Film Financing Workshop with Paul Miller 3-4 October Madrid Spain - 429EUR

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Jul 16, 2026, 7:08:27 AM (5 days ago) Jul 16

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429EUR with 35% Discount

until the 23rd of July

Film Financing in an Entrepreneurial Age Workshop

With Paul Miller

3rd — 4th of October

Madrid - Spain

This will be a unique opportunity to get a full and intensive insight on the world of film financing and production, with one of the most experienced professionals working today: Paul Miller. You will have an educational experience of excellence in a small and intimate group of only 25 participants, with

Paul Miller currently serving as Head of Film at Madrid-based ISB FILMS. some of his most recent film, Norah, premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2024. Previous regional films include Scales, which won the Verona Award for Innovation at the 2019 Venice Film Festival and was the Saudi submission for the 2021 Academy Awards.

He is also known for producing films such as Prozac Nation, Snow Angels, A Love Song For Bobby Long starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson, the Academy Award-nominated Lone Star, and the Golden Globe-nominated Men with Guns. Paul Miller, is also former Director of Film Financing at the the Doha Film Institute,

This 2-day intensive workshop is limited to 25 participants, ensuring personalized attention and a focused learning environment. We advise registering quickly to guarantee your spot. The workshop fee is 599EUR, but we are offering a special discounted fee until the 23rd of July, costing only 429EUR.

The workshop will take place in Madrid, Spain on the 3rd and 4th of October 2026.

For more information and to register please visit this workshop's page www.filmlab.fest.pt

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Paul Miller is a producer, executive, and consultant working in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. He is currently Head of Film at Madrid-based ISB Films.

Miller frequently produces in the Middle East; his most recent film, Norah, premiered at Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2024. Previous regional films include Scales, which won the Verona Award for Innovation at the 2019 Venice Film Festival and was the Saudi submission for the 2021 Academy Awards.

From May 2012 until October 2013, Miller was Director of Film Financing at the Doha Film Institute in Qatar. He oversaw a regional education training programme, a global grants fund, and managed an international film financing fund.

Prior to this, Miller produced "The Birder’s Guide to Everything" (2013), directed by Rob Meyer, and "Babygirl" (2013), written and directed by Macdara Vallely, produced with Samson Films and the Irish Film Board. During this period, he also produced the feature-length documentary "Poor Consuelo Conquers the World" (2011) with Les Films d’Ici for ARTE, and executive-produced "The Man Who Drew the Future" with Una Films and ARTE.

From 2002 to 2009, Miller was Head of Film Production at Crossroads Films, where he produced "Snow Angels", released by Warner Independent Pictures in 2008. The film was written and directed by David Gordon Green and starred Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. He also produced the Golden Globe-nominated "A Love Song For Bobby Long" (2004), starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson, released by Lionsgate Films.

Earlier in his career, Miller worked on John Sayles’ features "The Secret of Roan Inish" (1994), the Academy Award-nominated "Lone Star" (1996), and the Golden Globe-nominated "Men with Guns" (1997). He also produced "Prozac Nation" (2001), directed by Erik Skjoldbaerg and starring Christina Ricci, Jessica Lange, and Anne Heche, released by Miramax.

Educated in England, Miller is a graduate of the National Film and Television School in the U.K. He is a member and consultant with Paris-based Ateliers du Cinéma Européen (A.C.E.), Europe’s premier producers' association, and a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

You can find his full list of credits on IMDb.

The Film Financing workshop will focus on the art of producing a film in our entrepreneurial age, why the means of manufacture and distribution are in flux, and why finding your audience is key.

You will have the chance to not only receive this knowledge from a very revered professional, but also to interact strongly, as the group will have up to 25 participants, making it extremely practical and interactive. You will also have the opportunity to assess the issues you encountered on your films, and receive the feedback to unblock situations in the future.

