CineCrowd
CineCrowd is the crowdfunding platform for filmmakers and we love to help you! We welcome all film projects in search of (partial) funding, from (non-) fiction to animation. Over 80% of all CineCrowd projects succeed in finding financial support - that's more than on any other crowdfunding platform. Get inspired here and find out how your project can be one of them!
CineCrowd in a nutshell
CineCrowd assesses the ‘crowdfundability’ (not the content) of all projects. Together with the filmmaker, we will make certain that your project has the greatest possible chance of success. This also means that we have the final say in the selection of projects to be launched.
When a project is approved, a handling fee of € 75,00 will be charged. 10% of the amount contributed will be allocated to the continuation of CineCrowd. Note: all contributions to CineCrowd are tax deductable for supporters.
Once your financing effort has been successful, you - the project holder - are responsible for making the rewards available to your supporters. Please take some time to carefully read through all of the details of the contract.
Which platform suits me best?
However, we do advise all filmmakers to carefully consider all options on which platform fits your needs the best. To make it a little easier we have compared the major crowdfunding platforms for film projects below. Feel free to call us (+31 20 893 2581) or mail us (info@CineCrowd.nl) for more information, we are happy to assist you!
Unique on CineCrowd
CineCrowd abroad. We welcome from all over the world, we've received payments from over 100 different countries and we've funded projects from dozens of countries.
Intensive coaching. We offer intensive coaching to filmmakers from the day they register with us until the successful finale of their project's crowdfunding process. We truly believe this makes the difference and it's the most important reason that we outperform all other platforms when it comes to successful financed projects. Do contact us and we will explain more about the free coaching we provide, when required.
Media partners. CineCrowd regularly makes the news, which helps to find new supporters for your project. We work in partnership with Dutch arthouse partisan Cineville. CineCrowd projects are highlighted every month in an article on the Cineville website. We team up with the IDFA, Dutch Film Festival and numerous other festivals (GoShort, Imagine filmfestival and many more). Here we can bring ongoing projects to the attention of the festival audience, we often have a film section dedicated to CineCrowd and we offer crowdfunding workshops to filmmakers. Thanks to Jean Mineur, we have a trailer that is frequently shown in movie theatres.
Your pitch
The most important feature you have to offer as a filmmaker is not the concept of your film... At least, not when you're crowdfunding. Your crowdfund campaign should be build around the passion you have for your film, as this will be far more convincing than the story itself. Your teaser is the key to this.
A catchy teaser
Convince your target audience that only you can make this film and that it needs to be made NOW! Explain your personal reasons for this project. Share your moment when 'lightning struck you' and you knew: this will be a great film! Use your video to commit your audience to you - make sure they continue watching by catching their attention in the first few seconds.
The ideal duration for your teaser is 2 to 3 minutes. When a video runs too long, people tend to click it away. Be original; surprise them. The audience should be addressed personally and need to understand why YOU are the one who should make this film. Remember that, in the end, people invest in you as a person - that is why your teaser should give them an opportunity to get to know you. Finally, explain the urgency of your project. Why should this film be made RIGHT NOW and not a few years from now?
Background information on your project
Assume that background information is read often only after the teaser has already been watched. Background information may include a synopsis of your film and a more elaborate discussion of your (personal) motives for wanting to make this film. It could explain your director's vision, for example. You could also provide background information and topical news related to the subject and themes of your project. The entire background information text could be illustrated with mood photos.
Team and skills
The majority of viewers who watch your teaser will be unfamiliar with you and your work. It's important to show yourself to your audience in order to create a 'goodwill factor'. After all, the audience will want to get to know you in order to have faith in the project and actually fund it.
Fantastic rewards
Some people will support you simply because they like you, while others will want to contribute because of their interest in your subject. However, (nearly) everyone will appreciate receiving a keepsake by which to remember the project. For starters, make sure that the emotional value of a reward exceeds the monetary contribution received! That is, if you can think of a fantastic reward. Exclusiveness is of the essence here. A great example is the unique 35mm frame of River Phoenix (cut straight from the film) used as a reward for Dark Blood. Make sure that the rewards match your project!
Describe all rewards in the most appealing terms possible and, if possible, assign attractive names to them (related to your theme/subject). Try to avoid “…in addition to all before mentioned prizes” since this tends to give the impression that the prizes are not that unique. An example of attractive rewards that relate to the theme of the movie are the rewards of A Space Between Us: http://www.cinecrowd.nl/space-between-us. Also, offer rewards for larger as well as for smaller contributions (80% of the contributions are made by 20% of the people). Make it possible to support with large amounts and at the same time commit as many people as possible to your project by also offering rewards for smaller contributions!
Prepare your campaign
This could be the most important phase, so take sufficient time to prepare your campaign. It would be a shame if you only afterwards realize who your potential supporters actually were. Make sure you analyse your target audience, people and organisations that might take interest in your topic or who from your crew and cast can also dedicate their network. Get them on board before you start!
Select a target audience
What audience will truly be interested in your subject, theme or main characters? Try to use your campaign to appeal to this group of people directly.
