For filmmakers
Partner with CINELAN and show your films to a wider audience. Receive ongoing revenue and licensing advances while retaining the copyright and ownership of your films.
The challenge
In the span of three minutes, tell a compelling and complete story, suitable for all audiences and technically prepared for theatrical distribution. We’ll work with you to take your film from concept to final cut, offering feedback along the way.
We encourage you to suggest new ideas, revisit ideas from material you’ve already shot, or develop films based on previous or upcoming work (however, we will not accept trailers).
This could be the time to give an “orphan” story a home – it’s been in your head (or in your camera) but never fit existing formats. Or you could repurpose content from another short or feature to work in a three-minute format. Footage that was “left on the cutting-room floor” or didn’t fit in a final film also could make a terrific short feature.
These films could easily be completed while you’re waiting for funding for other projects, pitching for longer films, or simply want to exercise your talent in a new way with fast creative and financial rewards.
The field is open for you to develop any idea. Your film should fit into one or more of our categories:
- Profiles
- Opinions
- Environmental affairs and nature
- Arts and entertainment
- Science and technology
- World affairs
- Satire and humor
- Business and economics
- Sports
Revenue
You’ll share in 50% of the net revenues achieved by your films, from any and all channels—including theatrical and web. For a limited time, for qualified filmmakers developing films approved in advance by us, we’ll support your initial investment with a $2,500 advance against your future revenue share for each completed film. Your ongoing revenue share will begin when revenues due to you from your films exceed the advance.
Control
You’ll retain the underlying copyright to your film. CINELAN will hold a three-year, exclusive license and perpetual non-exclusive license to distribute and promote your film in all territories and in all media. You must own or have permission to use all content—including music and trademarks—that appears in your film, in all formats and across all media.