The workshop will look at the how to develop, finance and complete a movie from the viewpoint of a creative producer. The workshop won’t be looking so much at the making of a movie - more about setting off on the right track, and finishing ahead of the game.

Participants should be prepared to discuss an unproduced project that has been previously developed by them to the point of a first draft screenplay. The project doesn’t have to be an active project, just an idea that the participant can use in the workshop. The scripts will not be read or shared during the workshop. If the participant doesn’t have one, then an idea that has been developed to treatment stage is also sufficient. For each film idea, the participants should also think of a director, lead cast, location, budget range and core audience. In addition, each participant should be prepared to informally pitch a recent idea based on a recent news article or event. These pitches will involve other participants role playing as potential buyers.

The workshop will also cover the following:

A. THE BEGININGS:

Ideas: Auteur vs. Industry/Art vs. Culture/Writer-Directors, Budget/Audience
Developing your Pitch: the Elevator Pitch/Longer Pitch
Pitching to a writer and director, pitching to investors
Partnering with another producer
Logline
Synopsis

B. FIRST STEPS

Assembling a Creative Team and making a few Key Decsions:
Commissioning a Writer
Choosing a Director
The Filmmaking Triad: Director/Writer/Producer
Hollywood vs. Europe
Packaging of Talent: agents, managers and lawyers and casting directors
Location of the Filming

Screenplay Rights and Collaboration Agreements:
Property Rights:
Copyright/Chain of Title
Screenplay Rights: Option/Purchase Agreements
Underlying rights: articles, books, life rights, etc.

Creative Team Agreements: Short Form/Long-form Contract:
Director Agreement
Producer Agreement
Writer Agreement
Producing Partnerships
Development Budget

Casting:
Cast Lists, Casting Directors
Securing Cast
Actor Agreements: Major Deal Points (Upfront/Contingent Compensation, Deferments, Profit Participation: Gross vs. Net
The Glory of Schedule ‘F’.

C. MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH AND BOX OFFICE COMPARABLES

Box Office Comparables: including budget, domestic, overseas and worldwide revenue and any known ancillary revenue, year of release, distributor and maximum # of screens

Marketing and Distribution Plan, Film Festivals, Distributors and Sales Agent

D. FINANCING
Revenue Flow
-Theatrical and Ancillary Rights: Domestic and Foreign BO, Domestic and Foreign Ancillary Rights

Revenue Projections
‘The Waterfall’
Estimating revenue based on Box Office: low, medium and high

Budget/Financing
- Financing Sources: Equity, Pre-sales, gap financing, loans and soft money

E. BUSINESS PLAN

How to Create a Business Plan for Your Film:
Executive Summary
Overview of Industry
Investor Return/Deal
Comparables
Projections
Revenue Stream
ROI

F. MAKING YOUR FILM BETTER AFTER THE SHOOT

Post-Production Decisions:
Improving the picture edit
Composer, Music and Music Rights: Sync and Master Use Licenses, Rights Clearance for Publicity and Festivals, Royalty-free Music, Composer/Score, Cutting Edge)
Test Screenings (friends, film professionals and NRG screenings)
Deliverables

G. INTO THE WORLD: MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

Who is your audience?
Precedents/Box Office Comparables
Demographics: age, race, location, gender, socio-economic class, religion, education, consumer tastes, musical tastes, sports identification, hobbies, politics, occupation, exercise habits, food habits, etc.
Influencers

How will you reach the potential audience for your movie?
Promotion: P & A Fund, Producer of Marketing and Distribution, Supporting Materials
Marketing: Social Media, Press, Publicist, Website, Blogs, Word of Mouth

Release Plan
Film Festivals
Film Markets
Theatrical: Distributor or DIY

Non-theatrical
VOD
Community Screenings
Direct Selling

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Participant Profile

The workshop is designed for: Film Producers, Investors, Film Financiers, Directors, and filmmakers serious about a career in the Film Business on the area of film production or film financing.