Click on a topic area to expand.
If you see something that interests you, simply click on its logo to be taken to that website.
Note: The Film Collaborate maintains this list of vendors and services via recommendations from filmmakers and other industry folks and/or our own first-hand experience with them. It’s not meant to be an exhaustive list, although we are continually updating it. Additionally, if there is a company or individual we have been warned about, we will note that. Notwithstanding this, we encourage you to do your own research, as inclusion in this list does not automatically represent an endorsement by TFC—it’s simply meant to be a helpful start. If you find any errors or would like to be considered for inclusion, please send an email to contactus@thefilmcollaborative.org with the subject line “ResourcePlace”.
Social integration of people with disabilities and cognitive differences
Dialogue List transcription, formerly Captionmax
Video Captioning, Transcription, Subtitling
cloud-based do-it-yourself subtitling software
translation, Subtitling & Captioning Services for Video, Film & TV
Subtitling that ensures authentic and culturally correct kocalization
transcribe, summarize, search, and analyze voice conversations
Some filmmakers have indicated that they are the cheapest (other than Zen Captions)
100% human-made transcription services
automates note-taking, record-keeping, and insight-capture during meetings
$1100 might seem like a lot for a closed captioning software package (there's one for Mac, one for Windows...and that's only the entry level version), but DIY CC instead of going through a lab (or having your distributor do it for you and recoup) might save you money in the long run.
video record, transcribe, summarize, and share insights from meetings
National Captioning Institute (NCI) Captioning
National Captioning Institute is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purposes are to deliver effective captioning services and encourage, develop and fund the continuing development of captioning, subtitling and other media access services for the benefit of people who require additional access to auditory and visual information.
inexpensive human transcription, English closed-captioning, and global translated subtitle services
human-verified solution to convert spoken audio to text
Automated transcription from speech-to-text in 39+ languages
suite of cloud-based tools for translation and localization
Technology-enabled localization and translation solutions
AI-powered solution for transcribing, translating, editing and collaborating
audio & video localization and translation services
Universal Translation Services
film script translations
high-quality captioning, transcription and localization
Keeping up with the changing trends in independent film is hard work. Here is a reading list to help
The Business of Film: A Practical Introduction
This updated third edition, published in 2022, introduces readers to the business of film at every stage of the filmmaking lifecycle, from planning and production to financing, marketing, and distribution.
Roberta Munroe screened short film submissions at Sundance for five years, and is an award-winning short filmmaker in her own right. From the first draft of your script to casting, production, editing, and distribution, this is your one-stop primer for breaking into the business.
Filmmakers and Financing: Business Plans for Independents
Business Plans for Independents
Documents to help you plan for budgeting of not only production, but marketing, distribution, transmedia, crowdfunding etc.
Film Title Clearance Searches, Film Title Reports, Script Clearance Reports and Licensing of Footage, Stills, and Music
A leading global consultancy providing corporate, advertising, and media clients access to iconic music, film, celebrities, and entertainment content.
Provides comprehensive, accurate, and affordable Film Title Clearance Searches, Film Title Reports, Attorney Opinion Letters, Script Clearance Reports and Licensing of Footage, Stills, and Music
Momentous Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
TFC members receive a discount but prices vary and are based pending the budget and other variables.
Specialize in script clearances, title clearance reports, and permissions placements for product, artwork, and props. Vancouver based.
Focused information to alert producers of possible legal exposure on all elements intellectual property for the entertainment business.
Consultants and membership sites for guidance on your film's marketing and distribution options
Author of Think Outside the Box Office and Distribution and Marketing Strategist. Helps filmmakers connect films with audiences.
Designers who create the artwork of movie marketing campaigns for print and online,including movie posters, one-sheets, websites, postcards, physical media (ie. DVD, thumb drive), outdoor and internet advertising.
title sequences, DVD menus, in-film graphic design
Fantastic humans and outstanding work. Highly recommend!
David Rowley specializes in motion graphics for film and non-profits; he recently did all the graphics and the titles for 2013 Sundance award-winning doc Dirty Wars.
Pride themselves on offering directors, producers and post supervisors a personal and collaborative experience. They take on very few projects, so each project gets full attention. Films include: Jeff, Who Lives at Home; John Carpenter’s The Ward; Up in the Air, and Juno
Crowdfunding for Latin and South American artists
International
U.S./UK/Canada/Australia only
A SELECTIVE crowdfunding platform. Before approving a project, the necessary components for a successful campaign are in place: A strong team; the seed of a great film; and a compelling purpose.
