The Institute for International Film Financing: Overview

The Institute for International Film Financing ("IIFF") is an innovative, independent social-impact organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the worlds of filmmaking and finance. IIFF's one-of-a-kind mission is to prudently expand the scope and appeal of film financing in an economically sustainable manner, for the benefit of all stakeholders including the public at large.

Established in 2003 by former investment banker Thomas Trenker, IIFF is incorporated in California as a not-for-profit, public-benefit corporation headquartered in San Francisco. IIFF remedies stifling inefficiencies in film financing and cultivates success in independent film by instituting a trusted platform for research, education, networking and collaboration at the nexus of film and finance. IIFF represents the interests —and addresses the challenges— of film entrepreneurs and investors alike, and serves the public benefit by reinvigorating independent film.

Democratizing Film Financing

Obtaining proper financing is the single most pervasive, yet most persistently overlooked, barrier to success in independent film. Even seasoned financiers and producers are often at a loss when it comes to effectively and successfully financing film. IIFF aims to create economic sustainability in film financing by enabling both filmmakers and financiers to consistently benefit from their interactions.

IIFF brings film financing knowledge, skills and opportunities to a broad and diverse audience. This opens new financing channels for filmmakers, exposes investors to an expanded menu of choices, invigorates local filmmaking communities and grows regional economies in which they are embedded.

The Best of Two Worlds

IIFF fuses the best practices and most effective strategies from the worlds of filmmaking and finance into a novel, innovative approach that heralds a new era of film financing. For instance, Silicon Valley’s proven model of entrepreneurship and venture capital offers a powerful template for successful and effective cooperation between entrepreneurs and financiers; this model lends itself not only to the financing of technology ventures but also to the funding of independent film projects.

Serving the Public Benefit

Regional film economies have long been stagnating or worse, due to a lack of entrepreneurial financing. IIFF not only assists in arranging film financing but it empowers filmmakers to build successful careers and financiers to pursue prudent investment strategies in film with a realistic set of expectations. IIFF benefits the general public by promoting and fostering sustainable regional economic growth, cultural diversity, community, philanthropic giving, freedom of expression, and the wonderful and universally inspiring art of independent filmmaking.

Empowerment by Education

Education is IIFF's "weapon of choice" in fighting the pervasive inefficiencies of film financing. IIFF regards its educational mission as a two-way street wherein finance and film professionals learn from each other and from experts in their respective fields. Topical education also acts as a door opener for newcomers and a foundation for innovation in film financing. No other means offers the same, powerful leverage as education. Since its founding, IIFF has helped hundreds of filmmakers and financiers better understand and navigate the process of independent film financing.

Educational programs of the Institute for Int'l Film Financing include:

• The "Film Financing Workshop" series of seminars teaches filmmakers and financiers fundamental as well as advanced techniques of success in film financing. Topics include understanding and preparing film business plans, traditional and nontraditional financing strategies, effective pitch presentations, and legal documents essential to film financing.

• The "Mentorship Program" is a nonprofit service that teams up volunteer mentors from qualified business backgrounds with select mentees from the creative world of filmmaking. Mentors and mentees join forces for three months to prepare or complete a compelling film business plan that meets the highest standards and improves the filmmaker’s ability to obtain financing.

• The "Business Plan Roundtable" is a peer-support collective patterned after the proven model of screenwriting groups. It provides a grassroots forum for film entrepreneurs to develop and refine business plans —along with business planning and pitch presentation skills— within a peer support structure, thus empowering them to collaboratively overcome obstacles. Roundtable members meet to constructively critique and support each other on their way to film financing success.

IIFF's educational programs complement one another in bridging the gap that has traditionally kept filmmakers and financiers from achieving mutual success. IIFF supplements its educational offerings with networking events for filmmakers, financiers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in film and finance. These gatherings include IIFF's popular, monthly community meetings. True to IIFF's motto of "democratizing film financing," community meetings bring together a wide array of professionals from relevant backgrounds in film, finance and beyond for a vibrant evening of insightful presentations, inspiring discussion and focused networking.

Past IIFF events have reliably delivered useful insights into the business of film, purveyed quality education on film financing, provided valuable networking opportunities, fostered community ties between filmmakers and financiers, and managed to draw large and enthusiastic crowds.

Network of Chapters

Founded in Switzerland, IIFF is headquartered in San Francisco, at the junction of Northern California's innovative film community and Silicon Valley's prolific venture capital industry. IIFF has been rolling out new chapters in other U.S. cities including New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami. IIFF chapters operate autonomously but synergistically within the framework set by a global charter. Each chapter serves the particular needs of its local community of financiers and filmmakers while leveraging regional strengths and the resources of IIFF's globally networked organization.

For more information, please contact the IIFF team.