Tuesday, June 24th, 2025

Budget vs. Impact: Do You Need Money to Make a Festival-Worthy Film?

Let’s get this out of the way – we’ve seen brilliant short films made for less than £500, and forgettable ones made for £50,000. Budget matters less than you might think.

At Norwich Film Festival, we programme based on impact. We’re drawn to strong stories, great characters, and emotional truth – and if a film has all those things, the budget is usually irrelevant. In fact, trying to compensate for a weak idea with high production value rarely works.

But we also know that budget is a huge concern for emerging filmmakers. So this blog tackles the real question: what role does money actually play in making a short that stands out? And how can you make something festival-worthy with the resources you have?

The Big Myth: Bigger Budget, Better Film

It’s easy to assume that more money means more success. Better kit, better actors, better post – right?

Not necessarily. Money can help – but only when it’s in service of the right idea. A slick-looking short without substance rarely leaves an impression. On the flip side, a lo-fi film with a clear voice and emotional punch is unforgettable.

What’s more important is that your creative choices match your resources. Shooting a sci-fi epic on a shoestring? It might look cheap unless you style it smartly. But shoot a grounded, intimate drama with minimal gear and strong performances? That can absolutely work.

As Orson Welles famously said, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations.” When resources are tight, filmmakers are often forced to make bolder, more intentional decisions – and that can be a gift. Limitations encourage clarity, creativity, and problem-solving. Whether it’s simplifying your script, focusing on sound design, or making more deliberate visual choices, working within constraints often results in sharper, more resonant films.

Orson Welles

What Festivals Really Look For

We mention this a lot in our blogs, but it bears repeating, so here’s what we, and most programmers, actually care about:

• A film that knows what it’s doing
• A tone and mood that feels consistent
• A story that resonates
• Strong performances
• Good pacing

Notice what’s missing? We’re not saying “cinematic drone shot” or “expensive VFX.” Those are great if they serve your story. But they’re not what gets a film selected. Those things should only ever be considered enhancements, and not foundations.

So Where Should You Spend Your Money?

If you do have a bit of budget, here’s where we recommend putting it:

1. Sound – Bad audio will kill a good film. Invest in a sound recordist or clean post-production mix. It doesn’t have to be cinematic – it just has to be clear.
2. Cast – Strong performances elevate everything. If you’re paying, make sure it’s going to talent that serves the story. An emotionally grounded performance will leave a bigger impression than flashy visuals.
3. Locations – One memorable, well-chosen space can do more than five generic ones. Look for places with character and texture. Avoid empty rooms unless that’s part of the story.
4. Catering + Expenses – People work better when they’re fed and not out of pocket. Respecting your cast and crew keeps morale high and makes for a smoother shoot. It also builds goodwill for future projects.
5. Post – Clean editing, colour correction, and audio polish all help – but only if the bones of your film are solid. Don’t waste money fixing what wasn’t working in the script or on set.

Ultimately, your budget should support the story – not try to distract from it. If you’re working with limited funds, spend where it counts: on the elements that bring your characters to life and make your story feel intentional. Great shorts aren’t remembered because they looked expensive. They’re remembered because they made us feel something.

Real-World Examples: Budget Isn’t Everything

Let’s look at a few real-world examples of festival-winning shorts that prove the point.

• Sylvia (2018) Winner of Best East Anglian Film at NFF 2018, Sylvia tells a deeply moving story inspired by true events. Shot for less than £10,000, it balances emotional weight with production polish – showing what can be achieved when resources are used with precision. The film’s powerful performances and elegant direction helped it stand out on the circuit, and it remains a prime example of how storytelling trumps scale.

• The Silent Child (2017) This Academy Award-winning short was produced on a limited budget of less than £10,000 but delivered a powerful, unforgettable story about a young deaf girl. Its emotional weight and authentic performances helped it stand out – not its visual effects or budget.

• Delivery (2024) A recent standout from last year’s NFF programme, Ben Lankaster’s Delivery was made with a minimal crew and a tight budget. It told a sharply observed and tonally unique story that resonated deeply with audiences. It’s a perfect example of how smart direction and purposeful storytelling can shine without big financial backing.

• 3 Sleeps (2019) Written and directed by Christopher Holt, 3 Sleeps follows three young sisters navigating life on a tough London estate while trying to hide their mother’s absence over a weekend. Made on a reported budget of £20,000, it showcases how intimate storytelling and raw performances can leave a lasting impact without needing big set pieces. The film won multiple awards on the circuit and is a strong example of how focused, character-driven filmmaking can resonate deeply.

So What Does This Prove? Each of these films succeeded not because they threw money at the screen, but because they understood the story they were telling. They used what they had – and made it matter.

For what it’s worth, at NFF2024 we selected 137 short films to be part of our official selection, and 100 of those films (73%) provided budgetary data in their submission form. The most expensive film – by a long way – had a reported budget of £1.2 million, but only three films had a budget over £250,000. The average across all submitted budgets was just under £41,000. However, if you remove the three outliers at the top end, the average drops significantly to around £19,000.

Eight of the selected films were made for £1,000 or less – and that includes work across multiple genres. Those filmmakers didn’t let money stop them from telling a story. And that’s the point: financial resources are helpful, but they’re not a requirement. We meet filmmakers every year who hesitate to start a project because they think they need more money to make it “worthwhile.” But here’s the truth we keep coming back to – a finished film is always better than no film at all.

Final Thoughts

We’re not here to say that money doesn’t help. Of course it does. But if you don’t have much – or any – that doesn’t mean you can’t make something incredible.

Focus on intention. Build around your limitations. Find collaborators who believe in what you’re making. And always – always – lead with the story.

Because at the end of the day, story wins.

Want more programming insights? Browse our latest blogs at norwichfilmfestival.co.uk/blog.

And if you found this helpful, share it with another filmmaker. The better informed we all are, the stronger the work gets.

See you on the circuit.

Submissions to NFF2025 are open until June 29th, 2025.

Posted in: Advice