Today we're thrilled to announce that more than $100 million has been pledged to film projects on Kickstarter. This is a big milestone for independent filmmakers and this new way of filmmaking. How big? Let's take a look.
Film & Video statistics (April 28, 2009 January 1, 2013)
Total pledged: $102.7 million
Total collected: $85.7 million
Total backers: 891,979
Funded projects: 8,567
In the past three years, nearly 900,000 people have pledged their support to an independent filmmaker on Kickstarter, pledging more than $100 million to features, documentaries, shorts, webseries, and other film and video projects. Nearly $60 million has been pledged in the past 12 months alone.
Here's how those funds have been distributed:
Film Subcategory Pledged Funded Projects
Documentary $42.64 million 2,394
Narrative Film $31.74 million 2,331
Short Film $16.68 million 3,000
Webseries $6.83 million 619
Animation $4.87 million 223
Documentaries have had the most dollars pledged, but every category has received millions of dollars from thousands of backers. More than 3,000 short films and nearly 5,000 feature-length films have been successfully funded since 2009.
Kickstarter's impact on film
In Hollywood, $100 million might be the marketing budget for a single blockbuster, but independent filmmakers are more resourceful. This $100 million helped to create more than 8,000 films, many of which have gone on to great acclaim and success.
At least 86 Kickstarter-funded films have been released theatrically, screening in more than 1,500 North American theaters according to Rentrak. Another 14 films have theatrical premieres slated for 2013.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, three of the 20 best-reviewed films of 2012 are Kickstarter-funded (The Waiting Room, Brooklyn Castle, and Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry). Another Kickstarter-funded film, Pariah, was among the best-reviewed of 2011.
UPDATE: Five films have been nominated for Oscars in the past two years: Sun Come Up and Incident in New Baghdad in 2012, and Inocente, Kings Point, and Buzkashi Boys in 2013. A sixth, Barber of Birmingham, launched a project after being Oscar-nominated. Three other films were shortlisted for Oscar nominations in 2013: The Waiting Room, Detropia, and Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.
Kickstarter-funded films comprised 10% of Sundance's slate in 2012 and 2013. In total, 49 Kickstarter-funded films have been official selections at the prestigious festival.
Kickstarter-funded films comprised 10% of the 2012 slates at the SXSW Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. In total, 57 Kickstarter-funded films have premiered at SXSW and 21 at Tribeca.
At least 16 Kickstarter-funded films have been picked up for national broadcast through HBO, PBS, Showtime, and other networks.
Kickstarter-funded films have won at least 21 awards at the Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Cannes, and Berlinale festivals.
Eight Kickstarter-funded films are nominated for Independent Spirit Awards this year.
This would be a very impressive track record for an established studio or production company. To see these results come from outside the system in such a short time is even more inspiring. Filmmakers and audiences have come together on Kickstarter to make the movies they want to see while protecting the filmmakers vision for their work.
Congratulations to the Kickstarter film community for their hard work and deserved success, and thanks to their backers for their generous support. We look forward to funding and watching your films in the years to come!
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Today we're thrilled to announce that more than $100 million has been pledged to film projects on Kickstarter. This is a big milestone for independent filmmakers and this new way of filmmaking. How big? Let's take a look.
