You finally have the perfect film idea, the one that’s going to launch you out of obscurity and into the twinkling lights of Hollywood. Or, at the very least, help you gain entry into a few dozen film festivals. Now all you have to do is make it. 

And there’s where the first roadblock pops out of the ground like a booby trap in Temple Run. No matter how you decide to shoot your film, you’re going to need some cash to make it happen. 

This is just as real for blockbuster directors as it is for student filmmakers. Film financing is one of the most challenging steps in filmmaking and is a process full of many roadblocks and pitfalls. 

You can listen to how others have approached this, and also keep reading. We’ve compiled some of the most common ways that filmmakers find and secure financing for their projects so they can get their ideas onto the big or small screen and showcase their talent to the world. 

Ten ways to get financing for your film

#1: Crowdfunding

For indie filmmakers, this is usually the first place they turn when they need to raise capital for a new film, through platforms such as Kickstarter. It allows you to pitch your idea straight to the people you know and love, as well as a wider audience, to gain the support you need through many smaller donations. 

Some notable films that were crowdfunded include:

• The “Veronica Mars” movie
• Super Troopers 2
• Wish I Was Here
• Lazer Team

All of these films were able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars (in some cases, even millions of dollars) to fund the film's creation. 

Now, with these projects, most benefited from an already loyal cult following of either the source material or directors, which gave them a significant boost in their success. But that doesn’t mean smaller projects don’t have a shot. It’s just that the road is slightly more uphill. 

Type of film this is best for: Independent feature films (especially with smaller budgets), documentaries, and shorts.

Pros: 

• Available to everyone
• Allows you to give custom incentives and gifts to your supporters
• It only requires you to create a single “pitch” to reach a wide audience

Cons:

• Raising large sums can be difficult without a pre-existing large online following
• Most crowdfunding platforms take a cut of your box office earnings
• If you decide to offer physical gifts to encourage support, it can raise your overall costs

#2: Artistic grants

Another great way to raise money for independent films is to apply for artistic grants through government programs and nonprofits. This is especially useful for films that include or are directed by underrepresented minorities (LGBTQ+, women-led, POC’s, and Indigenous peoples, as a few examples). 

Some notable films that were funded by grants include:

• The Queen of Versailles (Funded by the Sundance Institute documentary fund)
• Beasts of the Southern Wild (Funded by Independent Filmmaker Project)
• Short Term 12 (Funded by Independent Filmmaker Project)

Type of film this is best for: Independent feature films (notably featuring timely stories or underrepresented people), documentaries, and short films.

Pros: 

• A single grant can fund a significant portion (if not all) of your filming costs
• Becoming a grant recipient allows you more avenues to promote your film (many grants include promotion of the grant recipients)
• Grants do not have to be paid back at the end of filming

Cons:

• To receive a grant, you must be able to write a compelling grant proposal
• You need to do a lot of research to find grants that your film may qualify for
• Even if you pitch to multiple grants, there’s no guarantee you will receive one

#3: Private investors

This is one of the most elusive routes to getting your film financed, but it’s also one of the most lucrative. Private financiers will help you fund your film, usually in exchange for a cut of future profits (though this is not always the case). 

Finding private equity investors can be incredibly challenging, and you need to be able to assemble a compelling pitch deck for your film that not only presents your film as a high-quality piece of entertainment but also as a sound business investment

This is the type of film this is best for: Independent feature films with a high chance of drawing large audiences.

Pros: 

• Investors can help you fund films with larger budgets 
• Working with an investor sometimes allows you to negotiate for more money if costs rise
• Investors can not only help with the costs of making a film but also the costs of distributing it and making media contacts

Cons:

• If you are a relatively unknown filmmaker, getting investor backing can be a huge challenge
• Many investors will want a say in the creative and business decisions during the process of making the film
• Most investors will take a cut of any profits you make on the film

#4: Studio contracts

Ah, the holy grail of filmmaking, the studio contract. These elusive beasts will fund your film with the backing of a major studio budget. Securing a studio contract is a near million-to-one chance. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t try. 

If you can make contacts in the writing and producing community, you may be able to pitch your idea or script to a studio, which may decide to buy the idea or script from you. 

Type of film this is best for: Feature films and documentaries.

Pros: 

• Your film gets made and distributed to theaters and/or streaming services by a major studio 

Cons:

• You often “sell” your film to the studio and relinquish creative control
• Studios may buy you out of your idea instead of giving you a share of the profits
• A studio may buy the rights to your film and then decide never to make it