Support our Film

The AFI Conservatory is a government-recognized 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization and holds tax-exempt status. Your donations to our film may qualify for a tax deduction under Section 170 of the U.S. Tax Code. A letter of acknowledgement from AFI will be sent to all contributors.

Types of Donations

TIER 1: $0 - $499 includes a “Special Thanks” in our credits for supporting our film.

TIER 2: $500 - $999 includes a “Filmmakers Wish To Thank” credit and a digital poster.

TIER 3: $1,000 - $4,999 includes an IMDB and on-screen “Associate Producer” credit, in addition to a poster and an invitation to our premiere.

TIER 4: $5,000 - $9,999 includes an IMDB and on-screen “Co-Executive Producer” credit, in addition to a poster, a t-shirt, and an invitation to our premiere.

TIER 5: $10,000 - $19,999 includes an IMDB and on-screen “Executive Producer” credit, in addition to a poster, a t-shirt, and an invitation to our premiere.

TIER 6: $20,000+ an “In Association With” credit in the opening credits of the film for yourself or your production company, which will also be listed on IMDB. You will also get everything else from tier 5, as well as a private dinner with our entire core team.

IN-KIND DONATIONS: If you wish to make a contribution to our film by offering goods or services to our team at a discounted rate, please contact our producer directly at ssteinberger@afi.edu.

  • • CREW & LABOR – Your donations help us pay fair wages to our wonderful crew members. Some of the positions we will be hiring professionals for are a production designer, hair & make-up artists, costume designer, first assistant director, sound mixer, boom operator, just to name a few. Despite just being a thesis film, at the AFI Conservatory we strive to live up to the professionalism of a feature film or TV series.

    • PRODUCTION COSTS – This encompasses everything from our on-set catering and craft services to ensure our entire cast and crew stays fed and hydrated throughout the shoot, as well as renting tents, walkie talkies, chairs, and any other set operation supplies we may need. A majority of our shoot will take place in a forest/wooded area, so everyone’s safety and comfort is paramount.

    • LOCATION – We will have two main locations: a suburban house and a forest. In addition to rental fees for each of these locations, we will also need to pay for a location monitor, which is often stipulated by the location owner to supervise and help us with any questions that may arise during the shoot.

    • ART DEPARTMENT – We currently do not have a production designer yet, but we are anticipating to have considerable art department expenses. This includes rentals fees for props, furniture, or any other set decorating elements that help bring our world to life.

    • POST PRODUCTION – As soon as we’re done shooting, our editor Spencer Shiffman gets to work. While he is an incredibly talented editor, there are other aspects of post-production that we will have to outsource to a post house. These include any addition of special effects or CGI elements, closed captioning, color grading, and post sound to polish the film and get it ready for festivals and distribution.

    • FILM FESTIVALS – As soon as we finish cutting the film, we can start submitting it to festivals! However, this comes with submission and processing fees. Your donations will help us cover this as well as help pay for travel to any festival that accepts our film.

  • Matching Grants

    Many corporations in the United States offer so-called matching grants where your contributions to qualifying Non-Profit Organizations such as the AFI Conservatory will be matched by your employer. This varies from company to company, but this can potentially double or in some cases even triple your contribution to our film.

    Should you have any questions in regards to tax deductions or matching grants, please contact our producer directly at ssteinberger@afi.edu.