A
low-budget film is a motion picture shot with little or no funding from a major film studio or private investor. Many
independent films are made on low budgets, but films made on the mainstream circuit with inexperienced or unknown filmmakers can also have low budgets. Many young or first time filmmakers shoot low-budget films to prove their talent before doing bigger productions. Many low-budget films that do not gain some form of attention or acclaim are never released in theatres and are often sent straight to retail because of its lack of marketability, look,
story, or
premise. There is no precise number to define a low budget production, and it is relative to both genre and country. What might be a low-budget film in one country may be a big budget in another. Modern-day young filmmakers rely on
film festivals for pre promotion. They use this to gain acclaim and attention for their films, which often leads to a
limited release in theatres. Film that acquire a
cult following may be given a
wide release. Low-budget films can be either
professional productions or
amateur. They are either shot using professional or consumer equipment.