Demystifying financing in film

The ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund and Reclaim The Frame have teamed up to offer a free webinar for early career filmmakers, onwards, to gain knowledge about financing and fundraising for feature films, and about how to secure the rights and paperwork you need ready for financing. With a view to be inclusive to all, including those who might feel marginalised within the industry, both sessions will take place online and include the chance to ask the speakers questions without judgement. 

In Demystifying financing in film, we’ll hear from funders and commissioners about the opportunities they offer, and what they look for in projects, pitch decks and funding applications. Together we will explore different routes to finance and what is needed to close financing. 

This is Session 1 out of 2 for this Webinar. Please see the bookings page for Demystifying legals in film here. You will to book each session separately.  

Who it's for

This webinar is being produced by UK film charity Reclaim The Frame whose mission is to champion marginalised gender filmmakers and build community for them, and ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the screen industries – film, television (including children's, unscripted and high-end), VFX (visual effects), animation and games.

Both sessions are free and open to all and will be live captioned and BSL interpreted.  

What it covers

Session 1 (11:00 - 13:00): Demystifying financing in film

11:00 - 11:10

Welcomes and intros from Melanie Iredale, Director of Reclaim The Frame, and Emma Turner, ScreenSkills' Head of Film, Animation and Future Skills.

11:10 - 12:30 Panel:

In Demystifying financing in film, we’ll hear from funders and commissioners about the opportunities they offer, and what they look for in projects, pitch decks and funding applications. Together we will explore different routes to finance and what is needed to close financing. 

Speakers will include:

• Mia Bays, Director, Filmmaking Fund at BFI 
• Amy O’Hara, Development & Production Executive at Film4 
• Claudia Yusef, Head of Development at BBC Films
• Erica Motley, Creative Partner at Impact X
• Sophie Green, Head of Acquisitions & Development at Bankside Films 
• Tolu Stedford, producer (moderator) 

Topics covered will include: 

• What funders/commissioners/financiers are looking for
• Different types/sources of funding: Commissions, public funding / grants and private investment / equity and debt financing
• Funding/support at each stage: development, production, post-deals
• When/where to look for pre/sales
• How tax credits work
• What’s needed to close financing 

12:30 - 13:00 Q&A 

How to apply

Please click 'Get ticket' to book a place on this webinar. You will need to be logged into your ScreenSkills account to do this. 

Contact information

Email: FilmCPDteam@screenskills.com