Since I started this page, I've heard the following story several times:

1. A filmmaker goes to a company that claims it will get them money.
2. The company tells them how great their project is, how much they can do for them, and then.. the company asks the filmmaker for money. 10, 15 thousand dollars. For 'escrow', or 'proof of good faith', or who knows what other pretext..
3. The filmmaker GIVES IT TO THEM.
4. The company suddenly becomes very hard to reach.
5. The filmmaker never gets any money. And loses what they pay up front.

Obviously, this kind of story makes me ill. For those who don't know, one of the oldest scams in the world is to offer someone a GREAT DEAL of money in return for.. less (but still a lot.)

• A company that's supposed to obtain funding should be able to wait to get their fee out of money they actually get you.
• Any serious company should be able to provide references of films they've actually financed and you should be able to contact some of the people involved with those films.
• Any serious company should have some kind of reputation you can check (on the Web or through other filmmakers).

Certainly, one big danger sign is if they ask you NOT to send the payment by U.S. Mail. That (in case you're wondering) is to avoid being prosecuted for mail fraud, even if their dishonesty is proven otherwise.

OTHER WARNINGS: Late contracts, coproduction clauses

It's scary how many ways there are to take advantage of filmmakers and their hopes.

Another danger to watch for is being given a contract LATE, so that undesirable clauses may be overlooked. If you get right up to filming and a company hasn't given you a contract in regard to financing, be VERY careful (my own response would be to write it off and move on). One filmmaker has reported being asked to sign a joint venture or coproduction agreement (ie, 50% interest in her film) in return for in-kind financing that was WAY below what the company had advertised. She didn't, but they're trying to sue her anyway.

As always be VERY careful what you sign. Or accept WITHOUT a contract - a company may claim that accepting some minimal recompense is equivalent to accepting their agreement. Even if it's not, the resultant hassle could be a big drain.

NOTE: Dangers exist on all sides here - one being hustlers of various ilks, but also the risk of inadvertantly breaking SECURITY LAWS! Be cautious overall and consult a lawyer before seriously involving investors.

http://www.investrum.com/index2.htm - Investrum Ltd "specialises in sourcing appropriate finance for independent feature films. If you are a Film Producer, or have been appointed as an Executive Producer in respect of a film for which you require finance, you may be eligible to complete our Project Information Form ("PIF") and submit it to us for consideration. "

City of Austin Funding - "The City of Austin has programs to help individuals and non-profits with arts and cultural projects and activities through the Cultural Arts Fund. These programs have provided millions of dollars in funding to individuals and nonprofits, including those involved in film and visual media." A bit confusing (the links circle back), and a little general.

The Film Arts Foundation - "Funds film and video artists living in the 10 Bay Area counties (S.F., Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz). " ... "The goal of the Film Arts Foundation Grants Program is to encourage new and diverse works by film and video artists who have little likelihood of being supported through traditional funding sources."
They list Sponsored Projects

Film New Mexico - Funding/Grant Information for Filmmaking includes several specialized resources

The IMDb

Don't forget the IMDb!: this search will list finance companies and clicking on each company's name will give you an idea of what they've actually financed. Some of these companies may be gone, many will be overloaded with applicants and - MOST IMPORTANTLY - just because they're listed here is no guarantee of integrity, etc. Still do your due diligence elsewhere. But if you're looking for a quick list of companies that have financed work that actually got made, and which films they participated in, I can't imagine a quicker way to check.

Getting the Word Out

Software

Foreign markets/opportunities

Sites by country or region

CANADA

IFCTV Canada -Filmmaker Resources: Funding

Fund My Film - "Here at FundMyFilm.ca, we are dedicated to bringing you the largest resource of Canadian Film Funding Resources and Canadian Tax Credits." The page is certainly extensive and probably a good place to start for Canadian filmmakers.

Women in Film and Video Vancouver Funding Resource List - Another extensive list of Canadian resources.

Studiostar FILM FINANCE & FINANCING, MOVIE FUNDS & FUNDING - Something of a hodgepodge of information (co-production agreements, etc.), advice, actual funding, etc.

