P.I. Filmmaker Podcast

#19: No Prior Experience Needed

Independent filmmakers spend years creating work, pay to submit to festivals and hope someone decides their film deserves a platform. But what happens when the people controlling those opportunities become the filmmakers seeking financial support?After seeing that a festival director was crowdfunding their first short film, I explore the uncomfortable questions this raises about power, access and who really benefits from the independent film ecosystem. From “no prior experience needed” selection panels to gatekeepers using established platforms to support their own projects, I discuss transparency, fairness and whether the systems created to champion independent film always serve the filmmakers who keep them alive.