How the Filmmaker Impact Fund Works (and What to Expect)
3 June 2026
If you’re thinking about submitting to The Short Film Show, the Filmmaker Impact Fund is one of the first things worth understanding — both how it can reward your work, and what it does and doesn’t promise.
What the Fund is
The Filmmaker Impact Fund is our framework for sharing a portion of eligible platform revenue — including subscription income and, where applicable, advertising — with independent filmmakers. Each month, The Short Film Show may set aside part of that eligible revenue for creators through the Fund.
What decides your share
Where a revenue share applies, it’s driven by real audience engagement rather than a flat per-film fee. Shares are calculated using engagement data — primarily watch time, and in some cases other viewing behaviour such as completion — measured against the other qualifying films in the same period. In short: the more people genuinely watch your film, the larger the share you may be eligible for.
Eligibility comes first
To take part, your film must be available for monetisation on The Short Film Show and meet any minimum engagement or eligibility requirements. This is the important part to be clear about: taking part is subject to eligibility, and earnings depend on how the platform performs. The Fund is not a guarantee of payment — it’s a way to share in the platform’s success when your work helps drive it.
Weighting
Some films may qualify for additional weighting within the Fund. 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. Weighting rules form part of the Fund framework and may be refined over time to keep the system balanced.
The Tip Jar
Alongside any Fund-based earnings, viewers can support you directly through the Tip Jar on your film page. Tips are processed separately from the Fund (though they may appear in the same dashboard reporting) and can be subject to payment-processing fees, minimum release thresholds and verification requirements, as set out in the Filmmaker Agreement.
Reporting and payouts
Qualifying filmmakers receive reporting that can include watch time per film, the calculated share of the Fund, any weighting applied, and tips received. Payouts are made once your account reaches the minimum payout threshold; if your balance is below it, it rolls forward to the next cycle.
The bottom line
The Fund is built to be transparent, fair and scalable — a model that links viewership to reward and grows as the platform grows. It rewards films that genuinely connect with audiences, based on eligibility and performance, rather than promising a fixed amount up front.
Ready to take part? Start with how to submit your film, or read the full Filmmaker Impact Fund overview.