Inspiring You: Heart, Mind and Wallet

Café du FilmRabat

October, 2012

WHAT IS AFLAMNAH?

• It’s a website www.aflamnah.com• The first crowdfunding initiative in the Arab

world• Supporting the funding of creative ideas• Helping people create and not just consume• Allowing the general public to vote with their

wallets• Complements existing sources of funding

SO WHAT IS CROWDFUNDING?

• Crowdfunding is about getting the general public, people like you and I, to connect with great ideas that get pitched to them on the site.

• People who are inspired by an idea or a story can choose to make small or large financial contributions in return for rewards.

• This financial support all adds up so more and more great ideas can get funded and made.

• It is all about using the power of the crowd through social media.

• The crowd will choose the ideas they want to support

What we are not• Aflamnah is not a fund• Aflamnah is not a producer• Aflamnah is not a sponsor• Aflamnah does not select ideas• Aflamnah does not have any rights over your

project• Aflamnah does not let you sell equity in your

film

A FEW SUCCESS STORIES SO FAR

Success in Media Terms• Surpassed 150,000 page impressions since launch• Each visitor visits an average of 4 pages• Average time spent on website over 4.5 minutes• Over 2,000 FB fans• Over 650 followers on Twitter• Over 250 have already pledged money on the site• Almost $40,000 has been raised• Two projects have exceeded their targets• Two projects screened at TIFF and two screened at ADFF• One is the Palestinian entry for the Oscars• When I Saw You won Best Arab Film at ADFF announced

yesterday

How the site works if you are an idea owner• Register and log in• Upload your idea online guided by Aflamnah. You

will need written information, pictures, financial target, who is involved, what is the money going to be used for, rewards and a pitch video

• Aflamnah team works with idea owner to tweak, support before projects goes live

• Once live social media networks are activated by Aflamnah and idea owner begins campaigning

How the site works if you are a supporter• Register and Login• Browse the site or go directly to an idea • Select your reward• Select payment method and pay• That’s it! But great if you can share the idea

with your network to encourage them to support as well

DON’T THINK IT IS EASY… THINK OF YOURSELF AS A POLITICIAN CAMPAIGNING TO GET ELECTED

Before you start• Build your audience through social media platforms e.g. Facebook page, tap into

relevant groups• Listen to and understand your audience and potential supporters• Tell us who is involved (a film is not made by one person)• Set a realistic goal and assess what you think your network can provide in financial

terms• Show us what you already have money, cast, script, rushes, trailer, articles • Be Honest (people are making a deal with you, don’t misrepresent yourself, don’t

waste their time, money and in the process ruin your reputation and DO deliver on your promise)

• Crowdfunding is built on TRUST. Every word you use, every frame of video you create must boil down to “trust me”. Don’t forget that this is the internet and the age of social media

• Connect with your supporters and make them want to be part of your idea. Once they support you, continue to update them on your progress

• Have some fun with it! Even if the subject of your film is serious you can present it in a way that connects with people

Questions we get asked• When should I crowdfund?• Should my campaign be 30, 60 or 90 days?• How much time do I need to devote to my campaign?• Do I need a team to help me or can I do it alone?• How can I support my campaign with radio or TV or

print interviews?• Can I hold an event to raise awareness of my

campaign? • Is there an event (e.g. a film festival or networking

event) where I can promote my campaign

STAGGERING STATISTICS

• There are 450 crowdfunding websites around the world• In 2012, globally around $3 billion will be raised

through crowdfunding platforms• This year 10% of films at Sundance and Cannes had

benefited from crowdfunding• 10 Facebook friends 9% chance of success• 100 FFFs 20% chance of success• 1000 FFFs 40% chance of success• A project without a video only has a 15% chance of

success, while a project with video has a 37% chance of success.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN INSPIRED TO CONSIDER CROWDFUNDING YOUR NEXT FILM!

www.aflamnah.com

THANKS