Film

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Giving for nonprofit film production, distribution and screening is increasingly embraced by donors, including funders with interests beyond the arts. Film, including documentaries, can be a powerful vehicle for education and social change. While the flourishing of streaming services would seem good news for independent filmmakers, corporate decision-makers remain risk averse and favor narrow and safe choices. This means there is a lot of room for philanthropy to support films by independent and emerging artists, documentaries and other exciting film projects that might not get a green light from studios seeking a sure commercial success. This guide offers advice about how donors can make a difference in this area. It highlights the leading philanthropic strategies and offers guidance for donors new to this space to get started with their giving.  

Strategies for Impact

Nonprofits are engaged in a range of efforts to support filmmakers, production companies, film festivals and film education. All this work is important and could benefit from greater donor investment. Below, we discuss areas where donors might focus their funding and spotlight organizations that represent the kind of nonprofits that donors might consider supporting.  

  • Support women, BIPOC, and first-time filmmakers. There is a rich ecosystem of film nonprofits that support independent and emerging filmmakers, and many of them back filmmakers from diverse backgrounds and historically underrepresented communities. Women Make Movies offers women filmmakers fiscal sponsorship, mentoring, networking and film distribution opportunities. Firelight Media supports the production of nonfiction cinema by and about communities of color. The Southern Documentary Fund partners with veteran, emerging and first-time documentary producers telling stories and addressing critical issues across the U.S. South. Chicken & Egg Pictures supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose work catalyzes social change. 

  • Fund film festivals and film societies. Individual donors can support film festivals and film societies whose mission is to foster an appreciation for the cinematic arts and who provide screening opportunities for films by independent and emerging artists. The Sundance Institute is one of the most well known. But there are many other film festivals and educational organizations out there, of all sizes and areas of focus. Some examples include the Reel Abilities Film Festival, dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities; Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project in San Francisco; the LGBTQIA+ film festival Outfest; and the American Indian Film Institute, which runs an annual festival. The American Film Institute is a nonprofit that preserves archives of film history, produces festivals, presents workshops, and has a graduate-level film school. 

  • Back film education. There are community arts centers and other nonprofits that provide opportunities to learn filmmaking outside of traditional film schools. Ghetto Film School, based in Los Angeles, New York and London, seeks to educate and support the next generation of cinematic storytellers through programs for high school students and early career support of alumni. Venice Arts offers film education to low-income youth in Los Angeles. 

  • Collaborate with other funders to support independent documentaries. Funding filmmaking is an expensive and often risky endeavor. Some documentary-focused nonprofits have created investment pools as a way to share the risk. Chicago Media Project has pooled resources to support more than 150 films to date, many of them by and about women and nonbinary folks and filmmakers of color. Impact Partners in Los Angeles connects investors with filmmakers to support independent documentaries. Doc Society, based in New York and London, also pools investments to support documentary films.

Insights and Advice 

In considering which impact strategies to support, donors should take into account their personal interests and outlook to find the best fit. They should also keep an eye out for emerging opportunities to give with maximum impact for film. Here, we offer a few insights and suggestions:

  • Don’t go it alone. Intermediaries and philanthropy-serving organizations can do a huge amount of the leg work of identifying opportunities in the field, and getting involved with one of these groups is a great way for donors to save time and give more effectively. Relevant groups include Media Impact Funders and Grantmakers in the Arts. Some of the organizations mentioned above, such as Women Make Movies and Firelight Media, function as regrantors, moving donors’ funds to support individual filmmakers. 

  • Center diversity, equity and inclusion in film. Funding community-based organizations is a way for donors to move resources to film artists from communities that have historically been underrepresented in filmmaking. In addition to many of the groups mentioned above, nonprofits to look into include the Black TV & Film Collective, Center for Asian American Media,  Latino Public Broadcasting, Frameline, which promotes queer cinema, and 1in4, an intersectional coalition of disabled creatives working in Hollywood. 

  • Focus on funding gaps. There are holes in film funding that can be filled by philanthropic contributions. For example, there is a need for more resources at the early research and development phase. Catapult Film Fund in San Francisco prioritizes this kind of early-stage funding to nonfiction filmmakers. 

  • Invest in people, not just projects. Few independent filmmakers can make a living at their craft, and many early films are partially self-funded labors of love. Donors can support artists who may go on to make many films by supporting fellowships, residencies, workshops and the like. This is often done by giving to nonprofits that regrant funds to individual filmmakers; many of these organizations also offer networking and mentorship opportunities. Film Independent, which hosts the Spirit Awards, also offers workshops, education, grants and fellowships for filmmakers. BAVC Media is a community hub and resource for media makers in the San Francisco Bay Area that provides access to media technology, storytelling workshops and other resources. The Inevitable Foundation gives fellowships to disabled screenwriters. 

For Donors Getting Started

Donors who are new to this space should take the time to learn about the landscape. A good place to start is by reading IP’s State of American Philanthropy report on Giving for Film. In addition, peruse recent articles that IP has published about current events in this area of philanthropy. Another resource for donors who want to deepen their understanding of this area is Grantmakers in the Arts’ Black Arts & Culture Funding and Justice Resource Hub. 

To find local nonprofit organizations working in the film space that are well-respected, Charity Navigator is a reputable place to search for worthy organizations around the country.

But the best way to get started giving for film is to make some initial gifts, get to know the work of the groups you’re supporting, and connect early with a funding intermediary that can help you learn more about this giving area and increase your giving in a thoughtful way.

Have suggestions for improving this brief? Please email us at editor@insidephilanthropy.com.