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Home  Filmmakers' Guide Money Matters
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Ten tips for getting your film funded, by media and business journalist James Curtis.
1. Specific Film Funds
More experienced filmmakers can approach Cinema Extreme, launched by the Film Council and Film Four, which commissions up to four films a year. For smaller projects, the Film Council’s Digital Shorts Scheme supports the production of approximately 120 low-budget short films per year. The UKFC’s Completion Fund offers money to directors who have started a film but can’t afford to finish. Another option is the Department for International Development, which offers a range of funds for documentary filmmakers, through the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (www.cba.org.uk).
2. Non-film funds
David Glynne, director of DFG, says there are many organisations willing to support filmmakers. “The Wellcome Trust (www.wellcome.ac.uk) have numerous schemes which can be used for documentary production. Also try NGOs which represent your specific interests. Another option is Awards For All (www.awardsforall.org) – a lottery scheme funding art, sport heritage and community activities. The Millennium Fund can be used in a similar way (www.millennium.gov.uk) For more options, look at the Directory of Grant Making Trusts (www.trustfunding.org.uk).”
3. Look abroad
It pays to spread your net outside of the UK. In Europe, the key is to form local partnerships, or to chase funding via media-funded schemes, such as Discovery Campus (www.discovery-campus.de) and EuroDoc (www.eurodoc.asso.fr). In North America, you may need citizenship to apply for funds. Again, local partners can help. Consider the Rogers Documentary Fund (www.rogers.com) and The Jewish Fund for Documentary (www.jewishculture.org). See The Association for Independent Video and Filmmakers for a large listing of North American Funds (http://www.aivf.org).
4. Go local
The nine English regions, as well as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, all have agencies supporting local filmmaking talent. For example, Screen Yorkshire gives up to £2000 support per film for up to 12 short films per year. DFG’s Andy Glynne also advises going to the local council: “Some borough councils offer small funds which can be used for documentary filmmaking, such as Tower Hamlets Film Fund and Newham Film Fund.”
5. Make a music video
“Music promos are a great opportunity for film-makers”, says Trevor Murphy, chairman of Bermuda Shorts. “It’s not unheard of for students to make films based around a music track, send it to the record company and then get some work. If you do, you’re likely to get a reasonable budget to work with.”
6. Shoot on digital
Many of the bodies offering funding for short films, such as the UK Film Council’s Digital Shorts Scheme, prefer to fund projects shot on digital rather than film. The argument goes that new directors should cut their teeth on digital – and, being cheaper, it means you don’t have to ask for so much cash.
7. Application, application, application
Make sure your application attracts serious considering by ensuring all the bases are covered. Funders won’t just look at the script, they will also want to know who will be the director, the director of photography and the actors. As with any request for money, you will need to include a thorough budget and schedule, convincing the bean-counters that you won’t blow their cash on the first day.
8. Write begging letters
Friends and family with a genuine belief in your talent may help out. Award-winning filmmaker Harry Wootliff advises: “I wrote lots of begging letters to people I knew and got some response, even if it was only £50 here and there. I made sure they felt involved in the project, keeping them updated with newsletters and making sure they got a credit as sponsors.”
9. Work the festivals
There are so many film festivals, it’s important to plan which ones to go for. To get them to accept your film, it’s essential to have a good still, and a punchy one-page synopsis. Give the most prestigious, like the Annecy International Animated Film Festival in the South of France, first-look. If they like it, they can boast about having the international premiere.
10. Get someone else to do the work for you
If you do a deal with a distributor they will take it to selected festivals around the world and try and sell it. Another good bet is to get your film into the hands of the British Council. Every year, they choose a selection of shorts which they then distribute to festivals. In both cases, make sure your contracts and rights are watertight – all the elements, such as music, must be cleared to use.
James Curtis is a freelance media and business journalist. jamespcurtis@aol.com.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 14 March 2006 )
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