On the http://filmbiz101.com resource website we posted a page that asks:

A distribution or acquisition deal can help you recoup your investment, but how do you get the financing in the first place???

We think this is a critical question for just about every documentary filmmaker. Check out our observations on the state of funding for this genre.

Here is one tidbit:

Private donors are important and you may be able to obtain their financial contributions. In order to offer a tax benefit to donors, you must either establish a non-profit organization or your project must receive Fiscal Sponsorship.

Read the full article on funding documentaries

Film Business Plann

A film business plan is most helpful for indie filmmakers who want to raise money from private investors. In financing a film, potential investors want to know that there is a strong producing team in place. They also want to feel confident that the filmmakers have a strategy for generating film revenues from a variety of distribution channels. A film business plan helps to deliver the information an investor will need to make a reasoned judgement.

Private investors are just one source of film funding. A successful independent film producer will need to explore several options to raise the negative cost (film production budget) for a project. Before you can put your film into preproduction, producers will need to be as creative about the film’s funding as they are about developing the script.

The approach taken by Sharp Angle in creating a Film Business Plan is based upon more than a decade of film distribution, film financing, and film marketing experience. The foundation of the plan is the distribution analysis, and it gives filmmakers a realistic snapshot of their film’s profit potential. More information is available on the Sharp Angle website or at www.filmbusinessplan.com.