News•Feb 28, 2026
PODCAST: Getting a $75K Feature On HBO & Selling a Video Agency For $17MM With Stefan Van De Graaff
Filmmaker Stefan van de Graaff turned a $75,000 micro‑budget feature, *Simmer*, into an HBO title after the short went viral on Facebook, amassing one million views. He leveraged that success to finance a $1 million international production using tax incentives, grants, and strategic talent deals. Parallel to his filmmaking, van de Graaff co‑founded a video agency that expanded from two founders to 100 staff and was sold for $17 million. The podcast explores how audience‑first tactics and strategic production choices fuel both creative and commercial exits.