Do you want to know how to distribute a no-budget film alone? When I first set out to figure it out, I had no money, no connections, and no idea what I was truly in for. All I had was a story I needed to tell and a stubborn belief that nothing, not even an empty bank account, would stop me. Filmmaking isn’t just a hobby or career for me; it’s like oxygen. It’s painful, beautiful, and essential to my life. In this post, I want to share my journey of making multiple feature films with virtually no budget, and how I eventually got those films distributed worldwide. It’s a story of self-discipline, creative hustle, and refusing to give up, with some practical tips I learned along the way. If I could do it, anyone can, and that includes you.
After pushing yourself to the limit to actually make a feature film with almost no money, you face what I found to be the most daunting phase – distribution. How do you get people to see your work when you have no traditional backing, no film festivals courting you, no distributors offering deals, no marketing budget to speak of? I won’t lie, this part of the journey can be soul-crushing. I remember after finishing one of my early films, I spent months sending emails and DVDs (yes, actual DVDs back then) to indie distributors, sales agents, and festival programmers. Most never replied. A few responded with polite rejections. It’s a hard truth: in the traditional film world, if you don’t have stars, money, or connections, nobody will open the gates for you.
For a while, I thought my only option was to self-distribute by putting the film on YouTube and hoping it somehow caught fire. There’s nothing wrong with that route, but I wanted so badly for my movies to reach bigger platforms, you know, places like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Tubi, or other streaming services where people discover films. Years ago, that simply wasn’t realistic for a nobody like me without spending thousands on an aggregator. The old distribution model felt like a dead end: either you sell your film to a distributor (who takes a huge cut and potentially never pays you) or you pay an aggregator upfront to get on platforms (which I could not afford). It’s little wonder a lot of indie creators have films just sitting on hard drives, unseen by the world.
Thankfully, today there’s a third option that changed everything for me, a little platform called Filmhub. I discovered Filmhub at a point when I was desperate to get my work out to audiences. If you haven’t heard of it, Filmhub is essentially a tech-driven hybrid between a distributor and an aggregator, a platform that connects independent filmmakers with streaming channels around the world. Here’s how it works in a nutshell: you upload your finished film (and all the necessary metadata, artwork, etc.) to Filmhub, and they make it accessible to a huge network of streaming services. Platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, Roku Channel, Pluto TV, and many more niche streamers, can browse the content on Filmhub and license your film if it fits their catalog. Filmhub then handles the delivery and paperwork for you.
The brilliant thing about Filmhub (especially for no-budget filmmakers) is that it costs nothing upfront to use. You don’t pay any submission or service fees to get your movie on there, unlike traditional aggregators that might charge hundreds or thousands of dollars per platform. Instead, Filmhub only gets paid when you get paid. Currently they take a 20% cut of any revenue your film earns, and you keep the remaining 80%. In other words, if your film makes money, they make money, if it doesn’t, you’re not out of pocket. This model was perfect for me because I literally had no money! It was a no-risk way to try getting my films picked up by streaming outlets. Many traditional distributors or sales agents would take 50% or more, or charge hidden fees, etc., while with Filmhub the terms are transparent and simple.
Another huge advantage I found with Filmhub is the sheer reach it gives an indie filmmaker. Filmhub has relationships with a lot of streaming platforms, over 100 and counting, which means even tiny films like mine get a shot at being seen globally. Filmhub pitched my films to major AVOD services like Tubi as well as to international and specialty channels. Of course, Filmhub doesn’t guarantee every film will be accepted by every platform, your movie still has to appeal to the platform curators, but just having it in the marketplace gives you a fighting chance. And indeed, some platforms did pick up my titles! And some didn’t. The first time I saw one of my no-budget features appear on a real streaming service, I almost couldn’t believe it. Filmhub made that possible.
To put it in perspective: a film I made with essentially no money in a forest all by myself can now be watched by someone on the other side of the world on their smart TV. That’s the power of this new distribution model.
If you’ve read this far, chances are you have a film inside you that you want to make, or a finished project you’re anxious to share with the world. Maybe, like me, you don’t have industry connections or a big bank account. Maybe people around you are skeptical that you can ever get your film out there. I’m here to tell you as honestly as I can: you can do this. It won’t be easy, it’s going to require insane dedication, creative problem-solving, and the guts to put yourself out there. You’ll face doubt from others and from yourself. You’ll be broke most likely for a long time. You’ll hit walls that make you wonder if the effort is worth it. But if you truly love filmmaking, if it’s your oxygen like it is mine, you won’t be happy not doing it. So start now. Use whatever you have. Make that no-budget feature film.
And when it’s finished, when you’ve told that story your way, don’t let it collect dust on a shelf. Get it in front of audiences. We live in an incredible time where an indie creator in a small town can upload a film and have it reach viewers around the globe. Filmhub was the tool that changed the game for me, and I genuinely recommend it for any independent filmmaker trying to break into distribution. It gave me, a total outsider, a chance to compete for eyeballs on major platforms and niche services alike. If it worked for me, it can work for you. I encourage you to take that leap and sign up for Filmhub using my affiliate partner link, leverage their network to give your film the fighting chance it deserves. It’s free to join, so you have nothing to lose.
Finally, remember that every legendary filmmaker you admire started somewhere, often with a crazy little film made against the odds. The only difference is they went out and did it. Now it’s your turn. No budget? No backing? No problem. Use your passion, your discipline, and your hustle. Tell your story. Then unleash it to the world. I can’t wait to see what you create, and I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines. Good luck, and happy filmmaking!
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you sign up for Filmhub through my link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely use and believe in.