I'm considering doing a dance documentary and am curious about funding for dance films. I'd love to hear from anyone who has previous experience finding funding for projects like this. I have no idea about financing films so any leads are appreciated. I've always been a worker bee and never had to think about the money before.

<img src="http://www.nativevoicefilms.com/images/mara-dance-strong.jpg" alt="" />
<small>Cathy Marston in "Facing Mara"</small>

I had a small role, behind the scenes, in a "day-in-the-life" film about the RB dancer Mara Galeazzi, who is now a Principal in the Company. With choreography and appearances by Cathy Marsden, the 30-minute film was made on a shoe-string with:

- few of those involved being paid
- Kodak persuaded to provide film stock at a discount rate
- Editing facilities provided free for overnight use
- money raised from a number of sources, including an appeal organised by yours truly on ballet.co.uk
- total cost was, from memory, around £6,000 some 6 years ago, which was seen as being very low.

The film went out on video and was sold by Dance Books and a few places like Sadler's Wells. It won a prize at an international festival and I believe it was screened on a European arts TV channel.

The Director, Philip Cox, now focuses on films on indigenous peoples for his company Native Voice. Here is a little more information about the film:

http://www.nativevoicefilms.com/past_mara.htm

As regards funding for your film, 2 left, it depends on the scale of work you have in mind, as different approaches and funders will be appropriate, depending on the project.

As I'm sure you know you will need a synopsis document with an outline, details of those involved and preferably initial letters of support, for use with potential funders.

<small>[ 26 August 2004, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>