Telly Awards partner Seed&Spark is a crowdsourced film & TV studio where creators and audiences work together to bring incredible new projects to life.
What is the core mission of your company and the types of content you specialize in?
Seed&Spark’s mission is to connect people through stories that matter. Stories create shared realities. The stories we decide to tell – the imaginations that make the rules, the lenses that frame our scenes, the faces chosen to be main characters – determine the way we understand the world around us. At Seed&Spark, we ensure that all kinds of stories are told and that all kinds of storytellers have avenues to spark vibrant conversations with their work among people everywhere.
What’s your organization’s origin story and/or ethos, and how does it set you apart from industry competitors?
Seed&Spark was founded by filmmakers who experienced firsthand how difficult it was to get authentic, diverse stories made and seen within the traditional entertainment system. Rather than waiting for permission, we built a platform that empowers creators to greenlight themselves: to raise funds, build audiences, and distribute their work on their own terms.
Our ethos is rooted in equity, transparency, and sustainability. We know the future of film and television belongs to creators who own their work, connect directly with their audiences, and use their art to build lasting, values-driven careers.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just help storytellers fund a single project; we help them build a career infrastructure. From crowdfunding to audience engagement to distribution strategy, every Seed&Spark tool and initiative is designed to give creators independence and community, not just exposure. We’re focused on reshaping the industry from the ground u by giving artists the power, resources, and knowledge to thrive outside the old systems.
What projects and/or initiatives are you most proud of and why?
We’re especially proud of Patrons Circle, our mini-grant program that allows projects that are already live on Seed&Spark with the potential to receive additional funding from our Patrons, like Mark Duplass, Jason Reitman, and more.
We’re also deeply proud of The Distribution Playbook, a groundbreaking resource and collaboration with Kinema that demystifies the distribution landscape for independent filmmakers and creators. The Playbook equips creators with actionable strategies to find their audiences, build lasting relationships, and maintain control of their work throughout the lifecycle of their projects.
What’s one part of the video, television, and/or film industry you would change and why?
We’re working to change how creators and audiences view crowdfunding and distribution. Too often, crowdfunding is treated as a one-off fundraising event or nuisance. We’re reframing it as a sustainable path to green-lighting yourself, and as a way for creators to build audiences, test ideas, and generate long-term support outside traditional systems.
We’re also partnering across the industry to make distribution more active, giving creators tools to find, understand, and engage their audiences directly rather than waiting for them to appear. By empowering creators with data and community-driven strategies, we’re helping them redefine for themselves what it means to have a successful release.
How does your organization approach collaboration in your process, either with your membership, other creative teams, or your clients?
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We see our filmmakers, audiences, and partners as part of a shared ecosystem, each playing a role in sustaining independent storytelling. Through workshops, educational programs, and our platform tools, we foster open dialogue and resource-sharing that elevates everyone involved. Whether we’re collaborating with creators on their campaigns, partnering with film festivals and nonprofits, or engaging with our Patrons Circle community, our approach is rooted in transparency, empathy, and mutual growth.
How can people join or learn more about what you do?
You can learn more, explore existing campaigns, or launch your own at seedandspark.com. Join our community of creators and supporters who are reshaping the future of independent storytelling, one project at a time.
How do you balance artistic vision and business demands when creating content?
At Seed&Spark, we know artistic vision and business strategy don’t have to compete: they can strengthen each other. Our platform and educational programs are designed to help creators align their creative goals with audience engagement and revenue models that sustain their artistry. By emphasizing audience-building and data-informed decision-making early in the creative process, we help artists with the infrastructure to fund, produce, and distribute their work without compromising their creative integrity.
