Crowdfunding as a source of free capital for the film industry

With the advent of digital transformation, significant shifts have occurred in funding resources. One of the emerging avenues for securing digital funding is through the mechanism of crowdfunding, which has increasingly become a vital capital source for entrepreneurial project owners worldwide in recent years. These project owners promote their initiatives via specialized online platforms, soliciting financial contributions from backers. Often, to incentivize contributions, various rewards or reciprocal agreements are offered to those who support the project. Crowdfunding encompasses several categories to acquire funding, with cinema standing out as one of the most popular among them. Unlike traditional funding sources that might lead to interference or censorship in project content, crowdfunding allows projects to maintain their autonomy in content creation and management. Consequently, independent cinema projects embracing alternative perspectives and bold narratives find avenues to connect with audiences. This thesis delves into filmmakers who have leveraged the reward-based crowdfunding system, a novel phenomenon in Turkey's crowdfunding landscape. The study aims to glean insights into the crowdfunding process through the experiences of project owners who have previously managed successful funding campaigns. Data obtained through qualitative research methods extensively examines the research question, focusing on the reward-based crowdfunding process and subsequent film production phases. One of the key findings of this research is that crowdfunding serves as a significant financial and support mechanism for the independent film industry. This method not only provides financial freedom for independent filmmakers but also allows direct interaction with audiences, facilitating the creation of content in a liberated manner. Embracing crowdfunding, independent cinema projects pave the way for diverse voices to be heard and contribute to the creation of films that foster diversity and innovation.