Film glossary

Soft Money

Soft money is the umbrella term for grants, subsidies, and incentives that do not carry commercial repayment terms.

Soft money includes tax credits, cash rebates, and grants. Because these benefits are tied to money a production actually spends locally, or awarded on cultural criteria, they behave like a discount on the budget rather than a source that must be repaid with interest.

Soft money usually appears as a distinct line in a finance plan. Rates, caps, and eligibility rules change often, so always verify current rates and confirm eligibility with the relevant film office before relying on any figure.

Go deeper

Film Tax Incentives guideFilm tax incentives are government programs that return part of what a production spends in a region, as a tax credit, a cash rebate, or a grant. They lower a film net cost by rewarding local hiring and spending. Rates, caps, and rules vary by jurisdiction and change often, so always verify current rates before you budget.

Related terms

Keep reading the glossary

Tax CreditA film tax credit is an incentive that reduces the tax a production owes in a jurisdiction, based on qualifying local spend.Hard MoneyHard money is film capital that must be repaid on commercial terms, such as equity and interest-bearing debt.Equity FinancingEquity financing is money invested in a film in exchange for an ownership position and a share of any revenue it earns.Recoupment WaterfallThe recoupment waterfall is the agreed order in which each source of capital is paid back from the revenue a film generates.

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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.