Victoria Filming - Making FIlming Affordable - A short list of links, with some very good advice on proceeding (scroll towards the end).

Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation - A highly detailed (and highly structure) page listing various programs and requirements, etc.

EUROPE

European Funding - This is a list of links for all of Europe and some European countries.

Eurimages - "So far, Eurimages has supported the co-production of around a thousand full-length feature films and documentaries. Two schemes have recently been set up: one for films with real circulation potential and one for films reflecting the cultural diversity of European cinema."

EDN (European Documentary Network) - Membership organisation - "EDN is a meeting point for professionals working with documentary film and television. EDN supports, stimulates and creates networks within the documentary sector in Europe. One major focus is to inform members about possibilities for financing, development, co-production and collaboration across borders."

http://www.eurocult.org/we-support-cultural-cooperation/ - European Cultural Foundation: "The ECF is uniquely placed when it comes to stimulating opportunities and offering support to cultural organisations, networks, and individual artists. We believe that in an enlarged European Union there is an imperative to encourage and support innovative projects and in particular those which involve cultural collaboration across geographical and cultural borders."

http://www.eurocult.org/we-support-cultural-cooperation/balkan-incentive-fund-for-culture/ - ECF information on Balkan Fund: "The European Cultural Foundation (ECF), Hivos (the Dutch Humanist institute for cooperation with developing countries) and the Open Society Institute (OSI) have launched a new fund for cultural cooperation projects in and with South East Europe.
The Balkan Incentive Fund for Culture is specifically aimed at cultural projects by applicants from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo."

http://korda.obs.coe.int/web/search_aide.php - KORDA, database on public funding for the film and audiovisual sector in Europe. "National and regional support schemes for the development, production and distribution of films and audiovisual works in the European Audiovisual Observatory's 35 member states".

AUSTRIA

GERMANY

German Federal Film Board - "The FFA's mandate includes enforcing measures to promote German cinema and to improve the structure of the German film industry, to support the national economic affairs of the film industry in Germany, to improve the foundations for the distribution and market-driven exploitation of the German cinema at home and its economic and cultural distribution abroad as well to work towards an alignment and coordination of the film support measures by the Federal Government and regional states." The page lists a number of specific funding schemes. This organization also handles the German-French Funding Agreement.

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg - "Since 1994 more than 1400 film projects have obtained € 171 million in grants. Last year Medienboard's MEDIA Antenne Berlin-Brandenburg raised an additional € 7 million from EU aid sources for filmmaking in Berlin-Brandenburg and adjacent states. The economic benefit of film promotion for the region is huge - and it can be expressed in figures. Each production that is shot in Berlin and/or Brandenburg entails investments, creates jobs and sustains employment. For every euro spent on aid to moviemakers, an average of just under three euros is injected into the local economy." They have backed at least one Russian feature as well.

Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations - List of links (for German filmmakers?): "On this page you will find out who organises the pre-selection procedures for international film festivals, who supports film events abroad with German participation, and where films are available for showing abroad."

vip - This German group is involved with a number of projects. It is not clear if it is limited to German filmmakers or not.

GREECE

Greek Film Centre - " For the support of Greek production, which constitutes its basic goal, the Greek Film Centre created seven funding programs that cover every type of film."

ITALY

This article in Italian gives an overview of some film funding bodies: Il settore audiovisivo è una risorsa fondamentale per l’Europa

SPAIN

Barcelona/Catalunya Film Commission - Nothing on the site about financing, but news items mention grants from this commission (also, from 2006, "Catalunya establishes new $7.6m co-production fund - Three partners in fund say they will co-produce features with commercial potential and budgets upwards of $3.2m.")

SWITZERLAND

SWISS FILMS: Overview Film Links - This list of film links for Switzerland includes two that are supposedly for film funding, though I admit I can'd decipher the German enough to tell. (For what it's worth: "Swiss study finds more funding but lack of box-office success - Government research finds film funding nearly triples from 1995-2004 but domestic hits are rare and output isn't continuous." (2006))

SCANDINAVIA

Nordic Film & TV Fund - "The purpose of the Nordic Film & TV Fund is to promote the production of audio visual projects in the Nordic countries by participating in the top-up financing of feature films, TV-fiction, TV-series, short films and creative documentaries." [NOTE: This site was UNAVAILABLE as of 4/24/2006, but is referenced by numerous sites].

