Several companies have formed to help filmmakers finance their films by cutting out the middleman and matching filmmakers with investors, finishing funds, or distributors. Whatever stage you're at in the filmmaking process, there is now a company that can help financially. These new companies offer a variety of very sensible services, yet such methods of eliciting funds are largely untried, and the jury is still out on whether they will work. Many big city filmmakers in New York City or Los Angeles probably won't want to use a service to connect to investors if they can seek out cash propositions in person or from known sources. If the services offered in these sites work, then they may be a genuine boon to independent filmmakers seeking funding.
New companies launch frequently, so what follows is an incomplete list of present options.
Ask companies for references and do some research before you give them all your ideas. Efilmfund was developed to help aspiring filmmakers find potential investors to finance and market their films. Efilmfund provides a venue for filmmakers and investors to meet, and the rest is up to the individuals using the site. Filmmakers submit a description of a project for consideration by investors, while investors register themselves on the site to access a list of projects seeking funding. Efilmfund is one of the simplest and most straightforward options.