FilmChain is a digital collection account management service for film, TV and digital content. We collect revenues from distributors around the world, split them according to your recoupment schedules, and pay everyone automatically - safely, transparently, and on time.

FilmChain is used by producers, sales agents, distributors, film funds, investors, cast, crew, and post production houses all around the world. The service caters to content productions of all genres and budgets. Our clients include some of the biggest public funding bodies in the UK, Europe, Australia, the MENA regions and North America.

FilmChain makes revenue collection faster, simpler, and fully transparent. Unlike traditional collection services, we provide instant payouts with no minimum thresholds and free, real-time reports on-demand, so you can always see exactly how your film is recouping - no waiting for periodic statements.

We are headquartered in the UK, where the company was founded, but our team is spread across the UK, USA, and Europe. We work on productions worldwide, including international co-productions as well as UK-based projects. FilmChain uses multiple banking partners to run collection accounts for film and TV projects, including Coutts, Barclays, and City National.

The producer should contact FilmChain ideally during pre-production. This allows us to set up the project on the platform and add all beneficiaries in advance. We also recommend getting all investors aligned early, before they sign the finance plan, so everyone understands how payments will be shared under the recoupment schedule. Once the recoupment terms are agreed and all parties have agreed on their respective shares, the process of drafting and signing off the CAMA becomes a straightforward process. That said, we can onboard a project at any stage, even after production. From that point on, FilmChain manages payments for the crew, producers, investors, and sales teams for the life of the project.

If you’re unsure, please do get in touch with us at team at filmchain.co and we’ll advise.

To prepare a CAMA, we'll need a few key details from the producer:

• Recoupment schedule - agreed by all signatory parties and covering all territories.
• Beneficiary details - names, role, and contact information, for everyone who will receive revenues.
• Sales agency information - if there's a sales agent attached, we'll need to see the Sales Agency Agreement so we can confirm how revenues will flow, the agent's commission and expenses, and ensure the terms match what's set out in the CAMA.
• Investor agreements - for any investors who will be signatories to the CAMA.

Once we have these, our legal team can get to work on drafting and circulating to signatory parties, before onboarding the project onto the FilmChain platform.

The time before signing the CAMA can vary depending on how quickly the terms of the agreement are agreed and how long it takes to collect all required signatures. Onboarding a film onto the FilmChain platform usually takes up to 7 days once all parties have signed the CAMA.

Yes! We know recoupment structures can change last-minute, and we can update the CAMA after your film or TV project is onboarded. If you need to adjust the recoupment schedule, we create an amended CAMA and collect signatures from the relevant parties. The clearer everything is at the start, the easier and smoother the process will be for everyone. FilmChain CAM system can manage any arrangements, including IPIs.

We prefer to work closely with sales agents to ensure everyone understands how money flows into the collection account. Ideally, they will be a signatory party to the CAMA - along with the producers, investors and other signatories - and instruct distributors to send all gross receipts into the account. This makes tracking recoupment straightforward and fully transparent for all beneficiaries. Our system is flexible, though, and can also handle cases where only net income (after expenses or commissions) is sent. Sales agents keep the CAM business team updated on the distribution deals made, either through the platform or directly with customer support.

Yes. Each project’s collection account is set up in a single currency (e.g. GBP, EUR, or USD). While you can choose the currency that works best for your project, each account handles only one currency at a time to keep tracking, reporting, and payouts simple and accurate. Companies can provide banking details for their company accounts in multiple currencies.

Once the CAMA is signed by all parties, the film is onboarded to the FilmChain platform within 7 days. Each beneficiary receives a link to set up their login and add the bank account where they want their entitlements sent. From there, they can immediately access project data, manage transactions, and withdraw revenues from their digital wallet. Withdrawals have no minimum threshold, so even small amounts can be taken out right away.

Your account remains open indefinitely, at no additional cost. FilmChain CAMA runs in perpetuity unless either party terminates it.

Absolutely! Please reach out to team at filmchain.co, and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.

Our fees are bespoke and competitive, usually entailing a one-off onboarding fee, and our decreasing commission structure starts at 1%.

There are no transaction fees for beneficiaries, and you can access interim reports at no cost. Standard banking fees may apply for account maintenance, currency exchanges, or transfers, depending on your bank. Additional fees could arise only if an audit is needed or legal support is required after the CAMA has been signed.

FilmChain does not charge a fee to release entitlements, whether small or large. Any banking or FX costs are external bank charges, not FilmChain fees. These depend on the collection account currency and the beneficiary’s receiving currency. We negotiate volume rates with our banking partners and pass all savings through to clients.

Beneficiaries cover banking and FX fees. These fees may be taken at source when funds are released or recorded after the fact by FilmChain as project expenses, then reflected in statements. To minimise costs, we provide a receiving account in the same currency as the collection account.

Some collection accounts earn interest, while others do not, depending on the banking partner and the account's currency. Where interest accrues, FilmChain treats it as project income and distributes it through the recoupment waterfall on a periodic cycle, net of any bank charges. If an interest-bearing setup is important for your title, contact team at filmchain.co before onboarding so we can confirm eligibility for your currency and jurisdiction.

No, there’s no extra charge. You can add new beneficiaries at any time, and we’ll make sure they’re smoothly set up on the platform and are able to request their entitlements.

All legal documents are carefully reviewed by our in-house legal team, led by our Senior Business Affairs Manager. This includes creating the Collection Account Management Agreement and reviewing any related materials to make sure they align with the agreed deal terms and protect all parties’ interests. Our legal team also works closely with producers, sales agents, and financiers to ensure a smooth and transparent setup process from start to finish.

When new incoming gross receipts are split according to the payment instructions, all signatories are notified via email and have a settlement period (we recommend 7 days) to check the details and raise any queries. If no queries are raised, funds are automatically allocated to each beneficiary’s Wallet, ready for withdrawal. Everything updates in real time, and downloadable reports are always available. If an issue is reported, we’ll review it and, with all signatories’ approval, make any necessary adjustments before the next payout.

Withholding tax depends on where the distributor is sending payments from and where the licensor (the film’s rights holder or “beneficial owner” of the royalties) is based. The collection agent’s location doesn’t affect the amount of tax due, so withholding tax isn't under the CAM's responsibility. FilmChain does not offer additional withholding tax services.

To find out the correct tax rate, you’ll need to look at the tax treaties between the licensor’s country of residence and the country where the payments originate. This will determine whether tax needs to be deducted and at what rate.

If your sales agent is signing the agreement, it’s worth checking whether they are signing in their own name or on behalf of the production entity, as that affects which country is considered the licensor’s tax residence. Some producers and agents choose to use an intermediary licensor based in a country with more favourable tax treaties.

FilmChain can work with a variety of these arrangements to make the payment process smooth and transparent, though we must note that we cannot offer formal legal or tax advice.

Yes, we’ve worked with several guild and union-affiliated projects in different countries and have established systems to collaborate smoothly with them. Whether it’s ensuring member payments are distributed accurately or providing clear, transparent reporting, our operations, our CAMAs, and platform are designed to meet the specific requirements of guilds and unions like SAG-AFTRA and others. We make sure everything runs efficiently and in full compliance with their processes and collaborate with payroll houses appointed for the respective titles