- DENMARK

Danish Film Institute - "The Danish Film Institute is the national agency responsible for supporting and encouraging film and cinema culture and for conserving these in the national interest. The Institute's operations extend from participation in the development and production of feature films, short and documentary films, over distribution and marketing, to managing the national film archive and the cinematheque."

- FINLAND

Finnish Film Foundation - "The Finnish Film Foundation grants support for professional Finnish film production. The goal of the Foundation is to promote high-quality, versatile and unique Finnish film. Support can be granted for feature-length, short and episodic fiction, documentary, animation and children’s films."

- ICELAND

Icelandic Film Centre - "The Icelandic Film Centre is required by law to support production, distribution and promotion of Icelandic films, gather information about Icelandic films and publish it, advance film culture in Iceland and encourage stronger links between Icelandic filmmakers and the international film community."

- NORWAY

Norwegian Film Fund - "the Norwegian Film Fund is charged with administering all national support for film production in Norway."

- SWEDEN

Swedish Film Institute - "Founded in 1963, the Swedish Film Institute plays a leading role in Swedish cinema. Its aims include the promotion, support and development of film in its cultural and broader contexts, the allocation of grants for the production, distribution and public showing of Swedish films at home, and the promotion for Swedish cinema at international level. The Institute is also extensively involved in the preservation and promotion of Sweden’s cinematic heritage."

http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/3009/a/18693 - Sweidsh government film support: "The main task of film policy is to promote the production and distribution of quality Swedish films. All forms of film policy subsidy have now been brought together in a single Film Agreement, which distributes funds among three main subsidy groups: production subsidy, distribution and exhibition subsidy, and subsidy for film-related cultural activities. Special priority is given to action to promote the screening of a wide range of films throughout the country and to action targeted on children and young people. An important ambition of cultural policy is to make film more accessible to people with disabilities and to improve the conditions of women film-makers."

UNITED KINGDOM

The Film Centre's Money and Funding FAQ lists numerous sources for all parts of the United Kingdom. A good place to start for anyone filming anywhere in the United Kingdom.

South West Scotland Screen Commission Film Funding page - This is a list of resources for the whole UK.

Artists Forum - UK Film funding - a post on a board that's poorly formatted, but provides an extensive list of UK resources.

Artist's Moving Image Network Funding page - "There are many ways in which artists' work is supported, directly or indirectly, from cash grants for production cost, to funding to develop and research a project, to many forms of indirect support that can offset costs you may incur. Indirect support ranges from private sponsorship, equipment loans or subsidised access, people donating their time for free and partnerships with organisations that can support your practice.
This section outlines the key organisations and types of funding you may be able to source for your project or the development of your practice. "

Screen Yorkshire SHORT FILM & FEATURE FILM FUNDING - "Located in Leeds, Screen Yorkshire is the strategic agency for film, broadcast and interactive media for the Yorkshire and Humber region." Their feature film funding was on hold as of 3-28-06.

UK - Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission - A very complex site which includes this note in its FAQ: "Ideally any project applying to the NIFTC Lottery funds will be of cultural relevance to Northern Ireland, have a member of the creative team who is a Northern Ireland resident, intend to maximise the use of Northern Ireland resident cast, crew and facilities while exposing Northern Ireland locations to the fullest potential. However, that is the ideal. Every project is different and you should discuss your project with the NIFTC prior to making an application."

Northern Visions Media Centre Funding Page - "Northern Visions is an access media arts centre in Belfast offering training and resources in digital video, television and new media. The provision of skilled support services offers opportunities for artists, filmmakers, community and cultural organizations to realize high quality production. Northern Visions is committed to offering opportunities to people marginalized by mainstream media or denied self and/or collective expression." They don't seem to offer funding but their list of funding resources is very wide-ranging.

