What is Public Liability Insurance for Indie Films?

As a filmmaker that produces independent films, some might say you must carry liability insurance. This is in order to protect your crew and property owners when you’re filming on location or elsewhere. If you’re not familiar with liability insurance and what it means, you are probably wondering what is public liability insurance for indie films?

What is Public Liability Insurance?

Liability insurance can protect property owners from any potential loss that might occur when filming on location.

So you’ve been told that you must carry public liability insurance. This means there’s expectations to have insurance coverage against any potential damage that might occur to a filming location that you rent, lease, or otherwise agree to use during film production. 

Liability insurance for indie films may also offer coverage against injury or harm to those who may be present on a set. But these individuals are not actually employed or otherwise contracted to work for the film.

For example

Say there is a location owner on set, or if you’re filming in a restaurant and there are restaurant patrons on set. If any injuries were to occur your public liability insurance coverage would provide protection against liability claims.

Technically, public liability insurance provides businesses with coverage that is specific to any loss that may arise out of injury, property damage, or other such loss which may be incurred by a member of the public or by a third party while on business property.

So what is public liability insurance for indie films? It’s coverage that provides protection for independent filmmakers from losses incurred by the public.

What’s the Difference Between Public Liability Insurance for Indie Films & General Liability Insurance?

The primary difference between public liability insurance for indie films and general liability insurance is in the amount of coverage and types of liabilities that each covers.

Public liability coverage only offers protection against public claims. Such as a public accident, injury or some kind of negligence arising out of public use or activity.

Likewise, general liability coverage provides protection against claims arising from employees, investors, vendors, other business owners, and potentially the public too.

The Takeaway

Public liability insurance for indie films provides minimum established protection. This is to ensure the safety of the public when a filmmaker is producing.

This insurance coverage is significantly reduced compared to general liability coverage. But it’s also significantly less costly.

Indie films will often resort to public liability insurance. Why? Because it’s more affordable than general liability insurance. Plus it provides minimum essential coverage required to film on location.