This in-depth, three-hour Master Class will help you navigate the process of financing and producing your film outside of the U.S., focus on how co-productions work, financial incentives available in other countries, and how you determine which country is best suited for your film’s needs.


Veteran producer and executive Stuart Pollok will guide you through the complexities of setting up an international production. Through real-world case studies and the latest industry programs, you'll gain the essential knowledge and strategies to successfully navigate the global production landscape.


What You'll Learn:

  • The differences between international productions and co-productions
  • How to leverage local incentives and funding programs
  • The financial pros and cons of producing abroad
  • How to find and collaborate with international co-producers
  • Key qualifications for international productions
  • A comparative look at top production hubs (Canada, UK, EU, and more)

Whether you're seeking financial advantages, creative flexibility, or global collaboration, this Master Class will equip you with the tools to bring your vision to life with an international strategy.


Topics Include:

  • 0:00:01 - Introduction
  • 0:01:15 - Why are we here? - Crisis in Value
  • 0:05:16 - Finance Plan overview
  • 0:07:50 - Equity Projects
  • 0:10:16 - Co-Production fundamentals
  • 0:19:56 - Types of Subsidies
  • 0:24:44 - Production Categories - Canada example
  • 0:31:36 - Key Subsidy Questions
  • 0:37:38 - Q&A
  • 0:42:57 - Types of Subsidies: Bilateral Treaties
  • 0:53:46 - Types of Subsidies: The Convention
  • 1:02:11 - Types of Subsidies: ‘Unofficial’ Co-Productions
  • 1:10:10 - Unofficial Co-Production Case Study: The Hunter’s Prayer
  • 1:25:50 - Summarizing Financial Plans and Subsidies
  • 1:26:45 - Q&A
  • 1:45:36 - Process of International Financing
  • 1:50:48 - Diversity and Cultural Initiatives
  • 1:52:37 - Understanding the Value of Your Project
  • 1:56:00 - Finding a Co-Producer
  • 2:01:10 - Helpful Hints
  • 2:12:09 - Final Thoughts
  • 2:14:26 - Final Q&A
  • 2:22:08 - Closing

Stuart Pollok
Stuart Pollok has 30 years’ experience in the development, packaging, financing and production of film in both the major motion picture studio and independent markets, with producer/executive producer credits on over a dozen features and arranging over $300 million in film financing. Most recently he served as Head of International Production for Pagale SE, a Swedish production entity. Prior to that he served as President of Production for Indomitable Entertainment for 5 years, where he managed over $40 million of equity investments by a HNWI, including Sony’s SOUL SURFER, and ran a film finance consultancy for studio producers. At Indomitable, he executive produced Terence Davies’ A QUIET PASSION starring Cynthia Nixon as Emily Dickinson as well as Sony’s CRASH PAD starring Domhnall Gleeson, Thomas Haden Church, and Christina Applegate and Sony’s INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE starring James Marsden, Thomas Jane and Billy Bob Thornton. more...
Katherine Street
Moderator | Digital Course & Event Producer
Katherine "Kat" Street is an LA-based award-winning filmmaker and Philadelphia native. A cinephile at heart, she writes female-driven stories with complex (oftentimes damaged) main characters, centered around self-discovery, self-love, and belonging. She has written numerous short-form projects, including original shorts, pilots, and features. She wrote and directed the dramatic short film “Cycles,” which received festival recognition in both acting and best romantic short. She also created her award-winning flagship web series "The New Adult,” which is currently streaming on Kweli TV. Kat is a Stowe Story Lab SAGIndie Fellow and a participant in the BlackMagic Collective Emerging Filmmakers Initiative. In 2021, she founded the Black Film Challenge, a project that showcases filmmakers of African descent and the movies they create. She earned her BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a concentration in Cinematography and has literary representation with Yak Yak Mgmt. more...
Tags:Financing & Funding

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