cinefemme
Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides fiscal sponsorship and financial infrastructure exclusively for women filmmakers, enabling tax-deductible fundraising and grant access. It has incubated over 70 film projects through partnerships with festivals and industry organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What cinefemme does
Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California, that operates as the first fiscal sponsor exclusively for women filmmakers in the Western world. Its core service is a fiscal sponsorship program that provides tax-exempt financial infrastructure—through its 501(c)(3) status—to enable filmmakers to receive tax-deductible donations and access government and foundation grants restricted to nonprofits. The organization charges an 8% fiscal agent fee on processed project funds, a $150 non-refundable application fee, and offers tiered membership under the Stellar Donor Circle program with levels ranging from $500 (Copper) to $50,000 (Supernova).
The business operates on a community-led go-to-market model, recruiting filmmakers through industry partnerships, events such as Dinner With Dames, the Cinefemme Directors Collective, and The Test Podcast. Sponsored projects—over 70 features, shorts, festivals, and other productions since inception—receive incubation from development through exhibition and distribution, including representation at major festivals such as Tribeca and Cannes and broadcast via PBS through American Public Television. Strategic partners include Sony Pictures, Sundance Institute, Women in Film, Film Fatales, Seed & Spark, and California Humanities, among others.
Cinefemme generates revenue through four streams: fiscal sponsorship fees (8% take rate on distributed project funds), application fees ($150 per applicant), membership dues from the Stellar Donor Circle, and tax-deductible donations and grants from individuals, foundations, government agencies, crowdfunding campaigns, and charitable trusts. From 2021-2024, the organization raised over $1 million cumulatively across these channels. The operation is lean, with 1-10 employees, and is led by Executive Director Michelle Kantor, who has held the role since 2007 and is supported by a board including figures such as Paul Feig (advisory) and Kimby Caplan.
cinefemme firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cinefemme
- Legal name
- Cinefemme
- Website
- https://cinefemme.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that provides fiscal sponsorship and financial infrastructure exclusively for women filmmakers, enabling tax-deductible fundraising and grant access. It has incubated over 70 film projects through partnerships with festivals and industry organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cinefemme industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship for Film
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing (MPADAAAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Crowdfunding & Fan-Financing (MPADAAAN)
Keywords
Where cinefemme is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
cinefemme business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Fiscal Sponsorship Fees: Cinefemme charges an 8% fiscal agent fee on funds processed for regular projects. This includes full incubation from development to exhibition and distribution, plus possible representation at major festivals in Cinefemme Slate screening blocks. Pass-through sponsorship is available for single large transactions typically over $25,000.
- Application Fees: A $150 application fee is required for filmmakers seeking fiscal sponsorship. No membership is required to apply.
- Membership Dues: Stellar Donor Circle membership program with tiered pricing: Copper ($500), Mercury ($1,000), Silver ($5,000), Gold ($10,000), Platinum ($25,000), and Supernova ($50,000). Higher tiers provide tax-deductible donation eligibility, event tickets, social media recognition, and website acknowledgment.
- Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors and foundations supporting women filmmakers. Cinefemme raised over $1 million from 2021-2024 via donations, government grants, crowdfunding campaigns, and charitable trusts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Fiscal Sponsorship - 8% fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Pass-Through Sponsorship - Fee varies |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Application Fee - $150 |
| Subscription | Annual | Copper Level - $500/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Mercury Level - $1,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver Level - $5,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold Level - $10,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Level - $25,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Supernova Level - $50,000/year |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
cinefemme product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cinefemme operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor exclusively for women filmmakers and their projects. It provides a nonprofit financial umbrella that enables qualifying filmmakers to solicit tax-deductible donations, access government and foundation grants restricted to nonprofits, and receive incubation support from development through exhibition and distribution. The organization charges an 8% fiscal agent fee on funds processed for regular projects (with pass-through sponsorship available for single transactions typically over $25,000), plus a $150 non-refundable application fee.
Product overview
Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves as a fiscal sponsorship platform exclusively for women filmmakers. The core offering is the Fiscal Sponsorship Program, which acts as a financial umbrella enabling tax-deductible fundraising and grant access for qualifying non-commercial film projects. Supporting programs include the Cinefemme Directors Collective (networking community for directors), Dinner With Dames (mentorship program pairing filmmakers with industry leaders), The Test Podcast (interview series with women in entertainment), and a tiered Membership/Stellar Donor Circle program. The organization has incubated and produced over 70 feature films, shorts, festivals, docuseries, TV pilots, and other film projects through its fiscal sponsorship model. Cinefemme operates primarily in the Western United States and connects filmmakers to opportunities for green-lighting projects from script to screen.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dinner With Dames: A program of Cinefemme connecting women filmmakers through dinner events with industry professionals
- Cinefemme Directors Collective
- The Test Podcast
Products and services
- Fiscal Sponsorship Program 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal umbrella that enables women filmmakers and their qualifying film projects to receive tax-deductible donations and access government and foundation grants restricted to nonprofits. Includes full project incubation from development to exhibition and distribution, with possible festival representation in Cinefemme Slate screening blocks. An 8% fiscal agent fee applies on processed funds; a non-refundable $150 application fee is required. Pass-through sponsorship is available for single transactions typically over $25,000.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70+ projects produced including features, shorts, festivals and other productions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use cinefemme
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
cinefemme technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
cinefemme partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LA Femme Film FestivalcoreFilm festival partnership providing screening opportunities and visibility for women filmmakers supported by Cinefemme.
