What the Fund Is
The Filmmaker Impact Fund is our framework for supporting filmmakers through The Short Film Show.
A portion of eligible platform revenue, including subscription income and, where applicable, advertising may be allocated to the Fund to support creators. Revenue sharing (where available) is designed to be driven by real audience engagement, so the more viewers watch your work, the more your film can contribute to your share.
The Fund is built to be transparent, fair, and scalable, a model that links viewership to reward and helps independent filmmakers benefit from the platform as it grows.
How It Works
Each month, The Short Film Show may set aside a portion of eligible platform revenue for filmmakers through the Filmmaker Impact Fund. Earnings (where applicable) are calculated using engagement data, primarily watch time and in some cases other viewing behaviour such as completion.
The goal is to keep revenue sharing simple, fair, and sustainable by linking viewer attention to filmmaker reward.
To qualify, your film must be available for monetisation on The Short Film Show and meet any minimum engagement or eligibility requirements.
Where a revenue share applies, qualifying films earn from the Fund based on their relative performance compared with other qualifying films in the same period.
Some films may qualify for additional weighting within the Fund framework. For example, films that are exclusive to The Short Film Show, or films involved in certain sponsorship or partnership activity, may receive higher weighting because they help build the platform’s audience and offer viewers something distinctive.
Weighting rules form part of the Fund framework and may be refined over time to keep the system balanced.Direct Support – The Tip Jar
Alongside Fund-based earnings (where available), filmmakers may also be able to receive direct viewer tips through the Tip Jar on their film page. This gives viewers a simple way to support creators directly.
Tips are processed separately from the Filmmaker Impact Fund, but may appear in the same dashboard reporting. Tips may be subject to payment processing fees, minimum release thresholds, and verification requirements, as set out in the Filmmaker Agreement.
Transparency & Payouts
Qualifying filmmakers receive reporting that can include watch time per film, the calculated share of the Fund, any weighting applied where relevant, and tips received.
Payouts are made once your account reaches the minimum payout threshold. If your balance is below the threshold, it automatically rolls forward to the next cycle.
Why It Matters to us
Independent short films often struggle to generate income, even when audiences love them.
The Filmmaker Impact Fund changes that, creating a genuine, sustainable link between viewership and reward.
Every ad watched, every minute streamed, and every subscription contributes directly to the filmmakers who make it all possible.
It’s not just a fund — it’s a shared ecosystem where everyone plays a part:
- Filmmakers bring their creativity and craft.
- Viewers bring their attention, curiosity, and support.
- The Short Film Show provides the stage, technology, and audience connection that turn those views into real value.
Without short films, there would be no platform.
By giving creators a return on the impact they generate, we’re not just paying filmmakers — we’re investing back into the entire short film community, ensuring that new stories can keep being told, discovered, and celebrated around the world.
Every watch supports a filmmaker. Every filmmaker strengthens the platform.
Together, they keep the art of short filmmaking alive.