Meet the First Recipients of Cinestruct's Matching Pledge Program Funding
Cinestruct distributes over $900 in matching pledge funds.
Last year Cinestruct announced its bold ambitions for Cinevite Pledge, our new platform designed to raise funds for films going through the festival circuit. Our moonshot goal was established to raise $100,000 in funding for independent filmmakers. To put force behind our moonshot, we also announced the 2024 Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program, our commitment to directly support the top fundraising filmmakers using Cinevite Pledge. As we reflect on our recent success at the 2024 Short. Sweet. Film Fest., we're thrilled to celebrate the first filmmakers to receive funds through the Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program!
Leading the accolades, SOUND MIRAGE, co-directed by Georga Morgan-Fleming and José Herrera, captivated audiences at the festival. With $545 raised in pledge contributions, we are thrilled to award the film an additional $500 through the Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program. This gripping short film follows Mila and Frank's unsettling return from the San Bernardino desert, plunging viewers into a maze of deserted alleyways and an invisible force pulling them apart.
“We were able to really fundraise like this for the first time ever.” Morgan-Fleming shared. “And that's such an important and critical element to filmmaking at any level and a really very cool step for us in our career and the platform itself is super simple.”
Herrera added, “Filmmaking is really capital intensive. So, you know, any money really goes a long way and really helps us out, especially as we're an independent short film studio and we really value having creative independence in terms of what projects we get to choose.”
Green Humanity, directed by Garrett Miller, raised $205 in pledge contributions, matching every dollar through the Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program. This narrative of survival follows a young man who becomes lost in the woods with his only means of escape being the aid of a cunning hiker.
Miller expressed, “In our biggest case, we have already divvied up the funds that we've gotten from other people and from Cinevite … having that can go a long way and can make your films a lot better in ways that … you wouldn't even expect. So yeah, it's always good to have something like Cinevite in your corner.”
Olivia Dance's LICE offers a chilling glimpse into a dystopian society, raising $105 in pledge contributions, which were fully matched by the Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program. The film's haunting narrative and its commentary on human behavior and societal expectations resonates deeply.
“So funding is a big part of filmmaking, obviously. So the funds that I have received from Cinevite will be used in my further projects.” said Dance. “There is actually a short film that I'm working on currently and we are shooting in a couple of weeks, so this money will definitely be of great help for that project.”
Big George, directed by Jamie Effros, raised $95 in pledge contributions, with each dollar matched. The film delves into the life of a middle-aged actor struggling with identity and dreams in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Effros shared, “The funds are really just going to go towards being able to keep going to festivals, keep showing up and seeing people in person which is like the whole game and something that we missed out on really, really terribly during the pandemic.”
A Resounding Success at the Short. Sweet. Film Fest.
The 2024 Short. Sweet. Film Fest. not only showcased 300 short films, it marked a milestone with the introduction of Cinevite Pledge. With $1,000 collectively raised through the Cinevite Pledge campaign, the festival became a vibrant platform for supporting independent filmmakers. The Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program builds on that success with $905 in matching pledge funds.
As we look forward to future events in 2024, we are committed to opening more doors for independent filmmakers with Cinevite Pledge. Each awarded film is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and passion that defines independent cinema. Here's to many more stories to be told, supported by the vision and innovation from Cinestruct and the vibrant community it serves.
Stay tuned for full interviews with the recipients of the Cinestruct Matching Pledge Program funding.