- Film FatalescoreOrganization supporting female directors with networking and industry access for Cinefemme filmmakers.
- Film PoweredminorFilm industry networking and support organization for women filmmakers.
- Seed & SparkcoreCrowdfunding and distribution platform specifically for independent filmmakers, particularly women and diverse creators.
- IndiegogominorGeneral crowdfunding platform used by Cinefemme filmmakers for campaign fundraising.
- Women in FilmcoreIndustry organization supporting women in film with advocacy, networking, and professional development.
- Etheria Film NightcoreFilm festival celebrating female filmmakers and genre content created by women.
- Sundance InstitutecorePrestigious film institute providing resources and opportunities for independent filmmakers.
- Big Vision Empty WalletcoreDiversity-focused initiative supporting underrepresented filmmakers with funding and resources.
- Alliance of Women DirectorscoreOrganization supporting women directors with professional development and industry connections.
- Sony PicturescoreMajor studio partner providing industry support and visibility for women filmmakers.
- California HumanitiescoreState humanities council providing grant funding for documentary and film projects.
- Time's UpcoreLegal defense fund and advocacy organization supporting women in entertainment industry.
- Women in EntertainmentcoreOrganization providing networking and mentorship for women in entertainment.
- ScriptedminorScreenwriting and industry event organizer connecting filmmakers with opportunities.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
cinefemme competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Women Make Movies: Nonprofit fiscal sponsor and distributor focused exclusively on women filmmakers, with a similar 501(c)(3) model and long-standing grantmaking function. Cinefemme's most direct fiscal sponsorship peer.
- Alliance of Women Directors: Nonprofit organization supporting women directors through professional development and industry connections; partner of Cinefemme serving the same women-director segment.
- Film Independent: Major nonprofit that operates a fiscal sponsorship program for independent filmmakers, alongside labs, festivals, and membership programs, overlapping directly with Cinefemme's core service.
- Women in Film: Industry nonprofit advocating for women in entertainment with networking, grants, and professional development programs, serving a closely overlapping filmmaker community.
- Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP): Nonprofit organization providing fiscal sponsorship, labs, and community programs to independent filmmakers, competing for the same sponsorship applicants as Cinefemme.
- Film Fatales: Nonprofit organization supporting women and non-binary directors with networking and industry access; core Cinefemme partner addressing the same women filmmaker community.
- Big Vision Empty Wallet: Diversity-focused initiative providing funding and resources to underrepresented filmmakers; cited Cinefemme partner addressing the same BIPOC and women filmmaker support mission.
Emerging players
- Seed&Spark: Crowdfunding and distribution platform purpose-built for independent and diverse filmmakers, listed as a Cinefemme partner and a complementary funding channel for the same filmmaker base.
Regional players
- New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT): Regional nonprofit supporting women in film and television with grants, mentoring, and networking, comparable in mission to Cinefemme but with a New York-centric geographic focus.
Broad incumbents
- Sundance Institute: Largest nonprofit supporting independent filmmakers through labs, grants, and the Sundance Film Festival. A Cinefemme partner but also a much broader incumbent in the indie film funding ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
cinefemme social profiles
Digital presencecinefemme financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cinefemme leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
cinefemme funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cinefemme M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about cinefemme
What does cinefemme do?
Cinefemme operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fiscal sponsor exclusively for women filmmakers and their projects. It provides a nonprofit financial umbrella that enables qualifying filmmakers to solicit tax-deductible donations, access government and foundation grants restricted to nonprofits, and receive incubation support from development through exhibition and distribution. The organization charges an 8% fiscal agent fee on funds processed for regular projects (with pass-through sponsorship available for single transactions typically over $25,000), plus a $150 non-refundable application fee.
Is cinefemme a public or private company?
cinefemme is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was cinefemme founded?
cinefemme was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is cinefemme based?
cinefemme is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does cinefemme make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Fiscal Sponsorship Fees are the primary driver. The others are application Fees, membership Dues and donations and Grants.
Who are cinefemme's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Women Make Movies, Alliance of Women Directors, Film Independent, Women in Film, Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), Film Fatales and Big Vision Empty Wallet. Seed&Spark is listed as an emerging player. New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT) is listed as a regional player. Sundance Institute is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does cinefemme have an API?
No public API is recorded for cinefemme.
What industry is cinefemme in?
cinefemme's product category is Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship for Film. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAAAO, Grant Funding & Public/Nonprofit Financing, with a secondary code of MPADAAAN, Crowdfunding & Fan-Financing. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 7812.