DVD replication,packaging, short run duplication, DVD authoring
For almost a decade, COPYCATS has helped clients produce professional DVD & CD Duplication and Replication projects.
These companies offer films to ancillary markets either domestic or worldwide
Inflight distribution services for major airlines
It is important when doing digital distribution to mainstream platforms that one knows the terms that one’s aggregator has with the platforms and also if the aggregator goes through a middleman or two. This is especially important with regard to Cable VOD, but also in terms of negotiating an SVOD license/deal. Of course one wants to also compare fees and marketing support.
Formerly Cinedigm
Devolver’s partnership with Cable VOD leader Lightning Entertainment will combine the prowess of Lightning’s longstanding partnerships in home entertainment with Devolver Digital’s expertise in reaching new audiences via media devices and digital outlets primarily regarded as gaming platforms.
They work with Lionsgate (though just 1 fee), very selective leaning toward commercial.
Aggregator provides access to worldwide download and streaming distribution platform. They are currently not taking films.
TFC’s motto is “be everywhere.” Your film should be in every digital store that is viable and reaching audiences/consumers. And you are your own brand and hopefully engaging audiences directly, so backend your own site(s) and social networking pages too. These services will help you do that. And for more broad digital distribution in terms of mainstream platforms (such as iTunes, Netflix and Hulu) please see the Digital Distribution—Aggregation to Mainstream Platforms section below.
Streaming and Direct Download from your website as well as ecommerce capabilities.
Requires PRO account. Now offering marketing support to select films and web series.
Licensing for the educational setting
Australian-Artfilms is one of the leading consultants and suppliers of films for Arts Education. Formerly Artfilms.
Mainly for environmental,and related social justice issues, including Globalization, Sustainability, Climate Change, Social Justice, Developing World, Indigenous Peoples, Earth Science, Life Science, Political Science, Performing Arts, Women's Studies, Children’s Films
California Newsreel has produced and distributed cutting-edge social issue films for activists and educators since 1968. Today it is the oldest, independent non-profit documentary center in the country and the first systematically to integrate media production and distribution with the media needs of contemporary social change movements.
Educational film distribution and production company providing unique perspectives by exploring social, political, environmental, and spiritual issues to bring provocative and entertaining stories to the screen.
Documentary Educational Resources
Founded in 1968. Promote thought-provoking documentary film and media for learning about the people and cultures of the world. Digital streaming services available.
Essential documentary films for higher education
“Factual Entertainment without the froth.” Established over 22 years ago, Espresso Media International (formerly Espresso TV) started off life as a production company developing magazine programmes, documentaries and strands for the BBC and TVS (ITV). The mid to late 1990’s saw Espresso involved in setting up a sports programming and distribution service to Latin America, and Hispanic North America producing a daily news and programming service, delivered to over 20 Latin American channels in three languages. Since the late 1990’s Espresso’s focus has rested on distribution with well-established international contacts in the documentary and factual entertainment genres.
Distributes films and videos on social issues including health care, mental health, professional ethics, aging and gerontology, the workplace, gender and family issues.
UK based company providing content to schools, hotels, ferries, trains, film societies and community film groups. It operates in over 75 international countries and territories including most of the major hotel chains.
Films Media Group, an Infobase Learning Company, is a premier source of high-quality video on academic, vocational, and life-skills topics. With thousands of outstanding educational videos—many exclusive—from the world's most recognized producers, they serve the needs of schools, colleges, libraries, the medical community, and other institutions with the broadest and deepest range of content available.
Journeys in Film uses film as the springboard for interdisciplinary lesson plans. Their team of educational experts, subject-area specialists and editors come together to develop high-quality curricula for teaching core academic subjects. Students move beyond engrossing movie narratives toward deeper learning.
Provides streaming to educational institutions and libraries.
Kino Lorber Inc is a New York-based theatrical distributor and DVD label.
Nonprofit producer and distributor of films used widely in academia and with a strong reputation among professors and media librarians.
Canadian based. Avant-garde works by some of Canada's internationally acclaimed media artists and award-winning documentaries, animation, short fiction and personal narrative works.
A membership based collective in service of social justice documentaries.
NewFilmMarketing is a consulting service for do-it-yourself film distribution to universities, K-12, libraries, and specialty markets. They are not film distributors and will never take a percentage of a filmmaker's profit and encourage filmmakers to succeed as their own distributor.
