What Drives Us
Our Focus
We aim to support women, non-binary and people of color working in the film industry in and around the San Fransisco Bay Area.
We can help take your film from story to screen or simply provide production support.Whatever the engagement, professional, dependable and first-class production services is our hallmark.
Core Features
What We Do
Film Development
Our team is here support filmmakers as they develop their ideas into feature films, series, shorts.
Film Production
Big or small budgets, we'll always find the right personnel and cinematic tactics to bring your story to life.
Distribution
We work with film festivals, local broadcasters, streaming channels worldwide to discover and license our work.
Collaborating with Our Team
Opportunities
At present, we are dedicated to assisting in film productions where we can provide the following expertise:
Creative Vision
We help bring life to your ideas, ensuring a captivating cinematic experience.
High-Quality Production
We excel in capturing breathtaking visuals and pristine audio.
Empowering Underrepresented Voices
We actively want to support films that showcase the stories of women and marginalized communities.
Our primary focus lies in science fiction films that delve into the narratives of women and underrepresented individuals.
If you believe your project aligns with our objectives, we invite you to submit a comprehensive treatment, accompanied by a compelling pitch and a well-considered estimated budget. Together, let's create something extraordinary.
Where to Start
Resources
We’re primarily interested in films that have a fiscal sponsorship. Here is a list of great organizations focused on supporting filmmakers.
Fiscal sponsorship is designed for filmmakers who are actively fundraising for their film and need 501(c)(3) non-profit tax-exempt status. Non-profit tax-exempt status makes your film eligible to receive charitable deductible contributions from individuals—a major incentive for individuals considering making a donation to your project.
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As a fiscal sponsor, Women Make Movies acts as a non-profit tax-exempt umbrella organization that accepts and administers contributions made to your project. WMM is legally responsible for the funds received on behalf of fiscally sponsored projects and must ensure that the funds are used for charitable activities, as agreed upon between the donor and recipient, and that the donor reporting requirements are met in a timely fashion.
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The mission of From the Heart Productions Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is to help indie filmmakers get film funding. We also help creative artists, musicians, authors and more. Fiscal Sponsorship with From the Heart Productions is available to documentaries, short films, feature films, and series.
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TFC’s Fiscal Sponsorship program provides financial services, competitive administrative fees, and the dependability of working with an established filmmaker support organization. TFC uses Fiscal Sponsorship Model C: Pre-Approved Grant Relationship in accordance with the guidelines provided by the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors. In the Pre-Approved Grant Relationship fiscal sponsorship model, the fiscally sponsored project does not become a program belonging to the sponsor but is a separate entity responsible for managing its own tax reporting and liability issues. TFC does not take ownership of any part of the results of the project’s work. As fiscal sponsor, TFC assures that the project will use the grant funds received to accomplish the ends described in the proposal. This is the model of fiscal sponsorship primarily utilized in the arts.
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IDA's fiscal sponsorship program has been helping independent documentary projects of all types get funded, finished, and seen. Their fiscal sponsorship program is open to independent filmmakers and documentarians, regardless of education, background, or previous credits. Whether this is your first project, or you've been making documentaries as long as we've been sponsoring them, if you have an idea and a plan, we can help.
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New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) accepts tax-deductible contributions for nonprofit film and video projects produced by NYWIFT members. The primary requirement from projects sponsored through NYWIFT’s fiscal sponsorship program is that they must have a creative, an educational or a charitable purpose. Fiscally sponsored projects must be noncommercial. In addition, you must be a member of NYWIFT in order to qualify.
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Film Forum accepts project that are feature length films by filmmakers who have a proven track record of successfully completing projects of similar scope. This program will not act as fiscal sponsor for student filmmakers. There is no set criteria for the style or types of films that will be accepted. We intend to be as inclusive as possible.
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The southern documentary fund offers fiscal sponsorship for documentary projects made in or about the American south.
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Cinefemme is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which helps women filmmakers realize their independent film, video, and new media projects. They serve as the Fiscal Agent and can confer our tax-exempt status to qualified projects, making donations tax-deductible and qualifying them for certain grants. Submissions accepted into the Fiscal Sponsorship Program are non-commercial projects with a woman director at the helm.
First Time Filmmaker
Advice & Resources
You want to make a movie, but you have no experience.
How can you become a successful film director?
You have a passion for storytelling and a vision for your own film. But you don't have any formal training or experience in filmmaking. How can you turn your dream into reality and become a successful film director?
Here are some tips to help you get started.
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Before you can direct a film, you need to understand the fundamentals of the craft. You should familiarize yourself with the different aspects of filmmaking, such as screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, and production. You can learn from books, online courses, podcasts, blogs, and magazines. You can also watch a lot of movies and analyze how they are made, what works and what doesn't, and what inspires you.
Here are some classes we recommend:
Sundance Collab
Join directors, screenwriters, and filmmakers from around the globe on Sundance Collab. Join free for access to exclusive film directing videos, webinars, resources and more. 100% Online. Self-paced Courses.MasterClass
MasterClass offers online classes created for people of all skill levels.ScreenCraft
A ScreenCraft guide on writing a screenplay from start to finish. Join our community of over 100,000 screenwriters and get weekly inspiration delivered to your inbox
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One of the best ways to practice your skills and showcase your talent is to film something. It can just be a scene from something or a short 3 page script. You don't need a big budget or a professional crew to do this. You can use your smartphone, a DSLR camera, or a camcorder. You can write your own script, recruit your friends or family as actors, and find locations in your neighborhood. You can edit your footage with free or low-cost software. The key is to be creative, experiment, and have fun.
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Filmmaking is a collaborative art form. You can't do it alone. You need to network and collaborate with other people who share your passion and can help you achieve your goals. You can join local film clubs, festivals, workshops, or online communities. You can also look for opportunities to work on other people's projects as a volunteer, an intern, or an assistant. You can learn from their experience, gain valuable feedback, and build your reputation.
Here are some local Bay Area film communities we recommend:
Bay Area Film Mixer
The Bay Area Film Mixer is a quarterly event with a simple goal: To create a tighter network of filmmakers in the Bay Area by mingling off set, in order to offset the attrition of talent to other locations. The Bay Area has the talent and the resources available for us to all thrive and make a living.BraveMaker
We curate and create original films and video content. We produce film events and host guided discussions with powerful, authentic storytelling to elevate brave voices and effect change. We host acting and screenwriting classes.
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The only proven path to independence as a creator is a direct connection to your audience. Crowdfunding has become a fundamental piece of most financing plans for independent film. But most filmmakers miss the opportunity to leverage the power of crowdfunding for one film into an audience-building opportunity that can last an entire career – and provide the groundwork for effective distribution.
We recommend taking the Seed&Spark crowdfunding training -
No matter how good you think your films are, there is always room for improvement. You need to seek feedback and criticism from others who can help you grow and refine your craft. You need to be open-minded, humble, and willing to learn from your mistakes. You need to challenge yourself and push your boundaries. You need to keep making films and never stop learning.