GREENLIGHT! — 10 Minutes With Mark Swinton
One Pitch. Ten Minutes. Real Feedback. Real Impact.
GREENLIGHT! — 10 Minutes With Mark Swinton is a highly interactive PVIFF experience created around the unique perspective of accomplished writer, producer, and director Mark E. Swinton.
Three selected emerging filmmakers, writers, and content creators will each receive approximately 10 minutes to pitch a film or television project directly to Mark and receive real-time feedback.
The session gives both the selected creators and the audience an opportunity to experience the creative development process in real time—seeing what makes a project stronger, what may need to be reworked, and what could move an idea closer to the next opportunity.
The Three Lenses
Each project will be evaluated through three distinct lenses drawn from Mark Swinton's experience as a writer, director, and producer.
Will It Get the GREENLIGHT?
At the conclusion of each conversation, Mark will give the project one of three calls: GREENLIGHT, REWRITE, or PASS—along with insight into why he reached that conclusion and what the creator can do to strengthen the project.
More Than a Pitch Session
The purpose is not simply to judge the pitches. It is to allow the audience to witness the creative development process in real time and learn from Mark Swinton's experience.
Creators and attendees will hear how story, screen execution, marketability, audience, and production realities can affect whether a project is ready to move forward—or needs another round of development.
Also Featuring: PVIFF Spotlight — What’s Next With Mark Swinton
The event also features an exclusive trailer screening of Mark Swinton’s new series followed by a Q&A about the vision, development, and journey behind the project.
About Mark E. Swinton
Mark E. Swinton is an accomplished writer, producer, and director whose career spans television, film, and theater. A longtime creative executive at Tyler Perry Studios, Swinton has helped bring numerous hit television series to life, including Sistas, The Oval, Ruthless, House of Payne, and All the Queen’s Men.
His film producing credits include Acrimony, Nobody’s Fool, A Fall from Grace, and A Madea Homecoming. Throughout his career, Swinton has written and directed hundreds of television episodes and produced more than a thousand episodes across major networks, establishing himself as a respected creative force and storyteller in the entertainment industry.
LEARN. PITCH. GET INSPIRED.
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Courtland Grand Hotel | 165 Courtland Street NE | Atlanta, GA 30303