Film financing traditionally relies on a mix of studio funding, private investors, pre-sales, tax incentives, and crowdfunding. But securing funding remains a major challenge, especially for independent filmmakers. The high financial risk, pressure to prioritize commercial success over artistic vision, and limited access to grants make it difficult for many projects to get off the ground.
As a result, philanthropy has become an innovative and essential source of support, with nonprofit organizations, private donors, and foundations funding films that align with their values. This growing role of film philanthropy is particularly crucial for socially impactful and independent films that might not attract traditional investors.
When director Ava DuVernay set out to adapt Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents into the 2023 film Origin, she encountered skepticism from traditional investors who deemed the project too intellectual. DuVernay turned to film philanthropy, securing funding from major foundations and private donors committed to social impact.
The Ford Foundation led the way with a $10 million commitment, blending grant making with mission-related investments in a move that has made waves in American film philanthropy. Other major players included the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Emerson Collective, and notable individuals like Melinda French Gates and 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, who also backed the film.
In France, philanthropy has long played a key role in film. Organizations like the Cinémathèque Française and Fondation Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé support film restoration and emerging filmmakers, while initiatives like Cannes’ Cinéfondation foster global talent. French nonprofits, from Afrique sur Bièvre, which promotes African cinema and cultural exchange, to Gobelins, the world’s leading animation school, amplify diverse storytelling and innovation in film.
French-American partnerships elevate film philanthropy on a global scale. A notable example is Netflix’s collaboration with Gobelins, which provides scholarships for African students in animation, fostering industry diversity and bringing fresh perspectives to global audiences.
At Friends of Fondation de France, we have championed philanthropy in the arts for 25 years, ensuring that cultural and artistic heritage remains vibrant and accessible. Each year, we help raise $3 million for arts, culture, and heritage projects, which is largest and fastest-growing sector among the causes we support.
Through Friends of Fondation de France, U.S. donors can support organizations that champion film’s transformative potential.
Amplifying Voices Through Documentary Film: 99
Documentaries have the power to inform, inspire, and connect audiences across cultures. 99, an organization dedicated to producing and translating impactful documentaries, ensures that stories about climate change, migration, LGBTQ+ rights, and more reach a global audience. By subtitling films in ten languages—and with ambitions to add Ukrainian, Swahili, and Turkish—99 makes these narratives accessible to millions. Beyond streaming, 99 hosts screenings in cinemas, schools, libraries, and even prisons, using film as a catalyst for dialogue and social change. U.S. donors can support these efforts by funding multilingual subtitling and expanding the reach of these crucial stories.
Supporting Cinematic Excellence: Fondation des Amis du Festival de Cannes
The Cannes Film Festival stands as one of the most prestigious celebrations of global cinema. Behind its glitz and glamour lies a commitment to nurturing young filmmakers, preserving film history, and promoting societal initiatives in gender equality, diversity, and environmental protection. Through Fondation des Amis du Festival de Cannes, donors help sustain these vital programs, ensuring that the world’s most celebrated film festival continues to support new voices and foster conversations about the industry’s future.
Bringing African Cinema to French Screens: Afrique sur Bièvre
Despite the richness of African cinema, many of its films remain underrepresented in global markets. Afrique sur Bièvre, an organization based near Paris, addresses this by hosting the annual Ciné Regards Africains festival, which attracts over 700 spectators and 1,000 students. Through screenings followed by discussions with filmmakers, critics, and journalists, the festival provides a platform for African storytelling. Thanks to the support of the McMillan Stewart Foundation, the festival awards an Audience Prize and brings filmmakers to France, bridging cultures and amplifying underrepresented voices in film.
Nurturing Visual Literacy: Le Bal
In today’s media-saturated world, understanding and critically analyzing images is more important than ever. Le Bal, an independent exhibition and educational center, focuses on contemporary visual arts, from photography to cinema. Its groundbreaking initiative, La Fabrique du Regard, works with over 2,000 young people annually, teaching them to decipher the messages within visual media. By supporting artist residencies, research collaborations, and educational programs, donors help equip future generations with the tools to engage with visual storytelling in meaningful ways.
Training the Next Generation of Animators: Gobelins
France has long been a leader in animation, and Gobelins is at the forefront of training the industry’s future stars. Renowned worldwide for its excellence in animation and visual storytelling, the school has produced talent behind some of the most acclaimed animated films and series, including the animated jingles seen during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Through scholarships and mentorship programs, Gobelins ensures that students from diverse backgrounds can access top-tier education and bring their creative visions to life.
SOS MEDITERRANEE: Rescuing Lives, Raising Awareness
Founded in 2015, SOS MEDITERRANEE is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to saving lives in the Central Mediterranean, one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Aboard the Ocean Viking, its rescue operations have saved over 39,000 people, including thousands of unaccompanied children. The organization also raises awareness through film, exemplified by its collaboration with Matteo Garrone’s Oscar-nominated Io Capitano, which portrays the harrowing journey of young migrants’ treacherous path across the deserts of Libya and the deadly Mediterranean.
As survivor Fofana Amara, whose story inspired the film, noted: “Ten years after my journey, I see that nothing has changed. It’s still the same, it’s even worse.” He has hope, however, that those who see the film and learn about the work that NGOs like SOS Mediterranee are doing, will make “people understand how difficult it is,” and see how vital rescue work is. American donors can help fund both rescue missions and educational initiatives that shed light on migration realities.
Centre Audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir: A Legacy of Feminist Film
Founded in 1982 by feminist activists Carole Roussopoulos, Delphine Seyrig, and Ioana Wieder, the Centre Audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir preserves and promotes audiovisual materials documenting the struggles, rights, and creativity of women and LGBTQ+ individuals. With over 1,600 films, the Center ensures that feminist and queer histories remain accessible to future generations. Through film dissemination, screenings, and workshops, it challenges gender stereotypes in media while actively documenting feminist and LGBTQ+ events. At a time when discrimination remains a global issue, its work is more relevant than ever. American donors can support the preservation and distribution of these archives, as well as educational programs that advocate for equality through cinema.
Support French Film Philanthropy
As the Oscars approach, the global film industry turns its attention to the best in cinema. French films have long held a distinctive place in this prestigious celebration, with their artistry and storytelling captivating audiences worldwide. But behind many of these cinematic achievements lies a robust culture of philanthropy that nurtures talent, funds daring projects, and ensures that French cinema continues to thrive.
Franco-American partnership has played a crucial role in fostering this creative exchange, supporting initiatives that amplify diverse voices and push the boundaries of storytelling. By supporting these initiatives, donors help sustain a rich cultural dialogue between France and the United States, and help preserve cinema’s ability to bear witness to history, give voice to the marginalized, and bring urgent social issues to the forefront.
To learn more about how you can support film philanthropy and champion the future of film, visit the Arts, Culture & Heritage page on our website.