Recent films include TFC festival distribution client All Eyes and Ears
International and Educational distribution for documentaries.
Digital Campus provides legal movie streaming to students outside of the classroom
Large catalog; Third World Newsreel (TWN) is an alternative media arts organization that fosters the creation, appreciation and dissemination of independent film and video by and about people of color and social justice issues.
Their mission is to distribute the very best in educational media and documentary programming on critical environmental, global and social issues to the widest possible audience worldwide, including colleges, schools, libraries, businesses, religious groups, government agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Supports and champions women producers and directors. Their distribution collection consists of nearly 700 films is used by thousands of cultural, educational and community organizations across North America and throughout the world.
These distributors take all rights in either North America, foreign or worldwide
independent film production and distribution label specializing in horror/genre films
Film Movement is a full service North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign film. They implement traditional film distribution methods like the theatrical release, DVD sales, DVD rentals, and television.
First Run remains one of the largest independent theatrical and home video distributors in the United States, releasing 12 to 15 films a year in theaters nationwide and 40 to 50 videos and DVDs annually.
Icarus Films is a leading distributor of documentary films.
Kino Lorber Inc is a New York-based theatrical distributor and DVD label.
Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment, specializing in a unique and eclectic slate of films, mainly high profile festival fare.
Oscilloscope Pictures is a full-service film distribution company releasing independently produced English and foreign language films and documentaries into the U.S. theatrical marketplace.
Formerly Red Arrow Studios
a worldwide film sales company specializing in director driven work that premieres at the world's top tier film festivals
Zeitgeist films are strongly auteur-driven and have a distinct visual style and unique content.
These channels represent the next wave of video creation. Whether one off short films or episodic series, online channels & MCNs (multi channel networks) offer creators more opportunities to build up a fanbase and earn a living than traditional film distributors.
Primarily an episodic comedy channel created by the folks at Broadway Video. Also have a Youtube channel.
Big Frame is a leading media company in the YouTube entertainment space. They are discerning about the channels they partner with, but can help your channel land lucrative ad partners like Chevrolet, The Home Depot, Sony, Virgin, Levis, Fox.
DanceOn is the next generation of dance entertainment, creating premium programming ranging from original dance videos, reality competition shows, docu-series, and scripted content to reach a growing global audience.
My Damn Channel is a leading entertainment studio and distributor of premium content. This includes distribution on My Damn Channel, YouTube and other online, mobile and IPTV platforms.
Tastemade is dedicated to connecting the world through food and building a scalable network of culinary tastemakers who share a passion for creating amazing programming for a global community of food lovers.
They book certain theatres and can release beyond that.
Double Exposure has been distributing both documentary and narrative films theatrically for almost a decade.
Service companies dedicated to working with rights holders who want to plot theatrical demand based on where the audience is.
Small towns now can get first-run films--for a night--with the help of Gathr, a new "theatrical on demand" service.
Companies that specialize in red carpet premieres, festival after parties, industry events
Based in Santa Monica, CA
Test screenings serve as a great exercise for gauging audience reaction, building up early word of mouth, and determining marketing strategies
For film festival and non-theatrical exhibitions
Free to low cost email service providers
Behind the Screens: Programmers Reveal How Film Festivals Really Work
Insights by programmers from some of the world's leading festivals
Short term/weekend programs dedicated to educating filmmakers on the latest trends and developments in the independent film industry
DOK.Incubator is a new training initiative providing support to European documentaries in a rough cut stage. It is open to teams—producer, director and film editor—working on a strong and creative documentary with promising international potential.
The Film Independent Forum is a weekend packed with unbridled truth, inspirational success stories and a chance to connect one on one with working artists who are thriving in changing times.
A unique year-long mentorship program for first-time feature directors focusing exclusively on low-budget features (<$1million).
Training courses for directors, screenwriters, producers and documentary filmmakers based in London.
LFA runs professional-standard practical training in all the key areas of filmmaking. All tutors are working professionals.
Our filmmaking program is known around the world for its hands-on style, top-tier equipment, and award-winning faculty. Learn from the best on the best equipment while enjoying the unparalleled beauty of coastal Maine.
London based, weekend course designed to provide a fun, hands-on introduction to the basics of direction, sound and editing and will equip you with basic technical knowledge in each of these areas.
Based in Winnipeg Canada. After more than 25 years of training and with over 720 alumni, NSI continues to develop and deliver courses to meet the industry’s needs.
