Finding Alternative Film Festival Funding: This is how festivals across Europe do it
Few things are as stressful in film festival management as the unpredictable nature of funding. Even the largest film festivals must contend with sudden changes in government or public funding. This means that stress and possibly even the survival of the festival are on the line. With rising costs and changing political climates, it’s more relevant than ever to diversify your funding strategy. But, how do you go about finding alternative film festival funding? Well, as we work with many different film festivals across Europe, we’ve gathered some insights that may assist you along the way.
Classical funding options: national and local governments
Many European film festivals rely on subsidies from their national or local governments. The amount and stability of this subsidy vary by country. For instance, Cannes’ budget is comprised of funds provided by France’s National Centre of Cinema (CNC) and the Ministry of Culture, as well as regional governments and the city itself. Historically, these subsidies have been a significant part of film festival funding and would normally be a relatively stable component of the budget. However, under changing political climates, where culture is no longer a priority, these subsidies are significantly less stable. Visions du Réel could in 2023 still say, “We’re extremely fortunate to be in Switzerland, our budget is guaranteed by the government, so we don’t have to make any major cuts.” But as of this year, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is reducing its support to cultural events. The cultural cuts have already had an impact on Locarno Film Festival’s budget, and it will likely also impact Visions du Réel.
The future is hybrid: combine public and private funding
Many of the major film festivals are already ‘hybrids’; they rely on both subsidies and brand partnerships. Cannes receives significant support from governments, but it also maintains partnerships with prominent and luxury brands. These brands, such as Air France or L’Oréal Paris, provide financial support or services in exchange for visibility at the event. If you don’t want to go the route of big brands, you can also look at thematic sponsors or local businesses. A lot of film festivals have applied this diversification, like Karlovy Vary IFF, the most significant Czech film festival, which receives 70% of its revenue from private funding. Similarly, UK festival Sheffield Doc/Fest and Spain’s San Sebastián Festival also mix governmental funding with private sponsors. The World Cinema Fund notes the increase in private funding: “While most of our funding comes from the public sector, private sponsors are also showing increased interest in our activities.”
Use your audience to generate alternative film festival funding
Tickets are rarely a significant source of income for large film festivals. Even if the audience is large, ticket prices are usually kept affordable to prioritise the cultural mission over profit. That doesn’t mean a loyal audience can’t provide additional income in other ways. By offering merchandise and upscale hospitality (VIP events or business lounges), more revenue is created. Another interesting strategy is membership programs. IFFR in the Netherlands offers various types of memberships with exclusive advantages and privileges. When there is really a dire need for support, these loyal audiences can even save a film festival. In 2021, CinemAsia Film Festival was in crisis after a cancelled edition (due to COVID), and on top of that, a structural subsidy was lost. They turned to their audience and raised money through a crowdfunding campaign to bridge the budget gap. They’re not alone in this; other film festivals have similarly raised money through crowdfunding, offering a specific price or accepting donations in general.
Fit the alternatives into your software.
There are plenty of options to get your funding, and the safest bet is a mix of strategies. That way, you won’t be entirely dependent on political support for culture, strong partnerships with big brands or the loyalty of your audience. Alternative film festival funding does mean a lot of different partners to communicate with, other platforms to communicate on, and, just in general, more work. If you’re still working in Excel, this could get overwhelming. The right software partner helps maintain an overview and keeps your workflow as simple as possible. Take a look at our RSVP and Sponsoring modules, for example, which are very useful when inviting partners and sponsors and managing their specific deals. Or simply request a free demo!
Sources for further reading on this subject
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