Cannes Winning Producer Giancarlo Nasi: U.S. Indie Filmmakers Are Turning to International Co-Production Funds

Even U.S. independent filmmakers are lining up for international public funds from Canada, Mexico, Latin America and European countries now, Chilean producer Giancarlo Nasi told attendees at his Industry Masterclass “Exploring the Art and Strategy of International Co-Productions,” which took place at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) on Oct 2.

As private financing dries up, producers are looking for foreign subsidies. “In America, many, many folks, especially independent filmmakers, really want to co-produce. They really want to get public money from other countries of the world,” he said.

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Nasi, founder of Quijote Films and an intellectual-property lawyer who’s now based in LA, has produced 29 features– many of which have been co-productions. His latest, the South African film “The Smell of Apples,” a co-production with the Netherlands and Chile, recently premiered at TIFF.

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Public funds, he says, have traditionally been reserved for the types of films that traditional studios or streamers aren’t likely to finance. But competition is getting fiercer. “I feel the U.S. independent movie distribution is in crisis,” he said. “Theaters are more and more focused on horror or huge studio movies with superheroes.”

“This year, there were many movies from the…