The Dream That Woke Us Up

It was the dream scenario: a micro-budget film made with passion and care that broke through — the kind of project every indie filmmaking team strives to create. It had its world premiere at an A-list festival, with follow-up screenings at some of the most prestigious festivals around the globe. The reviews were glowing. The buzz was real and organic. It was an amazing, addicting, and surreal experience — and we lived it.

But when it came time to sell, the reality hit hard: the deal we landed covered just half of our incredibly lean and efficient production budget. Given the film’s reception and performance, it wasn’t fair to the team who poured themselves into the work. And it wasn’t fair to our investors who believed in the vision. It sent a message we couldn’t ignore: if this kind of success doesn’t add up, the model is truly broken.

This experience changed us. It’s why we built the Contact Light model — a radical alternative: a sustainable, community-powered studio that puts filmmakers and audiences first.

Our Beliefs

  • Filmmaking Is Craft

  • Community Is Currency

  • Audiences Create Value

  • No Promises We Can't Keep

Our Model

Our films are built differently:

  • We keep budgets lean, focused, and intentional. No bloat. No excess. Every dollar shows up on screen.

    The truth is: minimum guarantees and licensing deals aren’t what they used to be—even for A-list festival darlings. Independent film is operating in a new reality—one where revenue streams across the board are lower. Budgets need to reflect that.

    But there’s freedom in this. Smaller budgets let us focus on what really matters: intimate, character-driven stories. We get to let go of the pressure to “hit big,” and instead create something honest, meaningful, and sustainable.

  • All films are made in Minnesota, in enhanced rebate zones that return up to 45% of qualified production costs. These tax rebates are built-in revenue streams for post production and finishing funds. Local crews. Local locations. Local pride.

  • We exclusively support emerging Minnesota filmmakers making their first feature. Got a few short films under your belt? Are you 18+ and a Minnesota resident? Congratulations, you're eligible to direct a feature for us!

  • We don’t make promises we can’t keep. There is currently no consistent, reliable ROI in the independent filmmaking ecosystem. And we’re not going to look you in the eye and tell you otherwise. Instead, we go straight to our audience. Backers, not investors, are the real stakeholders.