Kickstarter is expanding its reach within the film industry, appointing Taylor K. Shaw as its new Head of Film Outreach. In this role, Shaw will work closely with professional filmmakers, guiding them on how to effectively leverage Kickstarter—not just as a funding platform, but as a tool for audience engagement and community-building.
“Kickstarter has played a unique and important role in independent film, helping filmmakers bring bold, original stories to life,” said Courtney Brown Warren, Chief Marketing Officer at Kickstarter. “To lead and expand this work, we knew we needed someone who understands the challenges filmmakers face and is also actively shaping solutions. Taylor is that leader.”
Shaw brings extensive industry experience to the position. As the founder of BWA Studios, she has collaborated with major entertainment brands, including HBO, Netflix, Hulu, Mattel, and Sony Music. Her work has been instrumental in developing animated content and marketing campaigns, positioning her as a strong advocate for independent creators.
Her appointment at Kickstarter comes at a pivotal time as the platform seeks to deepen its commitment to independent filmmakers. She has already begun a festival circuit tour, engaging with creators at Sundance Film Festival in January and SXSW in Austin this week.
“Kickstarter has a longstanding legacy of supporting prolific talent and helping them fund and launch their careers—the likes of Issa Rae and Phoebe Waller-Bridge,” Shaw told Variety. “What really brought me here is the alignment between my passion for building strong infrastructure for artists to thrive and really seeing the need in this moment for all artists, all filmmakers, whether you’re emerging or established, to be creatively independent.”
Since its founding in 2009, Kickstarter has supported over 88,000 film and video projects, with a backer community of 23 million pledging nearly $595 million to independent creators.
Most recently, the platform played a critical role in the 2024 Academy Awards season, as the independent film “The Apprentice”—a project focused on Donald Trump’s early years—turned to Kickstarter to fund its marketing efforts after encountering distribution challenges. The film went on to secure two Oscar nominations for Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong.
In her new role, Shaw will focus on expanding Kickstarter’s presence within the film industry, helping filmmakers craft effective campaigns that attract both funding and audience engagement. Alongside her work at Kickstarter, she will continue to operate BWA Studios, reinforcing her commitment to supporting independent storytelling.
With Shaw at the helm, Kickstarter is reinforcing its position as a vital resource for filmmakers seeking creative and financial independence.