Film glossary

Hard Money

Hard money is film capital that must be repaid on commercial terms, such as equity and interest-bearing debt.

Hard money stands in contrast to soft money. It includes equity investment, senior debt, gap loans, and mezzanine financing, all of which expect a return or repayment. Because it carries a cost, hard money sits in the recoupment waterfall and shapes how a film revenue is shared.

Most budgets combine hard money with soft money. Balancing the two, and keeping any single line small enough that losing it does not collapse the project, is a core part of building a resilient finance plan.

Go deeper

Film Financing guideFilm financing is the work of assembling the money to make a film from several sources at once. Most budgets combine equity, debt and gap loans, pre-sales, tax incentives, and soft money into a capital stack, organized around a written finance plan and a clean data room that a financier can review quickly.

Related terms

Keep reading the glossary

Soft MoneySoft money is the umbrella term for grants, subsidies, and incentives that do not carry commercial repayment terms.Equity FinancingEquity financing is money invested in a film in exchange for an ownership position and a share of any revenue it earns.Mezzanine FinancingMezzanine financing is capital that sits between senior debt and equity in the recoupment waterfall, carrying more risk than senior debt and a higher cost.Gap FinancingGap financing is a loan made against the estimated value of territories or rights a film has not yet sold.

Put the terms to work.

Build a verified project record, keep your documents organized, and see where your package is strong. FILM.FUND is a software platform, not a broker-dealer.

Create a free profile All terms

This definition is educational and does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult your own licensed advisors before acting. FILM.FUND is a software and workflow platform, not a broker-dealer. It never handles money, never holds securities, never takes a percentage of any raise or sale, and never predicts returns.