Reclaim The Frame and ScreenSkills 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 an aim 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, we’ll hear from funders, investors 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 across development, production and post, and what is needed to close financing.
In Demystifying Legals, we’ll look at how to set up a deal and secure the rights you need, ready for financing. From how to option a book or screenplay, through to what’s involved in a writers, development or contributor agreement, we’ll look at the chain of title, from origination to exploitation, the various agreements needed, and at what stage to bring in a lawyer.
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.
For Demystifying Finance, please register HERE
For Demystifying Legals, please register HERE
If you wish to attend both, please register for both.
Session 1 (11:00 - 13:20): Demystifying Film Financing
11:00 - 11:15 Welcome / intros from Melanie Iredale, Director of Reclaim The Frame, and Emma Turner, ScreenSkills' Head of Film, Animation and Future Skills.
11:15 - 12:00 Panel / presentations - incl Q&A:
In Demystifying Financing, we’ll hear from funders, investors 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 across development, production and post, 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)
Break: 12.pm-12.10pm
12.10pm-12:55 Session 1 cont’d: Panel / presentations incl Q&A
1pm close
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
Session 2 (14:00 - 16:00) Demystifying Film Legals
14:00 - 14:10 Welcome / intros from Melanie Iredale, Director of Reclaim The Frame, and Emma Turner, ScreenSkills' Head of Film, Animation and Future Skills.
14:10 - 14:55 Panel / presentations incl Q&A:
In Demystifying Legals, we’ll look at how to set up a deal and secure the rights you need, ready for financing. From how to option a book or screenplay, through to what’s involved in a writers, development or contributor agreement, we’ll look at the chain of title, from origination to exploitation, the various agreements needed, and at what stage to bring in a lawyer.
Speakers will include:
Ana Santos, Head of Legal & Business Affairs at Bankside Films
Suzanne Alizart, Head of Business Affairs at Doc Society
Fozia O’Dowd, producer (moderator)
Break: 14.55pm-15.05pm
15.05pm-15:50, Session 2 cont’d Panel / Presentation incl Q&A
Closing remarks: 15:50-16:00
Topics covered will include:
Optioning - Considerations when starting a project with writers and/or IP.
Development - What to expect and the importance of getting deal terms right for you.
Financing - What is needed for the package and when is the right time to start conversations.
Thinking about the 'Three P's: Pre Production; Production; Post - Production
Navigating Sales and Distribution - thinking about when and how is best to approach your Sales and Distribution partner and what materials to go there with.