Raindance tutors are all working industry professionals who will teach you how films are really made. You will have access to insider information, and most importantly you will meet other filmmakers, all working towards similar goals.
These sites all provide guidance, tips, best practices, case studies and a place for fellow indie artists to congregate.
Associated Producers Worldwide, Film and Television Professionals, Producers Network, Indie Film Producers and Directors
Protect Yourself from Predatory Film Distributors/Aggregators
This group was created as a platform for filmmakers to share information and discuss how to protect themselves from the film aggregator Distribber and other predatory film distributors.
The Stage 32 community is strictly for people working in or with a desire to work in film or theater. It’s a place to gather, to discuss and develop projects.
Filmmakers and Financing: Business Plans for Independents
Business Plans for Independents
Most of these grants support outreach and audience engagement strategies. Grants for other phases, from Development to completion are listed under TFC’s Fiscal Sponsorship resources.
For outreach and audience engagement for social issue documentaries that have a clear plan ready to launch. A small number of these grants support post-production for timely projects that have strong social change potential.
JustFilms focuses on film, video and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure and sustainable world. Investing $10 million a year over five years in documentary projects.
This category is just for services related to online/digital ads. Some are self service, some are agencies and ad networks
Companies who buy ads, sell media placement, or create advertising spots, such as traditional print ads.
A great full service advertising agency.
Award winning creative agency specializing in integrated advertising and social media ad campaigns.
Pecan Pie offers advertising on cinema screens.
Marketing gurus, futurists, resources for the latest tips, tools and trends.
Author of Think Outside the Box Office and Distribution and Marketing Strategist. Helps filmmakers connect films with audiences.
Awaken Your Superhero — Christopher S. Penn
Penn has a great newsletter that goes out every Sunday evening full of ideas and articles about the state of online marketing.
Irreverent and egotistical, but definitely tells it like it is on the state of online marketing. Gary walks the walk. He's also a big NY Jets fan.
Analytics gathered for free or low cost
track how your Twitter account is growing, who engages, how far does your account reach
Cyfe has developed a cloud based service that allows you to easily monitor and share all of your vital business data like Google Analytics, AdSense, MailChimp, Facebook, WordPress and more from one single location in real-time.
Influitive (formerly Engagio) is a Gmail-like productivity tool to manage your conversations in social networks and commenting systems like Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, G+, Youtube etc
Muck Rack — Who Shared My Link?
Enter a URL and find out how out many times it was shared, and which journalists & bloggers shared it.
Tools to build your own social community instead of relying on Facebook, Ning etc.
for Wordpress sites
NationBuilder is a community organizing platform that allows users to build and manage websites and offers tools to communicate with supporters. They also provide real time support and grassroots engagement.
Whether it is an app or a complete website package, these services work directly with artists to gather and maintain their audience.
Attract more Facebook fans to your page and engage them with fully customizable viral applications. Quiz, Photo Contest, Sweepstakes, Fan Vote, and many more.
Assemble powers three core items, the website, branded trailer and facebook page apps.
formely fanbridge
These are service providers for grassroots marketing outreach to communities, organizations, schools, churches etc
Author of Think Outside the Box Office and Distribution and Marketing Strategist. Helps filmmakers connect films with audiences.
DMAG PR: David Magdael & Associates
An indie publicity firm with a good grasp on grassroots marketing.
They are more focused on social media side of grassroots marketing.
full-service PR and marketing firm established to reach an enormous and underserved population - religious America. An industry leader in church-based promotion,
The Film Collaborative also does grassroots marketing along with its other services. Our for-profit, New American Vision, also handles grassroots outreach for Film Society of Lincoln Center, AFI Fest, Los Angeles Film Festival, sometimes Roadside Attractions, among others.
Tools to find out the influence/traffic of specific blogs
Tools to use for managing social media
Dig deeper into Twitter analytics: Who are your followers? Where are they located? When do they tweet? Find and connect with new influencers in your niche. Use super-actionable visualizations to compare your social graph to others.
Twitter management dashboard
Tools for grading the effectiveness of a website or video
Online Video Grader.
UpCity will analyze any site for FREE and see how it ranks in search engines. Reports sent to your email address.
These companies are either ecommerce plug ins or all in one solutions for selling physical merchandise from your own site.Also great for fulfillment on crowdfunding campaign perks.
Ecommerce hosting site, shopping cart, online store builder
Ecommerce website, shopping cart and hosting in one.
