FAQ

  1. Do I have to be a Filmocracy member to apply?

No. Anyone is free to apply.

  1. Is Filmocracy’s support limited to any geographical area?

Yes, right now it is limited to the south Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Soon we plan to extend our support to other parts of India as well. However, the filmmaker/producer will have to bear the additional expenses to transport the equipment from Filmocracy’s Kerala office in Thrissur to the shooting location.

  1. I do not have any formal training in filmmaking, can I still apply?

Yes, you can.

  1. Is there an application fee?

There is no application fee.

  1. Do I have to apply online? Is it possible to submit application by post or directly?

Yes, you must apply online. Application by post or directly will not be accepted.

  1. What are the documents required?

The applicant has to furnish supporting documents stated in the submission form. Please read the guidelines to learn about it more.

  1. Can I apply to make my first short film or feature film?

Yes, you can.

  1. Can I approach the Filmocracy Foundation to make a documentary?

Yes.

  1. Can I approach the Filmocracy Foundation to make serial?

No, serials are not supported.

  1. I don’t write scripts; I write outlines and allow my actors to do what they do best. Can I apply?

Yes, you can apply with a detailed film treatment (minimum 8-15 pages), director’s statement and any other supporting materials to impress the selection panel. But remember that there should be sufficient materials for the panel to evaluate your project, without which the application will not be accepted.

  1. If I’ve previously applied, can I apply again with the new project?

Yes, you can apply with a new project.

  1. Would Filmocracy have consideration for the struggling first time/second time filmmakers?

While we put our best efforts to support every remarkable project in terms of content/creative merits/innovation etc, preference would be given to the first/second time filmmakers, as they deserve more support than the established ones.

  1. What are the selection criteria and the process?

Selecetion process is two tiered.

Tier-1: We have a 5-member panel for selecting the projects for production support. Each member would award 0-10 points based on content/creative merits/innovativeness of a project. A project scoring 30 (out of 50) or above points would be shortlisted.

Tier-2: Filmmaker of the shortlisted project along with the cinematographer (if finalized) shall appear for an online interview with the Filmocracy team. Final approval shall happen after this process.

  1. Is there a period of validity for the production support grant?

Though this is a support grant for a particular project, it is valid only for one year. Once a project is approved for production support grant, it is valid for one year from the date of approval. If in case the grantee would like to be supported by the Foundation after this period then the applicant needs to make a request for an extension. The Foundation would make a decision based on the merits of the request as well as on the availability of the equipment.

  1. How long does the Filmocracy Foundation take to decide on an application?

We take 30 days to process and assess the merit of the application. We typically inform the applicant about our decision within 30 days from the time the application is submitted. However, in case of any unavoidable delays in this process we would inform the applicant.

  1. If Filmocracy approves my short/documentary/feature film project, do I still need a producer?

While Filmocracy helps you to bring down the production costs drastically, you still need funds (however small it is) to finish production and post-production works.

  1. If my project gets approved, what are my obligations?

The selected filmmakers are required to enter a legal contract with the Filmocracy Foundation which must be honoured by the grantee. The grantee shall hold all creative and legal rights of the project. The grantee shall give proper credit to Filmocracy Foundation as described in the contract. Other than that there is no maintenance fee or profit/revenue sharing required with the foundation. However, the bata of crew members from the Foundation to be paid by the filmmaker. We expect the grantees to abide by all the ethical standards of filmmaking.

  1. Does the Foundation retain any copyright claims on my completed work?

No.

  1. What happens after my project is selected?

Once the project is selected, it is handed over to the ‘Project Management’ team. They would help you to plan/design your shoot and schedule it conveniently.

  1. Should I pay Filmocracy crew members?

Yes, you have to pay the crew as they are the backbone of our system.

  1. We are a team of experienced technicians; we wouldn’t need Filmocracy’s crew. Is it possible to avoid the Foundation’s crew and the payment for them?

It is our strict policy to hand over the equipment only to the Filmocracy Foundation crew. This is to ensure the safety and the upkeep of the equipment. However, the number of crew members from the Filmocracy Foundation to be employed can be negotiated and may vary from project to project.

  1. What is the minimum qualification for cameramen/sound recordists to use the equipment provided by the Filmocracy Foundation?

We would provide the equipment only to technicians with prior experience in the specific area.

  1. Should I pay for the equipment the Filmocracy Foundation provides?

No.

  1. Should I make the crew payment in advance?

No. You can make the crew payment when you return the equipment to the foundation’s staff. They would make the crew payment after checking the state of returned equipment.

  1. What happens if any of the equipment gets damaged while in our possession?

You have to pay for the replacement if the damage is due to negligence.

  1. How many feature film projects will be approved in a year?

It depends on many factors. However, we foresee 6-8 feature projects in a year.

  1. Is there a budget limit to qualify for a feature film production support?

Yes. Filmocracy Foundation supports feature film projects with budget up to Rs. 50 lakhs only.

  1. Under what conditions would the Filmocracy Foundation withdraw its support grant?

Any breach of the clauses in contract duly signed by the grantee can result in the Filmocracy Foundation exiting the collaboration with the filmmaker with immediate effect.

29. What are the safety measures taken by Filmocracy to protect my script/concept while submitting it for the production support program?

As in the guidelines, we strongly advice filmmakers to get their script/treatment/concept registered under a copyright authority before submitting it for production support. However the communication with Filmocracy is well documented and the panelists have been sensitised on the need for confidentiality. The entire process is far more transparent compared to the verbal discussions that take place with other creative/technical collaborators or potential producers.

30. What is the script mentorship program?

From 2021, the Filmocracy Foundation has introduced a Script Mentorship program which is spearheaded by a team of experienced filmmakers and scriptwriters with tested methodologies for script mentoring. Each selected project will be given an option to seek mentorship from allocated mentors who would conduct one-to-one sessions with the filmmakers to help them improve the quality of their scripts. As of now only the projects that get accepted by the Filmocracy Selection Panel for production support can apply/opt for the script mentorship program. This mentorship program is optional and free of cost.

31. Are all filmmakers who get selected for the production support grant from Filmocracy Foundation required to attend the script mentorship program?

No. This is optional. The filmmaker is free to choose this facility offered by the Foundation.

32. Does the filmmaker have to pay any fee to attend the script mentorship program?

No. The mentorship program is free of cost.

33. Can anyone apply for the script mentorship program?

No. Right now, the script mentorship program is reserved for projects that are approved for Filmocracy’s production support program.

Submission Form

Guidelines