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A free, editable Google Sheets budget template designed for indie filmmakers. We’ve created this film budget template for filmmakers in mind that covers a full production budget from:

• Pre-production

• Production

• Post-production

• Festivals

• Distribution

New to Budgeting a Film?

If this is your first feature — or your first time building a full film budget — and you’re unsure what typical indie rates look like, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve created a separate resource called The Indie Feature Budget Guide, where we break down real numbers from our debut feature film, made on a $70K budget. See more of our digital products to get yours!

Creating a detailed, line-item budget is one of the most important — and often most intimidating — steps in developing a feature film. If you’re preparing your first feature and unsure how to set rates, prioritize spending, or anticipate real-world costs, this guide is designed for you.

This is not your average budget template.

Built from firsthand experience, Femme Regard’s Indie Feature Budget Guide transparently breaks down the actual costs of producing and distributing our debut feature film SYNC, made on a $60K budget. Rather than vague estimates or industry guesswork, we share real numbers, strategic decisions, and lessons learned — from pre-production all the way through distribution.

Inside the guide, you’ll find:

• Complete budget breakdowns for pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution

• How to make strategic, informed negotiations on a limited budget

• Where it’s worth investing — and where you can realistically save

• How we chose collaborators and structured deals to stretch resources

• Practical DIY approaches that helped reduce costs without sacrificing quality

• Recommended platforms and tools we used for locations, legal, post-production, delivery, and more

Our goal with this guide is to replace anxiety with clarity. By sharing our real numbers and approach, we hope to demystify feature film budgeting and show that making a high-quality, distributed film on a modest budget is not only possible — it’s achievable with intention, preparation, and the right strategy.