While ecommerce sites help you sell and collect payment, fulfillment companies actually ship the products and deal with returns/customer service. Good for crowdfunding fulfillment too!
Track your own online properties and how they are perceived by the public.
By using online monitoring tools, published material is delivered daily to your inbox allowing you to monitor topics/keywords easily.
for use as music beds for trailers, video clips, podcasts etc
Find the perfect soundtrack for your multimedia project among more than 130,000 quality tracks by original up and coming artists and for attractive rates.
Find the perfect soundtrack for your multimedia project among more than 130,000 quality tracks by original up and coming artists and for attractive rates.
Hiring an experienced music supervisor let's you access their ongoing relationships with the major and indie labels and publishers to ensure getting the maximum out of your music budget. Skillful negotiation of the most favorable licensing fees, terms and conditions for the music you want, and accurate "no-holes" delivery of your Music Rights Package to distributors.
Create the right musical tone for the project and assist with rights clearances and negotiations
Experience with indie docs, narrative films and TV series
John Woods is the owner of The Archetype Company and he is the most professional, efficient and thorough vendor we’ve worked with and had amazing results. He created our DCP, worked with the film festival traffic coordinator to test links and followed-up to make sure everything worked smoothly. Quick turnaround, reasonable prices and knows the business. Highest possible recommendation. Located in Burbank, CA.
These tools help you build a database of bloggers for publicity outreach. Blogger outreach is mainly about building relationships. It’s reaching out to bloggers to find out how you can help each other.
For those who want to conduct their own publicity, this site is a fantastic resource for buying up to date media lists.
These are publicity firms that handle traditional PR (festival and theatrical release). Some may also handle digital PR.
Offices in both New York and Los Angeles
Clients include The Babadook, Whiplash, The Theory of Everything, but also TFC filmmakers including Gayby, Icaros, Appropriate Behavior, Tower have used them.
Worked with the Amy Winehouse Doc
Clients include many Independent feature films.
Donna Daniels Public Relations
Website seems to have not been updated since 2012.
Jeremy Walker is veteran movie publicist with twenty years of experience who has created memorable campaigns for all kinds of movies.
Works with indies as well as studios. Specialize in festival and theatrical publicity. Rob Fleming was recommended by one of our filmmakers.
Widespread Press Release Distribution to more than 750 Premium Media Outlets. Get Found on Major Search Engines
Services that book films with organizations and work in a more grassroots and event oriented manner. Also includes airline, correctional facilities and museum public performance licensing
EIM provide high quality entertainment to over 130 airlines around the world. In order to supply our airline customers with the variety of entertainment they demand, we offer first run theatrical films from Hollywood as well as first run Chinese films and the latest in theatrical releases from France.
Grassroots and community distribution for independent documentaries.
Swank Motion Pictures is the major non-theatrical movie distributor, online CE/CME education distributor and public performance licensing agent in venues where feature movies are shown publicly.
List of experienced trailer editors/companies. Some are creative agencies that handle all aspects of an advertising campaign.
Buddha Jones means a different way to create cool, unique and unexpected work.
The Golden Trailer Awards recognize the creative people who make movie trailers, and the best examples of their unique art, in a gala award show. This is their directory of trailer editors and trailer houses.
Freelance Trailer Editor, also creates sizzle reels, promos and TV spots. Reasonable rates.
We create all forms of audio-visual marketing materials: trailers, TV spots, special shoots, sizzle reels, motion graphics and web content from concept through finished product for theatrical film, television and home entertainment titles.
All the capabilities are here….the trailers, TV spots, and print campaigns. The websites, widgets, and mobile applications. The featurettes, commentaries, and EPKs.
Affordable trailer and other short video editing services. Editors bid for your job. Great for editing Youtube material.
72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, these services help your videos get views
free to submit but restrictions apply, send info to trailers@mac.com
We can seed your viral to millions The Viral Ad Network can help your film or game campaign go viral.
Virool is world’s first viral video ad network that allows companies to distribute video content through a series of online publishers.
Companies the help structure transmedia stories/campaigns and resources to find out about transmedia
Mike Monello (Blair Witch Project) is the Chief Creative Officer, works on major brand campaigns
A Creator's Guide to Transmedia
a book for those interested in learning more about transmedia.
Starlight Runner Entertainment
Company founded by Jeff Gomez, handles Hollywood and big brand campaigns
WordPress theme for film and production companies
Movie Studio & Film Maker WordPress Theme
WordPress Theme for Movies, Filmmakers, and Production Companies
Acknowledgements
