Funding independent films is never easy. The difficulties receiving grants and finding other sources of funding is a full-time job beyond the time it takes to actually work on the film itself!
Salam Films is a Vancouver-based international film production company that’s less than 48 hours away from ending our first crowdfunding campaign an alternative financing tool for creative and startup projects that’s emerging in North America, Europe and the Middle East.
We’re running our campaign to raise post-production funds for feature documentary, WAJD: Music, Politics & Ecstasy. The film traces Syrian-Canadian director Amar Chebib’s journey through Syria and Turkey to learn Arab Ottoman music. There he discovers its deep connection to Sufism and the sociopolitical influences that led to its suppression. The film is ultimately a story about this music’s ability to invoke a heart opening experience of universal beauty.
We’re making this film because we’re inspired to share the beauty of this music that has inspired us with the rest of the world. On September 4th we gratefully reached and surpassed our goal of $15,000, a few days before our campaign deadline of September 8th. This was not an easy feat, and we’re dedicated to continuing our work at the same pace until the end of our campaign. We have only 2 days left to reach our new goal of $20,000 so that the funds beyond our initial goal can go towards hiring an editing/story consultant and to doing a final sound mix at a professional studio.
Here’s a list of tips that incorporate some of what we’ve learned along the way:
