A crowdfunding rally for stories lighting the way to a brighter future.

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Build your audience and be eligible for more than $250,000 in prizes.

#CaseForOptimism
sponsored by

We are kicking off 2018 by demonstrating the indomitable spirit of independent filmmakers. We’ve partnered with WeTransfer and Bow+Arrow Entertainment to bring cash rewards to filmmakers making a case for optimism in their work: stories of hope, change, redemption, determination, inspiration… you know, the stuff that so clearly demonstrates the creative genius of humanity it can't help but make you feel optimistic.

Prizes

A total of $50,000 in grants and hundreds of thousands worth of marketing support from WeTransfer for up to 10 winning projects.

$25,000 in investment from Bow and Arrow Entertainment for up to 3 winning documentary projects.

New to crowdfunding rallies? Check out the FAQs.

THIS RALLY IS NOW CLOSED

Stay tuned for the winner announcement.

How to Join

1. LAUNCH CAMPAIGN

Launch a crowdfunding campaign on Seed&Spark by March 25, 2018. All formats (features, series, shorts, docs, etc.) are welcome for the WeTransfer prizes; only campaigns for short or feature documentaries are eligible for Bow and Arrow Entertainment prizes. Opt into #100DaysOfOptimism when submitting your campaign, and include a statement on how your film contributes to a case for optimism in your pitch video. Note that you need submit your campaign by March 18th to complete our review process before you can launch. Read about our process.

2. BUILD & ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE

To qualify for prizes, you must reach your funding goal (100% funded) and gather minimum of 1,000 campaign followers. Followers include all contributors, as well as anyone who clicks “follow” from your campaign page to receive your email updates.

3. FINALIST PITCH

Finalists for the Bow and Arrow Entertainment prizes will be selected from qualifying projects by Bow and Arrow. Once notified as a finalist, you’ll have 10 days to submit a project deck and budget (a sizzle reel may also be submitted, but is not required).

Once eligible (100% funded and at least 1,000 followers), you’ll have 10 days to post a 30-second video update telling WeTransfer how much of the grant money you’d like and how you would use it in your project.

Winners will be selected at the discretion of WeTransfer and Bow and Arrow Entertainment. All winners will be announced before May 8, 2018.

full Terms & Conditions

Ready to go?

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FAQ

What types of projects are eligible?

All formats are eligible for this rally: shorts, features, series, fiction and non-fiction. In your pitch video, you must make it clear how your work makes a #CaseForOptimism.

Does the project have to be ready to go into production?

Not at all! You can run a crowdfunding campaign at any stage from development to post-production. The purpose is to start building your audience and to advance your project to the next phase.

When should I submit and launch my campaign on Seed&Spark?

You can submit your project as soon as you want, but you must submit by March 18 at the latest for the feedback process. Your campaign must launch before 11:59pm Pacific March 25, and end before 11:59pm April 24. You should submit your campaign a minimum of 3 business days (and more if possible) before the date you’d like to go live, providing enough time for our crowdfunding specialists to review your campaign and provide personalized feedback.

What happens after the crowdfunding ends?

The end of your campaign is just the beginning! If you get the green light (raise 80% of your goal), we begin to transfer the funds and you get to work fulfilling incentives, updating your supporters and making your project.

If you raise 100% of your goal and have a minimum of 1,000 campaign followers, you'll have 10 days to submit your pitch materials for the WeTransfer prize. (Don't worry, we'll email you all those details when you become eligible.) And of course, the funds will be transferred, you'll fulfill your incentives and (most importantly!) be one giant step closer to making your film!

When will the finalists be announced?

If you reach the eligibility requirements (100% funded and 1000 followers) you are a finalist! You will have 10 days from when you are notified to prep your 30 second pitch.

Bow and Arrow finalists will be notified as they are selected throughout the rally.

When will the winners be announced?

All winners will be announced and notified before May 8, 2018.

Are there still benefits if I don’t win?

The answer is a big, fat YES! ALL filmmakers who gather 500 or more followers are eligible for Seed&Spark's Filmmaker Rewards, worth over $9,000 in production, post, distribution and marketing perks, as well as festival fee waivers. More importantly, by raising funds and gathering an audience on Seed&Spark, participants take control of their creative future, creating a path to their own sustainable filmmaking career. And that's the biggest win out we can think of.