Our filmmakers get lost. They get bruised. They break cameras. They wade through sludge, climb fences, stay up all night chasing light—and come back with something remarkable.
They hike, bike, paddle, and run for days, months, sometimes years. All to bring us stories that let us feel the world more deeply, from the seat of a folding chair in a dark theater.
At Trails Film, we believe that work matters. Which is why we offer payment to filmmakers whose work is screened at our events.
Why we offer honoraria
Film festivals haven’t always been great at paying artists. In fact, most don’t. But in 2022, we made a commitment: to return a portion of our income directly to the creatives who make our programming possible. That year, we committed roughly 15% of our annual income to filmmaker honoraria—and we’re proud to say that number is growing.
Here’s how it works:
When a filmmaker’s work is selected for a Trails Film program, they choose what happens next:
- Accept a cash honorarium (~75% choose this)
- Donate it to a trails-related nonprofit
- Donate it back to Trails Film’s Global Reach Fund
- Waive the fee entirely to support access
We love that this model lets filmmakers decide what feels right to them—and that it builds in space for generosity, solidarity, and impact.
What’s the Global Reach Fund?
The Trails Film Global Reach Fund exists to help bring our programs to communities around the world—especially in places where access to screening resources is limited.
These funds support programming costs, venue rentals, AV, and permits in countries that receive our 40–100% geographic discounts. Our goal is to ensure that great stories reach trail communities that don’t usually get to be part of global conversations.
Have a group in mind who could use this support? Please reach out. We’d love to be introduced.