FEST FILM LAB WORKSHOP

Money, Transparency & Control with Maria Tanjala

Maria Tanjala 16 Jan - 17 Jan 2027 In Person London, UK — University of Greenwich
Open for Registration

GBP 599.99

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Maria Tanjala

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

In today’s film industry, one of the least transparent, yet most critical, aspects of a project is what happens after the film is made: how money flows, how revenues are collected and distributed, and how rights are tracked, managed, and ultimately understood.

For many producers, financiers, and rights holders, this remains a black box, complex, fragmented, and often opaque. While “smart accounting” raised fears among investors about tracking their returns, new paradigms and practices are being established across the global industry.

In this two-day FEST FILM LAB workshop, FilmChain co-founder Maria Tanjala offers an inside perspective into the systems, structures, and decision-making processes that shape how films generate, collect, and distribute revenue in a global market.

Drawing from her 15+ years of experience at the intersection of film, finance, and technology, Maria will guide participants through the realities of revenue flows, collection account management, and the growing role of automation and digital infrastructure in reshaping these processes. Overseeing recoupments on 300+ productions of all budgets and distributors’ statements, Maria will tackle challenges and opportunities in generating returns for your stakeholders.

Her guest lecturer will complement and deepen participants’ understanding of the topics.

Through real-world scenarios, exercises, case-driven discussions, and open exchange, participants will gain clarity on an area of the industry that is often misunderstood, yet fundamental to long-term sustainability and success. There will be no “wrong questions” in the room, and when playing with their finance plans and recoupments, participants are encouraged not to be afraid of making mistakes, which we can learn from.

Maria will address key relationships between financiers, sales agents, co-producers, and Guilds, terms that often delay the CAMA signing, and situations to be avoided.

KEY THEMES

How money actually flows in film: from distribution, to sales, to collections, to participants.
The hidden complexity of rights, territories, and revenue streams.
Collection account management and collection account management agreement: purpose, structure, and real-world implications.
Transparency vs. opacity in the current system.
Common mistakes producers make when structuring deals.
Working with sales agents, distributors, and financiers from a financial control perspective.
The impact of digital tools and automation on revenue tracking and reporting.
Fintech and emerging technologies: real opportunities vs. misconceptions.
Strategic thinking: how early decisions affect long-term financial outcomes.
Legal terms that everyone avoids asking what they actually mean.
Finance plans and recoupments, two sides of the same coin.
Knowing and owning your data – stay in the know!

LEARNING APPROACH

The workshop is built around discussion, real examples, and applied thinking rather than theory.

Maria and her guest will use concrete scenarios and simplified breakdowns of complex structures to help participants understand:
where money comes from.
how it moves.
where it gets lost.
and how it can be better managed.

Participants will be encouraged to bring their own projects, questions, and experiences into the conversation, helping keep the sessions grounded, practical, and directly relevant. An exercise will give participants the opportunity to learn by doing.

OUTCOME
By the end of the workshop, participants will:
Understand how revenue flows function in real-world film ecosystems.
Be able to critically assess deal structures and financial setups.
Have a good comprehension of CAMAs and legal terms used.
Understand how financial data and reports work in their favour.
Gain clarity on collection accounts and rights management.
Identify risks and inefficiencies in their own projects.
Develop a more strategic approach to financial decision-making.
Be better equipped to protect and maximise the long-term value of their work.
Understand new technologies and tools that help them streamline their workflow.

ABOUT MARIA TANJALA

Maria Tanjala is a former producer and line producer and is now co-founder of FilmChain. She is an EFA and BAFTA voting member.

Maria is passionate about improving the industry with practical solutions and is an expert in recoupments and emerging technologies.

As a co-CEO, she leads the team managing financial recoupments for hundreds of films for clients including mk2, Vuelta, Anonymous Content, WME, Hanway, Bankside, Protagonist, Film i Vast, and Eurimages.

The real-time fintech CAM, launched in 2018, is trusted by 3,500+ clients as of early 2026. Maria enjoys mentoring producers at all levels on recoupments and technologies at BIFA Springboard, Inside Pictures, ACE Network, and EPI.

PROFILE OF PARTICIPANT

This workshop is designed for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of the financial and structural side of filmmaking, including producers, executive producers, line producers, directors developing or financing projects, sales agents, financing professionals, film lawyers, business affairs executives, and filmmakers navigating rights, revenues, and deal structures.

It is particularly suited for participants working with film financing, co-production structures, sales, distribution, rights, revenues, deal structures, collection accounts, recoupment, financial reporting, and data ownership, as well as professionals who want to better understand how money moves through the film industry and how financial transparency, digital tools, and strategic decision-making can help protect and maximise the long-term value of their work.

WORKSHOP LOCATION

London, UK — University of Greenwich

Duration: 2 days
10:00 – 18:00
Dates: 16th – 17th of January 2027
Location: London, UK — University of Greenwich
Price: GBP 599.99. Special registration rate: GBP 399.99 until 12 November 2026.
Maximum number of participants: 25

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FUNDING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT

You may be able to claim a full or partial refund of your workshop fee through an external funding programme.

UNITED KINGDOM

ScreenSkills — UK-Wide Training Bursaries

Applicants aged 18 or over who have the right to work in the UK, hold a UK bank account and work or intend to work in the UK screen industries can apply for practical training. Maximum awards are £750 at entry level, £1,500 in early career and £2,000 for experienced or expert professionals. Workshop fees, travel and accommodation may qualify. Actors, voice-over artists, presenters, performers and current students are excluded. Apply between two weeks and three months before the workshop. ScreenSkills bursary guidelines

Northern Ireland Screen — Skills Fund

Northern Ireland residents currently working in the local independent screen sector, with at least one year of experience, may apply for up to 75% of the course fee, capped at £2,000. Send your CV, course details and costs to Northern Ireland Screen at least three weeks before the workshop. Confirm current funding availability and the proposed location with the agency. Skills Fund details in the Mid Ulster Council funding directory, section 13.4

Screen Scotland — Screen Professional Development Fund

Scotland-based film and television freelancers with at least two to three professional credits can apply for £250 to £5,000 towards training in the UK or abroad. Eligible costs include the workshop fee, economy travel, accommodation and subsistence of up to £30 per day. Applicants must contribute at least 10%, in cash or in kind. Apply at least two weeks before the workshop. Screen Scotland funding guidelines and application

OTHER COUNTRIES

Explore the opportunities available in other countries and check the eligibility requirements.

Register for this workshop

Open for Registration

GBP 599.99