The Film Collaborative Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to supporting independent filmmakers. Founded in 2009, TFC operates as the first nonprofit focused on distribution education and facilitation. The organization provides comprehensive services to filmmakers across all aspects of distribution while maintaining a distinctive commitment: filmmakers retain full ownership and control of their work. TFC operates with a small team of three dedicated staff members.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.9M
-22.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.7M
+81.3% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12.7M
+81.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Film Collaborative's mission is to educate filmmakers about and help filmmakers with all aspects of distribution without taking rights. The organization is guided by three core taglines: "filmmakers first," "nonprofit, on purpose," and "we don't own your rights…you do!"
Primary program areas include:
Fiscal Sponsorship: TFC offers one of the lowest commission structures available to filmmakers, enabling them to create culturally important and educational cinema sustainably. The fiscal sponsorship program grew significantly during 2024 with the addition of new projects.
Distribution Education: The organization maintains and grows a digital distribution guide, regularly publishes distribution blog content including audio-visual panel discussions, develops distribution case studies, expands a distributor report card, and hosts Distribution Days—a free, two-day virtual conference on film distribution.
Festival and Community Screening Distribution: TFC handles festival distribution and community screenings for 25-35 films annually, with particular focus on non-commercial cinema addressing social justice, cultural, environmental, and LGBTQ+ issues.
Distribution Services: TFC provides sales representation, service theatrical releases, hybrid distribution, grassroots marketing, distribution consultation, and contract consultation.
Professional Development: The organization offers one-on-one advising and consultation services to filmmakers at various engagement levels.
Grantmaking
TFC does not operate as a traditional grantmaker. Instead, the organization functions as a service provider and fiscal sponsor for independent filmmakers. Through its fiscal sponsorship program, TFC facilitates funding opportunities for filmmakers by providing a fiscal sponsorship structure with competitive commission rates.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in Los Angeles, California, and primarily serves filmmakers nationally, with particular emphasis on independent and non-commercial cinema.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $4,856,052
- Total Revenues: $13,759,444
- Total Expenses: $15,154,290
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $6,27M
- Total Revenues: $11.3M
- Total Expenses: $9.65M
- Total Liabilities: $135k
The organization has maintained tax-exempt status since January 2011 (EIN: 32-0295081).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,856,052 | $6,265,105 | $4,510,423 |
| Revenue | $13,759,444 | $11,346,960 | $11,678,623 |
| Expenses | $15,154,290 | $9,651,156 | $12,150,514 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $14,662 | $5,225 | $1,713 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Domestic Org - See Pdf List ($12,724,745).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DOMESTIC ORG - SEE PDF LIST LOS ANGELES, CA | FILMMAKING PROJECTS | $12,724,745 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Orly Ravid - Founder and Co-Executive Director. Ravid brought seventeen years of acquisitions, distribution, and sales experience to the founding of TFC in 2009, driven by a commitment to eliminating unnecessary middlemen between filmmakers and their earned revenues and to establishing a service-based model that does not require filmmakers to surrender rights.
Jeffrey Winter - Co-Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY WINTER | Secretary | 40 | $127,290 |
| ORLY RAVID | President | 20 | $39,000 |
| JOSEPH ANTHONY BILANCIO | Director | 1 | — |
| FRAN MARRANCA | Director | 1 | — |
| LAURI APELIAN | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
TFC continues to expand its reach and impact within the independent film community. Recent films handled by TFC for festival distribution include:
**All the Empty Rooms** - A short film serving as a visual meditation on grief and mourning in the context of school shooting victims, highlighting the need for action against gun violence. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.
**Barbara Forever** - An intimate, dream-like documentary examining the iconic life, work, and legacy of pioneering feminist experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer. The film won the 2026 Berlinale Teddy Award.
**American Pachuco** - A documentary celebrating the work of acclaimed playwright and director Luis Valdez, known as the father of Chicano film and playwriting.
The organization continues to be recognized as a critical resource for filmmakers creating socially conscious and culturally significant work.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Film Collaborative Inc fund?
The Film Collaborative's mission is to educate filmmakers about and help filmmakers with all aspects of distribution without taking rights. The organization is guided by three core taglines: "filmmakers first," "nonprofit, on purpose," and "we don't own your rights…you do!" Primary program areas include: • **Fiscal Sponsorship**: TFC offers one of the lowest commission structures available to filmmakers, enabling them to create culturally important and educational cinema sustainably. The fiscal…
How do I apply for a grant from The Film Collaborative Inc?
TFC does not operate as a traditional grantmaker. Instead, the organization functions as a service provider and fiscal sponsor for independent filmmakers. Through its fiscal sponsorship program, TFC facilitates funding opportunities for filmmakers by providing a fiscal sponsorship structure with competitive commission rates.
Where does The Film Collaborative Inc make grants?
The organization is based in Los Angeles, California, and primarily serves filmmakers nationally, with particular emphasis on independent and non-commercial cinema.
What size grants does The Film Collaborative Inc award?
In 2024, The Film Collaborative Inc awarded 1 grants totaling $12.7M — an average of about $12.7M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Film Collaborative Inc's EIN?
The Film Collaborative Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0295081. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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