Since we launched at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, over 41,000 films have received funds on Indiegogo and in the last couple of years our film category grew 115%, with funds disbursed to filmmakers in 166 countries. The big winner of 2014 is Dear White People, which raised its initial production funds on Indiegogo and has broken the U.S. domestic box office record for a film that has crowdfunded. Since its opening on October 17, 2014 the film has grossed $4,404,154 domestically to date, whizzing past former record-holder Zach Braff’s film, Wish I Was Here.

And that’s not all. In 2014 Indiegogo film campaigns for Lazer Team, Tabletop, Video Game High School 3, and Gosnell, also set records, becoming 4 of the top 10 highest grossing film campaigns of all time.

As we grow, we want to help filmmakers succeed. That’s why we have expanded our ecosystem of tools, resources and partners, from signing a deal with Amplifier, a perk-fulfillment outlet, to launching InDemand, a new service that enables filmmakers to move into the next phase of operations for a project, to partnering with Vimeo, which gives Indiegogo campaigners a unique channel for distributing the films they create.

Other notable Indiegogo-film campaigns in 2014 include:

Life Itself – Steve James and Kartemquin Films raised $153,875 on Indiegogo to bring Life Itself to audiences across the world. In January 2014, the film about the late film critic Roger Ebert, premiered simultaneously at the Sundance Film Festival and live streamed in the homes of Indiegogo funders, a first for the Sundance Institute and the film industry. Today, Life Itself has been released in theaters across the country, aired on CNN, has received 25 nominations, made this year’s Oscar Shortlist and is available on iTunes and VOD.

Miles Ahead – When Don Cheadle began creating his latest film, a Miles Davis biopic, he used Indiegogo to connect directly with his fans and raised more than $340,000. Since then, Cheadle has wrapped filming in Cincinnati and will now prepare the finished film for the festival circuit, as well as seek distribution.

Rooster Teeth’s Lazer Team – Lazer Team, a sci-fi comedy from Rooster Teeth, was a big hit on Indiegogo raising $2,480,334 from 37,493 funders in just one month. The company’s initial funding goal of $650,000 was met in10 hours of the launch of the campaign and reached $1 million dollars within the first three days. Most recently, Rooster Teeth celebrated another milestone. Fullscreen, YouTube’s multi-channel network and talent-management group acquired them in November.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night – Lily Amirpour came to Indiegogo in 2012 to fund her first full-length feature. The campaign raised $56,903. This award-winning film (five in total) debuted at Sundance 2014, went on to be the opening night film at New York Directors/New Films Festival at Lincoln Center, and was acquired by Kino Lorber.

Video Game High School 3 – Video Game High School is a critically acclaimed web series set in an alternate reality where professional video gaming becomes the biggest spectator sport in the world. Collectively this three-part trilogy has received more than 65 million views and the campaign raised nearly $1 million dollars, topping out at $898,144.

Kajaki: A True Story – Kajaki tells the compelling true story of what happened to a British Army company stationed at Kajaki Dam in September 2006. This edgy film about bravery, courage and heroism raised more than £47,197 on Indiegogo, surpassing its original goal of £40,000 by 118%. Most recently, the director Paul Katis and producer Andrew de Lotbiniere were given the nod by the British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) in the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer category.

Last Days in Vietnam – Nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature this year, Last Days in Vietnam is about the last hours of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Directed by Rory Kennedy, the daughter of Sen. Bobby Kennedy, the film aired on PBS on April 30, the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam War. After the film premiered at Sundance 2013, Kennedy and PBS turned to Indiegogo to raise $137K for the collection of 200 stories of Vietnamese American refugees and veterans. These stories will be featured on NPR StoryCorp and archived in the Library of Congress.

We are looking forward to celebrating more successes with you this year. Download our 2015 Indiegogo Film Handbook and start your film campaign today.