UK-Scotland

SCOTTISH SCREEN and MEDIA - Edinburgh Film Focus actually describes this organization better on their own site than Scottish Screen does: "Scottish Screen is a Scottish Executive funded organisation, which allocates National Lottery funds to develop feature scripts, and offers investment to help move them into production. They invest in shorts, low budget and medium budget features. Through partnering film schemes such as the long-running Tartan Shorts, Tartan Smalls, New Found Land and Cineworks, Scottish Screen provides wide opportunities for filmmakers." You may need to dig around on the Scottish Screen site to find all this, though.

Glasgow Film Office - "Glasgow Film Office is the strategic agency for film, high value television and commercials in Scotland's largest city. Our main aim is to foster a successful production environment in Glasgow which will allow indigenous production companies to develop and thrive as well as promoting Glasgow as an internationally recognised centre for film, television and commercials production. Established in 1997, Glasgow Film Office has developed over the years to meet the ongoing needs of the ever expanding local film and television industry. Learn more about the history, funders and current structure of Glasgow Film Office."

UK - Wales

Film Agency or Wales - "Established in July 2006, the Film Agency for Wales is the sole Agency for film in Wales, with a remit to ensure that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented in Wales, the UK and the world. As a strategic agency, the Film Agency aims to facilitate the emergence of a viable and sustainable Welsh film industry and to promote a vibrant and dynamic film culture."

IRELAND

Irish Film Board funding guidelines - This organization has a number of funding schemes, described here. They also offer a number of related publications at http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/publications.php.

EASTERN EUROPE

CROATIA

Croation Film Directors Guild - Provides (minimal) information on the new Croatian Centre For Audiovisual Services.

Lithuanian Film Studios, a production company, has moved into financing with at co-finance deal with Little Film Company for the thriller "War of the Dead".

RUSSIA

Bridgehead Portal - Funding and support organisations - "The Bridgehead portal is at the service of the professionals working with content and creation. Our goal is to provide an entrance to the vast resources of Russian cultural production for those who look for partnerships in production and content development." Lists three funds.

MIDEAST

ASIA

CHINA

Hong Kong Film Services Office Film Development Fund - "The Government set up the Film Development Fund in 1999 to support projects conducive to the healthy and long-term development of the film industry in Hong Kong."

National Film Development Corporation Ltd. (NFDC) - Interested in making your film in INDIA? "central agency promoting quality cinema in India which produces/co-produces and finances/co-finances more feature films and short films and documentaries."

http://www.sfc.org.sg/ - Singapore Film Commission - Various grants to encourage Singaporian filmmakers (not clear if others can apply). Their links shift, so look for FILM FUNDING, etc.

http://www.fto.nsw.gov.au/fund.asp?id=45&content=2 - Australia – New South Wales - "This site offers a number of resources under 'Development Assistance', including a Regional Filming Fund, a Young Filmmakers Fund, etc. The links are a bit unstable, so you might have to use Search to find 'fund'.

Film Victoria - "The Digital Media Fund is funded by Multimedia Victoria as part of the Victorian Government's Connecting Victoria policy, which aims to bring the benefits of technology to all Victorians"."

Internet Filmmaker's FAQ Version 5.1 [2/5]- Information

COS Funding Opportunities Funding News - General funding sources: "Funding News is updated weekly and includes recent highlights from COS Funding Opportunities, the most comprehensive resource of funding information available on the Web, with more than 15,000 sources of funding from around the world."

Cinemarquee - Spotlights a few links and lists lots of others; also mentions their own financing - but main info on site is CALL for financing.

Michigan State University - GRANTS AND RELATED RESOURCES - Various listings and links relative to grants of all sorts. Specifically references their collections, but presumably many of the titles are available elsewhere as well.

Morrie Warshawski's Bibliography - "a special page devoted to an extensive bibliography on fundraising for independent film and video projects." Plus links and info on general funding

Redbird Studio's Film Commissions page - list of addresses and phone numbers for flim commissions (mostly US; a few URL's as well.)