Experienced and emerging film makers will have the chance to win $10,000 this week at the Rotorua Indigenous Film Festival.

Pitch-Slap is sponsored by the New Zealand Film Commission and Maori Language funding body Te Mangai Paho, the prize money will be awarded to the best film idea or ideas pitched on the last day of the festival.

Pitch-Slap entrants will have just three minutes to sell their film idea to a panel of industry executives. To be eligible for the prize money, entrants must first attend the Nga Aho Whajaari – How to Pitch your film workshop presented by Steve Barr, which will be held on Friday September 27.

'We are a film makers festival so we want to support new film makers to start creating and sharing their unique stories that inspire and lead to a greater understanding of indigenous people and culture,” says festival director Piripi Curtis.

Last years pitch competition winners Te Mauri Kingi, Bridgette Tapsell and Maruia Jensen are currently in development of their film ideas.

The RIFF Pitch-Slap will take place on Saturday September 28 at 3.30pm at Destiny Theatre, Rotorua.