Future of Film Podcast · 3.3 How to Unlock Brand Funding for Features

"Brand funding of films is one of the fastest growing areas … the opportunity is now.” Brian Newman

Brian Newman is founder of Sub-genre, the leading consultancy on connecting brands and filmmakers with audiences. A hugely respected veteran of the US Independent Film industry, Brian was previously CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute and serves on the advisory board of the Camden International Film Festival. In this episode, we discuss brand funding and discover how Brian is working with major brands like Patagonia and Stripe to successfully invest in feature films. We also talk about how filmmakers can succeed in the age of super abundance and how to get noticed in the Attention Economy – and Brian reveals the most common mistake he sees being made by filmmakers.

About Brian Newman

Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content development, financing, distribution and marketing to help connect brands and filmmakers with audiences. Clients include: Patagonia , REI, Keen, Yeti Coolers, New York Times, Sonos, Stripe, Merck, Sundance, Vulcan Productions and Zero Point Zero.

Brian is also the producer of the upcoming The Ground Between Us (doc), The Outside Story (narrative), and Love & Taxes ; (narrative); and executive producer of Shored Up , The Invisible World (docs) and Remittance (narrative).

Brian has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, president of Renew Media (known for the Rockefeller Fellowships) and executive director of IMAGE Film & Video (producers of the Atlanta Film Festival).

Brian serves on the advisory board of the Camden International Film Festival. He has served on

the boards of Grantmakers in Film & Electronic Media (GFEM, now Media Impact Funders, as

Vice Chair and Treasurer); Muse Film & Television, Rooftop Films (Chair)

and IndieCollect (Co-Founding Board Member). Brian is a frequent keynote speaker on branded content and the future of film and new media and writes a popular weekly newsletter on these subjects. He was born in North Carolina and has an MA in Film Studies from Emory University.

This episode was recorded live at the 2019 Bogota AudioVisual Market (BAM). For more information on BAM www.bogotamarket.com