Piracy
Your film shared or streamed without permission.
Filmmaker insurance
Filmmaker insurance: coverage for films, documentaries, and claims.
The short answer
Filmmaker insurance from CreatorSure covers the film itself. Media liability, often called film E&O or producers E&O insurance, pays for your defense when someone says your film defamed them, invaded their privacy or used their work. Fight Back helps pay for a lawyer when someone pirates or reuses your footage.
Distributors won't release a film without E&O. CreatorSure gets you there.
Get a quoteWhat it covers
What filmmaker insurance covers
Two halves, one quote. Media liability for when someone comes after you. Fight Back for when you need to go after them.
- Defamation and privacy claims from people in your film
- Copyright claims over footage, music and art
- Trademark claims over titles and logos on screen
- Claims over documentaries, shorts, features and branded video
- Fight Back for unauthorized use of your work
CreatorSure will place a policy that covers the way you work. Coverage depends on your policy terms.
The risks
Risks in film, documentary, and video production
- Documentaries. Real people, real claims. Documentary insurance starts with media liability.
- Clearances. Footage, music and art you didn't fully license.
- Titles. A title that clashes with someone's trademark.
- Releases. People on camera without a signed release.
- Video production. Client videos with claims about competitors.
Fight Back
Fight Back for unauthorized use of your work
Most insurance waits for you to get sued. Fight Back helps pay for takedowns, demand letters and a lawyer to go after people who take your work. It's for theft you find after your policy starts.
Footage reused
Clips from your work in someone else's project.
Client overuse
A client using your video past the license.
False claims
Lies that cost you a distribution deal.
Someone ripping off your work?
Proof of insurance
Proof of insurance for distributors and clients
Distributors, streamers, broadcasters, festivals and clients ask for E&O proof before release. Once you're covered, CreatorSure sends a certificate of insurance to anyone who needs it.
General liability
General liability gaps for filmmakers
General liability, or GL, is the policy lots of small businesses buy. One part of it, Coverage B, is for personal and advertising injury. For an ordinary business, like a plumber, that part typically covers defamation claims.
Film and video production is often treated as publishing or broadcasting, so that part is often limited or excluded. This is called the media exclusion, and GL doesn't address claims over your content the way media liability does.
CreatorSure covers gear and production equipment too (ask for it on your quote). Scoring with original music? SongSure, our music side, covers composers. Keep GL for physical accidents (CreatorSure covers general liability too and will place it alongside your media liability), and add media liability for your content.
Cost
Filmmaker insurance cost
There's no flat price, and we won't guess at one here. Your filmmaker insurance cost depends on the type of project (documentary, feature, branded), budget, where it's distributed, the limits a distributor asks for, your clearance work, and your claims history.
CreatorSure builds the quote around you, so you're not paying for extras you don't need. See what moves the price, then request a quote for a real number.
FAQ
Filmmaker insurance FAQ
Do filmmakers need insurance?
If you're releasing a film, working with distributors or making video for clients, yes. Most distributors require E&O before release.
How much does filmmaker insurance cost?
It depends on the project, budget, distribution, clearances and the limits you need. CreatorSure tailors a quote to your production. Request one to get your number.
Is film E&O the same as media liability?
Yes. Film E&O and producers E&O insurance are media liability for productions.
Is there independent film insurance for small productions?
Yes. CreatorSure covers independent film and video production of any size.
Who we cover
More creator insurance
Get a quote
Get a quote. Keep making it. We've got your back.
- 1
Tell us about you
Fill out the quote form with a few details about what you do.
- 2
We build your custom quote
We put it together around the coverage you actually want.
- 3
Pick your coverage
We walk you through your options in plain English. You decide. No pressure.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what you make. A real person reads every request and gets back to you.
Coverage depends on your policy's terms, conditions and exclusions.