Session 1: Funding Foundations (3 hours)
- Understanding the indie film financing landscape
- The different types of investors: private equity, grants, crowdfunding, tax incentives
- Budgeting for credibility — how much should your first feature really cost?
- Building a financial strategy that matches your story and resources
- Homework: Start outlining your film’s budget & potential investor targets
Session 2: Building Your Investor Package (3 hours)
- What goes into a strong pitch deck: logline, synopsis, tone, visuals, team, comps, financials
- How to position your film for investors (creative vision + business case)
- Case studies: successful indie pitch decks and why they worked
- Workshop: Begin creating your own pitch deck with provided templates
- Homework: Finish your draft pitch deck to present next week
Session 3: Pitching & Feedback (3 hours)
- Students present their pitch decks to the class and mentor (practice investor pitch)
- Mentor gives live feedback on strengths, weak points, and how to refine
- Guidance on next steps: networking, film markets, reaching investors
- Building confidence in your pitch delivery and Q&A strategies
- Closing: Resources, templates, and ongoing support
Who Should Attend:
- Independent filmmakers ready to move beyond shorts and want to understand the financing process.
- Film school graduates or students finishing school who have strong creative skills but little knowledge of raising money.
- Writers/Directors with a script in hand and the ambition to make it happen.
- Producers in the making who want to learn the business side of film and how to talk to investors.
- Anyone with a feature project in early development (script, idea, or treatment) who needs practical tools to attract funding.
