready-to-distribute products—documentaries, movies, series, talk shows, educational material and more. If you have a project you’re ready to pitch, this is your moment!
As Paul Sirmons, president of the ICVM and the 52nd Annual CROWN AWARDS pointed out, “Filmmakers almost never get the chance to sit down one-on-one for five minutes with a real distributor to present their finished film or TV show or script.” What makes the event unique is that many distributors are brought together in one room, and filmmakers sign up ahead of time with the ones they feel will fit best with their project. “To my knowledge there’s no event like this even in the secular space,” Sirmons said, who created the NRB Pitch-A-Thon 12 years ago as a member of the NRB Film Committee and has run the event ever since.
The NRB Pitch-A-Thon has a proven track record of helping participants transform their creative visions into tangible successes. Over the years, this event has facilitated numerous distribution deals for films, documentaries, short films, and screenplays.
One notable success story comes from Dave Mechem, head of acquisitions for Pinnacle Peak Pictures. A few years ago, he encountered an impressive pitch deck for an upcoming project from producer Kristen Brancaccio, who pitched him the film 47 Days with Jesus. Having attended NRB’s Pitch-A-Thon for nearly a decade, Mechem knows the power of a strong pitch.
“She did an incredible job with her pitch,” Mechem recalled. “She was just really, really buttoned up. She knew exactly what her audience was.” At the time, Brancaccio had no theatrical experience, but she had a well-defined vision and a strategic connection.
Intrigued, he expressed his interest and told Brancaccio he wanted to be the first to review it once it was completed. True to her word, she returned to the next Pitch-A-Thon with the finished film, and Mechem picked it up. The result? A three-night Fathom theatrical event, followed by a successful home entertainment release and distribution through Pure Flix streaming. “Now it’s out there in the world,” Mechem said. “That was probably one of the few that have come out of the Pitch-A-Thon that have actually not only gotten a distribution deal, but had it released theatrically.”
Though it depends on whether the pitch is a script or a finished film or show, Sirmons offered a basic idea of what makes a powerful and moving pitch. He suggests practicing to perfection, preferably with a pitch deck, spending approximately three minutes on pitching and two minutes getting feedback. Ask for their email at the end if they’re interested.
Even if you don’t strike a deal that day, “you should still walk away from each table with very valuable relationships to build your career on,” Sirmons said.
“It’s not just important enough to have a great story, a good director, and production,” Mechem said. “You’ve got to have talent or some kind of a base or hook.”
“We’re in an unprecedented, rapidly changing distribution market, and most filmmakers don’t know where to start,” Sirmons said. “The NRB Pitch-a-thon gives them an entry point, as we have distributors and producers (if you have scripts) from every level of distribution.”
The Pitch-A-Thon will welcome big companies like Kingdom Story Company, Angel Studios, Pinnacle Peak, and Pure Flix, as well as overseas and territorial ones from Mexico, Portugal, Africa, and the Far East. Whether it’s a documentary, movie, series, or educational program, the Pitch-A-Thon is a platform where creative endeavors meet their potential audiences.
Mechem is returning to hear pitches at Pitch-A-Thon this year, searching for faith-based films with strong storytelling, high entertainment value, and marketable talent. He sees the Christian film industry growing rapidly: “There’s just a steady flow of better content,” he said. “We’re in a great time, but there’s a lot of stories to tell.”
“Every year we grow,” Sirmons said. “We get new distribution companies who hear about us and want to get involved. What surprises me is we don’t have many churches that create original programs taking advantage of this. We even have some distributors seeking church educational material, kids shows and animation, but no content being pitched!”
The 12th Annual NRB 2025 Pitch-A-Thon is your chance to pitch your project directly to major distributors face-to-face! NRB is pleased to welcome representatives from:
- Angel Studios (Jared Geesey, Christina Boothe)
- Collide Distribution (Ashley Chambless)
- Exploration Films (Stephen Penn)
- Family Movie Events (Harmon Kaslov)
- Fathom Events (Kellie Barnes, Katie Sawyer)
- Global Content (Joshua Carpenter)
- GMedia Nashville (Glenn Wagner)
- Kuriakos TV [Joao (John) Carlos Dias]
- Ocean Avenue Entertainment (Chris Bueno)
- One Purpose Media/ 24Flix (Isaac Hernandez, Gladys Hernandez)
- Pinnacle Peak Pictures (Dave Mechem)
- SalemNOW- Salem Media (Rob Ellis)
- Taken TV (Barry Alsobrook, Angela Meredith)
- TCT Ministries (Judy Church, Renee Longwell, Tiffany Racey)
- Twin Engines Global/BMG Global (Steve Bulzoni, Candra Knobloch)
- Vision Video (Caleb Eckhardt, Christine Howard)
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Kingdom Story Company (Bobby Downes)
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Premise Entertainment (Dominic Carola)
- Producer / Showrunner Dean Batali (taking script pitches)
Join us Thursday, February 27 from 3:30-5:30 pm at NRB 2025! A Full or Thursday-Only Registration is required to participate in the NRB 2025 Pitch-A-Thon. Once registered for Convention, you may sign up to participate in the Pitch-A-Thon for no additional fee at this link. But spots are limited, so act quickly! Distributors will likely be added up until the week of the Convention. People who have signed up early to pitch can change their choices if they wish to choose a new company that was added.
The NRB 2025 International Christian Media Convention will take place in Grapevine, Texas, February 24–27, 2025. Register at nrbconvention.org and add the forum to your schedule at this link.
Rates to attend NRB 2025 will increase on Friday, January 24, so be sure to secure your spot now.