Adjusting to your target audience
Adjust your rewards, your teaser and your promotional plan to your target audience. It is better to actually reach and excite this specific group than to moderately interest a larger audience.
More than just your friends
Which organisations, interest groups or businesses might be willing to make their network available to you and send out a batch of e-mails about your project? One good example is the Dutch Weed Burger project that managed to generate an article in One World, amongst others. Make sure that as many people as possible know that your project will be launched soon. They will support your project more eagerly when they have already heard about it. In fact, they will probably want to think along with you and become your first ambassadors when the project takes off. Keep people informed on the progress of your project!
Target amount
How much money do you really need? On CineCrowd target amounts range from 1,000 up to 50,000 Euro. However, there is no set limit. They are generally part of a broader financing plan. To decide on a realistic amount create an overview of the most likely sources and use this to set your target amount. Assume that you will receive a maximum of 2,000 Euro from your private network and make sure your campaign also focuses on acquiring funds from sources outside your immediate network. It works best if you approach businesses that have some kind of relation to your subject. Since the subject will be of interest to them, such businesses will be more likely to invest in your project.
Time limit
How much time do you need to reach the target amount? Experience shows that an average 'duration' of 30 days is the most effective. On the one hand, you will need some time to let everyone know that your project is online (and to communicate its urgency). On the other hand, interest for a particular project often decreases after a month. Therefore, the proper duration is difficult to determine.
It's important to stay in touch with your supporters, for example by sending them a weekly update by e-mail. This way, the project will gain sympathy among your audience and may become a regular topic of conversation in the coffee corner.
Campaignplan
The amount of pagevieuws of your project page is up to you. A great campaignplan is hereby the key. We recommend to make a campaignplan. A calendar day by day wherein you plan all your actions like sending newsletters, updates, send a press release or go with flyers on the streets. Keep in mind you’ll spend at least 1 hour a day on your crowdfunding campaign. Read below more about campaigning.
Campaign
Make sure the €0,- is as soon as possible from the counter! And keep your audience involved during your whole campaign.
The film overview page
Be visible on CineCrowd’s website. The project with the most page views is on top of our website. This means the most popular project is on top of our film-overview.
Social media
Social media are a great way to draw attention to your project, but real social interaction (offline, in real life) always works best! For example: an event based on the theme of your documentary, an assembly of your local Rotary Club, or a gathering of science fiction fans can form a perfect venue for personal interaction with your target audience.
Ambassadors
Try to find an ambassador who is willing to promote your project. A famous actor, writer or an activist backing your film will not only add news value to your project, but will also ensure reaching all of his or her fans.
Dialogue between filmmaker and audience
Provide the opportunity for dialogue between you and your audience. Enthuse them and invite them to contact you. Repetition is so important. Make sure that people don't forget that you are crowdfunding in the course of your campaign! Involve people in your project and be open.
The power of repetition
It is fine to send out e-mail once every two weeks as long as you have something new to report (like ‘cast now complete’) and your e-mail is pleasant or fun to read. Share new videos whenever you can (personal update-videos, rough cuts from the film), as well as (set) photos and news items that are fun to read. All of this has turned out to be very effective. The more often your target audience will read about the project or see your footage, the more it will generate genuine interest for your project.
An easy way to keep everybody up to date is sending newsletters… Use a website like MailChimp to send out your mailings. MailChimp makes it very easy to stylize your e-mails with photos and videos and to import a distribution list. Moreover, your audience can easily unsubscribe, so you will never have to feel uneasy about sending out another e-mail.
Press releases
Articles and press releases can either be uploaded to your personal project page (section ‘updates’) or sent to us. In consultation with you, we will distribute them to our network, which includes the press and special interest groups. Keep us in the loop anyway: we would love to share your project on our Facebook page, through Twitter or in our newsletter. Once again, repetition is of the essence. Make sure that people don't forget that you are crowdfunding in the course of your campaign!
Example of a campaign
Of course, strictly sticking to the suggestions made above is no guarantee for success. Nevertheless, we have made a list of focal points that you should really pay attention to during your crowd-funding campaign…
1. Surround yourself with friends, acquaintances and organisations who know about your campaign and can think along with you. Make sure to involve the crew and cast as well!
2. As soon as your project is online, on the very first day: send a nice personal e-mail to all of your friends, relatives and colleagues - compose your e-mail in such a way that they will be happy to forward it to others.
3. As fast as you can, get rid of that zero Euro amount on the counter.
4. Three or four days later, send out a press release and actively approach the media. Visitors will notice that contributions have already been made and they will feel invited to join.
5. Collect all contact details of members of your cast and crew's closest personal networks, and send them 4 or 5 e-mails in the course of your campaign (we recommend using Mail Chimp). No payment reminders, just fun updates (videos, photos and amusing stories that friends and family can easily forward to others).
6. Use the same strategy with your supporters. At the very least, send them a personal thank you note. Sending out updates as well will ensure that they will keep talking about you at social gatherings and at work. This is essential to your success.
7. 10 days before the set time limit expires, make sure to make the news one last time with something truly spectacular. Approach everyone (your supporters, personal network and the media) to assist in the final spurt.
Are you ready? Good, then LAUNCH YOUR PROJECT!
