Two Sussex graduates who completed the MA in Digital Documentary in its first year (2009) have been selected to pitch their latest film at the UK's leading international documentary festival.

To raise finance for Sandgrains, which will highlight the plight of fishing in Cape Verde, Jordie Montevecchi and Gabriel Manrique are adopting an innovative "crowd funding" method. This uses the power of the internet to invite people to contribute money and other resources.

Jordie says: "We are developing a production strategy that aims at changing the traditional ways a documentary is created and distributed."

The project has just launched with a custom-designed website. It's also been given one of just five slots at the "crowd funding pitch" at the Sheffield documentary film festival this week.

The winning film project will receive a pot of money that has been raised from Sheffield Doc/Fest's delegates and audiences.

You can see the pitches live online and take part in voting for a winner: go to www.cubanhat.tv/sandgrains from 4.15-6pm on Saturday (11 June).

Jordie says :"Sheffield Doc/Fest is one of the most important market places of the UK and having the opportunity to be live on stage will push the project a lot further.

"We are hoping to get as much support as we can through the website, but not everyone can spare a donation, so maybe you could help us win the pot that Sheffield Doc/Fest puts on the table!"