Udemy
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
    •  
Subscribe
Turn what you know into an opportunity and reach millions around the world.
Learn More
Your cart is empty.
Keep shopping
Feature Film Funding and Distribution Course
Rating: 4.3 out of 5(37 ratings)
496 students

Feature Film Funding and Distribution Course

Learn How to Fund and Distribute an Independent Feature Film
Created byZB Siwek
Last updated 3/2022
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Film Development and Funding
  • Low and High Budget Film Crowdfunding
  • Film Marketing & PR Strategies
  • Online and Offline Distribution

Course content

5 sections • 60 lectures • 14h 31m total length

  • Introduction3:26

    Explore feature film development and funding strategies, including input from distributors or sales agents, attracting cast on a budget, crafting audience pitch decks, and securing development funding and tax credits.

  • Development Slate5:04

    Develop a sustainable film business with a diversified development slate—short, medium, and long-term projects—guided by funding, market timing, and nimble budgeting.

  • Distributor Input8:58

    Indie filmmakers should seek input from a sales agent or distributor early, pairing a strong pitch deck and shooting draft to secure pre-sales and attract investors.

  • Attracting Cast6:47

    Define your budget and route to market to attract cast and reassure agents. Tailor the pitch with detailed character backstories and flexible terms, including potential backend deals.

  • Pitch Deck8:23

    Create a visual, engaging pitch deck that clearly communicates the film’s vision, executive summary, unique selling point, story, director’s vision, and key cast and crew to investors and distributors.

  • Making a Marketable Product8:00

    Define the film's genre and market fit to attract investors, distributors, and agents. Show the director's vision with strong VFX and practical effects to prove saleability.

  • Development Funding9:33

    Explore development funding for film projects, including eligibility, producer attachment, and rights mechanics, with insights into BFI schemes, development budgets, script work, research, and market-focused planning.

  • Film Investment Companies6:34

    Explore how film investment companies fund projects with partial funding, high repayments, and profit sharing, while safeguarding creative control and navigating due diligence and contracts.

  • Tax Credit5:30
  • Product Placement8:28

    Discover how to use product placement to fund a film by securing assets and sponsorship that match the script's tone. Balance on-screen visibility, contracts, and a practical release plan.

Requirements

  • General Knowledge of Filmmaking

Description

If you're looking to learn how to fund and distribute your indie feature film then this is the course for you. Whether you are looking for private investors, government funding or crowdfunding backers we will show you all the different in depth strategies to raising funds for your film. Once the film is complete whether you are looking to distribute your film in cinemas, DVD or online we will give you all the tools necessary to promote and successfully release your film!


FEATURE FILM DEVELOPMENT & FUNDING

We will discuss crucial aspects of development such as timing, the importance of working on multiple projects at once, getting distributor / agent's input, attracting cast and identifying an audience.

She will then dive into the different funding routes available including:

  • BFI development funding (approach to this sort of funding compared to private investment)

  • Private investment (what to offer investors and how to handle them.

  • Film Investment companies (the pro’s and con’s)

  • Tax credit

  • Product placement

LOW BUDGET FILM CROWDFUNDING

When we first started out as film producers we were completely lost as to where we can find funding for short films and micro budget features. We'd apply for every grant, investor scheme and screenplay competition we could find and we would never hear back. So we decided to take matters into our own hands and green light our own projects through crowdfunding.

But it's not that easy... if you've ever tried crowdfunding you know. Where do you find hundreds of backers and thousands of pounds? Who would give money to your campaign except for maybe immediate friends and family? What steps do you need to take to make the campaign A SUCCESS?

We want to show you exactly how we funded multiple films through crowdfunding, one of which was a short that raised over £30,000. We've advised and coached on countless campaigns and held many workshops, online courses and webinars but here we want to give you absolutely everything we know and have in one ultimate package.

  • This part includes the campaign preparation and strategies for growing your audience

  • We will then move on to a successful outreach strategy and how to promote the campaign itself once its live.

HIGHER BUDGET CROWDFUNDING

  • Learn how Lawrie successfully crowdfunded multiple feature films and raised over £300k on Kickstarter

  • Learn how Philip crowdfunded his documentary film on kickstarter and raised over $250k

FILM MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION

You’ve made a feature film, now how do you get it distributed, seen and profitable?

Here we will discuss how to create a buzz around your film and this topics such as:

  • Getting on set visits by media

  • Self promotion

  • Utilising BTS materials and footage

  • Making the most of any USP’s

  • Agent / distributors. Ideally you’ve already built this connection in phase 1, but if not we'll discuss how to you find someone suitable.

  • Film Festivals and how useful the festival run really is.

  • Finally we will discuss whether you can truly make money from independent films?

ONLINE FILM INDIE DISTRIBUTION

This course compiles the most successful and up to date strategies for releasing a profitable indie film online, gathered from film distributors, PR consultants, marketing experts and indie film producers.

Build Your Audience and Release your Film

Audience research: who is your target audience and where can you find them

  • How to become part of pre-existing communities and groups efficiently

  • How to build a social media following and expand your reach

  • How to get your followers engaged and excited about the release

  • How to build an email list and how useful is it

  • How to approach and build relationships with bloggers and journalists

  • The key to getting more reviews, more press and more exposure

Once you have your audience the next step is to decide where and when you should release your film. We'll discuss all the topics including:

  • How and when to work with aggregators and distribution platforms

  • Which streaming platforms should you submit your film to?

  • AVOD vs SVOD vs TVOD

  • SEO is key to getting views and sales - we'll teach you how to optimise it

  • How to optimise posters and key art - what really works?

Market and Promote Your Film

Your film is released! Now what? How can you promote it to get as many viewers or sales as possible? In this section you will learn:

  • Advanced social media marketing and promotion

  • How to self-promote within groups and communities

  • How to use journalist and blogger contacts from day 1 to maximise exposure

  • Should you work with PR agencies and which ones are best?

  • How to acquiring reviews and why are they so important?

  • Paid FB Ads - do they work and how to utilise them step by step

  • Using youtube channels and influencers to increase traffic

At the end of this course you will have all the tools and strategies to self-distribute your indie feature film online.

Who this course is for:

  • Filmmakers looking to produce one of their first feature films

Report abuse