How do you get a feature film funded in 2020? For independent writers and filmmakers, the landscape has evolved, offering fewer opportunities to produce low budget works, but there are still options, as demonstrated by indie productions like Lure and Dead Man’s Burden; determined filmmakers can bring their visions to life, but there are obstacles in their way.
Crowdfunding, as previously discussed, can help low budget filmmakers prepared to hustle and appeal directly to their audience. Genre filmmakers seem to have an easier time finding fans to get involved with their campaigns; if you’re an aspiring horror or sci-fi writer, aiming your fundraising campaign directly at existing fans can help to finance a successful campaign. If your work is more niche or less easily able to fit in genres, crowdfunding will be harder, but people may still donate money to projects with lots of potential.
In the UK, funding bodies like the BFI and the Irish Film Board have limited windows for funding projects, and often focus on projects developed by new and emerging talents. Over the last decade, many acclaimed and successful British productions have been partly or fully funded by the BFI, including Under the Skin and American Honey, while the Irish Film Board have contributed to films such as The Lobster and Sing Street. Funding is limited and competitive, but have been responsible for many great independent features across the UK and Ireland.
Self-raising funds remains an option, though this can be a huge burden on creatives. Famously, Kevin Smith funded his debut Clerks by racking up huge credit card debts, but that might not be sensible for everyone. Instead, writers and filmmakers could follow the example of Dead Man’s Burden director Jared Moshe; having amassed a number of close collaborators and producers over the years, Moshe appealed to these people for help, raising a small budget to produce his uncommercial Western. Had he cast a larger actor, Moshe may have had an easier time funding, but he was determined to produce the film on his terms, and pulled that off on a low budget.
Personally, I believe a combination of all these funding models is the best way to get a feature film produced. Funding bodies like the BFI and Film Ireland can be useful for contributing a small amount of the budget, while crowdfunding and self-raising extra money can boost budgets and ensure filmmakers have larger budgets to work with. Funding independent features in 2020 is difficult, but if filmmakers are determined and flexible to working with different investors and crowdfunding models, it’s still possible to make independent films.
–Harry Ford
Harry Ford - Comedian 