How to Fund Your Feature Film

by Callum O'Neill

Discover what sets feature films apart from shorts, as well as the core funding options available for feature filmmakers in the UK.

Feature films offer filmmakers a unique set of opportunities compared to short films. They allow you to develop more complex characters and narratives and to stage them within a cinematic world that has much more room for depth and meaning to emerge.

When pulled off successfully, they also have the potential to significantly elevate your profile as a filmmaker – opening up new avenues for profitable distribution and giving you the ability to win more prestigious awards. These forms of recognition are what can ultimately lead to being able to work on some of the largest film projects out there.

Finding the kind of funding that’s needed to put together a project of this size can be a major hurdle for those who are new to it, so we’ve put together this brief guide to serve as a handy overview of all the options you might want to consider.

What Exactly is a Feature Film?

Feature films are usually distinguished from their short film counterparts by their run time. According to the Academy behind the Oscars, anything over 40 minutes could qualify as a feature, but in reality, most films fall between 80 and 180 minutes in length (including the credits).

They can also be set apart by how they’re made and where they end up. Short films are often made with very small budgets and tend to reach their audiences at film festivals or on social media sites such as YouTube or Vimeo. With feature films, larger budgets are almost always necessary if they want to end up fit for mass distribution in cinemas or on streaming platforms such as Netflix, which is usually the intention.

How Much Does a Feature Film Cost to Make?

At the micro-budget end of the spectrum, a bare minimum feature-film production budget would generally be between £20,000 and £50,000. It’s important to note, however, that at this level, you may still need to rely on quite a lot of goodwill when it comes to people offering you their time, equipment and expertise.

A more realistic expectation in the mid-budget range would be anywhere from £250,000 to £2.5 million, while higher-end productions could easily cost £5 million to £10 million or more.

Six Ways to Find Funding for a Feature Film

Now, let’s explore the most popular ways to secure funding for your feature film. Bear in mind that most filmmakers use a combination of these methods, so don’t feel like you have to stick to just one.

1. Public Funding

The UK is a world leader when it comes to public funding opportunities for domestic film production:

BFI Film Fund Institute – The British Film Institute offers a range of grants to help with everything from script development to feature-length production funding. These programs often target projects that reflect British culture or stories that appeal to a wide range of national and international audiences.
Creative UK – Formerly known as Creative England, Creative UK offers financial support through programs such as iFeatures and their Production Fund to support emerging filmmaking talent.
Screen Scotland – A part of Creative Scotland, Screen Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. Their Film Development and Production Fund exists to offer development and production funding to feature filmmakers based in Scotland.
Northern Ireland Screen – A similar agency for Northern Ireland, where you will find funding programs such as the Green Lit initiative, which supports emerging writing, production, directing and acting talent.

2. Crowdfunding

Platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Seed&Spark allow you to present your artistic vision to a global audience and raise money in advance in exchange for varied tiers of perks and rewards. Behind-the-scenes content, apparel and other merchandise, exclusive early access to the finished project, or credits in the finished film could all help your backers to feel appreciated and truly a part of turning the film into a reality.

Once you’ve got a compelling pitch video made, which could include rough cuts and plans for the eventual film, you’ll need to make sure to promote it relentlessly – making use of all your social media platforms and personal connections to spread the word.

One particularly cutting-edge form of crowdfunding that has emerged leverages NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and other forms of decentralised finance to support film projects. Miguel Faus is a first-time feature director who used this method to fund his film The Quiet Maid.

Originally a short film that garnered significant praise, Faus used the project as the foundation for an NFT funding campaign that successfully financed its transition into a feature-length production. There are many concerns about NFTs, including counterfeiting and their impact on the environment, so it’s wise to do your research thoroughly.

3. Private Investment

Drumming up private investment from either individuals or companies could be another route to fund a film project. In exchange, investors would usually be looking to secure a financial return once the film has been distributed and/or to be credited as co-producers.

This option can be quite a hustle and requires you to have a solid business plan and be prepared to do a lot of networking. Industry events, film festivals and networking sessions could all be great opportunities to meet and pitch your idea to potential investors, whether they’re individuals or investment groups.

Being able to share your artistic vision clearly and having a well-thought-out plan and pitch can go a long way when winning over investors. It also helps to have a few well-known collaborators already on board with the project. Their involvement can boost your project’s credibility and reassure investors that their money will be in safe hands.

4. Brand Partnerships/Sponsorships

Partnering with brands is another exciting way to secure funding for your film. It can be an effective way to reach niche audiences and diversify marketing spend, so reaching out to brands that you think might fit with your vision and intended audience could be a great way to get a conversation started and maybe even be referred to new contacts.

Both product placements and sponsorships can be incorporated organically and authentically into a film project so that it feels much more like a collaboration than an advertisement – meaning it will pay off to think deeply about which brands would be most fitting for your particular project.

Beyond funding the film production itself, brands might also be interested in contributing to wider promotional strategies such as premieres or social media ad campaigns – there’s lots of potential to get creative.

5. Film Financing Loans

Securing a loan can be another practical option to get your feature film project off the ground. The UK is home to a variety of financiers who specialise in providing working capital to film productions, including:

To make your project attractive to lenders as a film producer, you’ll need to present a strong financial case. If you can show them evidence of pre-existing distribution agreements or access to production incentives and tax credits, you’ll be in a much stronger position.

Predictable and concrete financing plans will demonstrate exactly how the project will generate returns, which reduces the risk to the lender and can increase their confidence in your project, thereby boosting your chances of approval.

6. Pre-Sales

Selling the distribution rights to your film before it’s even made can be another way to secure upfront funding. However, this can be quite difficult for first-time filmmakers, as buyers will typically focus on individuals who have a track record of involvement with commercially successful projects.

Teaming up with a well-known film producer is a good way to overcome this obstacle. Their reputation and experience can significantly boost your project’s appeal, especially in high-profile film market settings like the Marché du Film, held yearly in Cannes.

By partnering with a respected producer, you’ll gain access to their network of industry contacts, which can help secure distribution agreements and attract investors who might otherwise be hesitant to support a project led by less experienced filmmakers.

Production, sales, and distribution roles also often overlap and can be carried out by the same people or firms, giving writers and directors a range of convenient routes to market. Some of the most prominent UK-based firms currently helping to finance feature films include:

Securing funding for a feature film can be a challenging but rewarding process. With so many different avenues available, it’s important to explore multiple options and create an overall strategy that best fits your project’s needs. For most feature films, this means taking advantage of multiple methods of financing.

With the right combination of funding sources and a large measure of determination, you’ll be one step closer to turning your feature film from an idea into a fully realised, profitable production.

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