Kickstarter and Tubi Present: FilmStream Collective

Today, we’re thrilled to announce FilmStream Collective, a new initiative created in partnership with Tubi to empower independent filmmakers with the funding and distribution support they need to share their films with the world.

Funding has always been a hurdle for independent filmmakers, and securing distribution is harder than ever. These challenges are exactly what inspired the launch of FilmStream Collective. By combining Kickstarter’s crowdfunding power with Tubi’s reach and commitment to breaking down barriers to Hollywood, we’re offering creators what the traditional industry often can’t: financial backing and guaranteed distribution.

As part of the initiative, Tubi will offer the FilmStream Collective Fund exclusively on Kickstarter. The fund is designed to support final or near-final projects, helping cover critical post-production costs such as editing, sound, marketing, and other finishing expenses. Ten films will receive a pledge directly to their live Kickstarter campaign, helping them meet their funding goal and bring their project to life. Once the film is completed it will stream on Tubi — providing guaranteed distribution of their film and visibility on a platform where viewers watched more than 10 billion hours in 2024.

To be considered for the fund, creators must launch a Kickstarter campaign between now and August 31, 2025. Find more information about the FilmStream Collective Fund here.

In addition to ten films selected for the fund, more Kickstarter-funded projects will be added to the Tubi collection on a rolling basis. The Kickstarter and Tubi teams will select other eligible films from the pool of crowdfunding campaigns launched by independent filmmakers on Kickstarter’s platform. The collection, which will include more than 20 films, will highlight a range of genres and offer Tubi’s 97 million monthly active users a fresh new surface for discovering bold, independent filmmaking. Meanwhile the selected creators will get a powerful new opportunity to grow their audience on one of the most-watched free streaming platforms in the world. 

“Our mission has always been to help people bring their creative projects to life,” said Everette Taylor, Kickstarter’s Chief Executive Officer. “Fulfilling that mission means reaching beyond our core crowdfunding service finding aligned partners like Tubi who want to collaborate on reducing the barriers that stand in the way of creatives bringing their ideas to life. Together, we’re building a new opportunity for filmmakers to share their work with global audiences and get the visibility they deserve.”

“We’re excited to bring Kickstarter creatives and the communities who support them to our audience of nearly 100 million viewers,” said Anjali Sud, CEO at Tubi. “Tubi is becoming the home for the next generation of Hollywood talent. Whether we’re bringing crowd-funded films onto the platform, turning a Wattpad novel into a movie or putting the power to green-light in the hands of the fans - we are expanding the pathways for creators to grow their audience and adding greater diversity and differentiation to our content offering.”

Since 2009, Kickstarter has been a launchpad for thousands of independent films — including Oscar nominees and winners, Sundance selections, and other critically acclaimed projects. Tubi, meanwhile, has built one of the largest free streaming platforms, with an ethos rooted in accessibility and audience-first storytelling. With FilmStream Collective, we’re combining those strengths to forge a path for independent filmmakers to get their stories funded, finished, and seen.