Tips on how to raise money for film

Student and amateur filmmakers usually have difficult time raising money for their film production initiatives. Raising money for the large film projects is usually difficult enough due to the uncertainty on the returns on investments. Given the very low demand for the independently produced films, it is very difficult to bring on board the serious big money funders to help you in realizing your funding objectives. The success of a film is usually measured by sales and audiences willing to pay top dollar to watch the film on big screen.  If you are about to run a cash-strapped independent filmmaking initiative, there are several tips which you can however employ to raise money for film and adequately fund your venture.

Having the right connections still matters a lot when you want to raise money for film but lots of opportunities also exist for fundraising outside the traditional fundraising channels. One such opportunity is the internet. It is therefore important to approach your fundraising with a very open mind. One of the best ways to raise money for film and convince a large number of potential funders to invest in your initiative is to have past samples of your work as exhibit to back up your proposal. This will considerably improve your funding prospects by showcasing your credentials to the people who matter the most.

Independent filmmakers should employ multiple funding channels to meet their financial goals for their movies. There are many creative ways to raise some little money for a movie project such as organizing a garage sale, selling personal items organizing raffles and other creative little ways of fundraising. These can be carried out amongst close friends, family and colleagues and are usually very successful although the amount raised via these methods is usually very little.

One of the best ways to raise money for film projects is by applying for grants. There are many bodies which issue grants to fund films based on particular themes or simply to promote budding and amateur filmmakers and these can be excellent sources for medium budget film funding.  Grants are also provided by certain government agencies which promote the development of cultural infrastructure and exchange. With thousands of amateur filmmakers filing applications for grants on an annual basis, grants may not be the most reliable funding sources as they are ultimately issued to a very few applicants.  It is therefore important to explore additional channels such as corporate sponsorships and even soft loans. It is advisable to apply for multiple grants so as to increase your chances of success in scoring a grant award.

Another fast growing channel which many budding filmmakers are using is that of crowdfunding. The proliferation of crowdfunding websites in the recent years has opened more opportunities for independent filmmakers to raise consider capital to fund their filmmaking. The most popular of these sites are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.com which support a great number of creative fundraising projects. Ultimately, independent filmmakers should consider exploring as many funding channels as possible so as to maximize on their fundraising efforts.