Exeter Phoenix supports crowd sourced short film

Exeter Phoenix has launched its first crowd-sourced short film commission with a piece by Devon-based filmmaker Tom Austin.

The commission, which requires Austin to receive the majority of his funding from the crowd sourcing website Crowdfunder.co.uk is the first of its kind by Exeter Phoenix.

Austin is aiming to raise £2,000 to fund his short film, Host Familie; a dark comedy about a German Undergraduate staying with a dysfunctional family on the English Rivera. Exeter Phoenix has provided £500 of this cost. 

Jonas Hawkins, Exeter Phoenix Digital Manager, said "We are excited and very proud to be pushing our filmmakers in to new territories and we looking forward to seeing how this platform can take filmmakers a step further."

As an incentive the film’s funders are rewarded with prizes based on the size of their donation. Ranging from an electronic copy of the finished film to a chance to visit the set while filming and even pick a mixtape, vinyl, DVD or CD from the director’s personal collection.

Managing Director of Crowdfunder.co.uk, Phil Geraghty said: ‘It’s great to see an independent film maker crowdfunding his latest idea. It’s also fantastic to see Exeter Phoenix supporting Tom with his idea, we are all about bringing project owners and communities together and this is a great example of this.’

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If successful in achieving its funding goal the film will begin shooting in august and premiere at the Exeter Phoenix’s Two Short Nights film festival.

Austin has previously won the audience favourite award and was co-winner of the film bursary award at the Two Short Nights Film Festival in 2009.