30+ Real Gifts for Filmmakers: Something for Every Budget [2025]

Are you looking for the perfect gift for a filmmaker or creator in your life? Whether they are an aspiring director, a YouTube creator, a seasoned cinematographer, or just love to make movies as a hobby, there are plenty of great gifts that can help them take their film-making skills to the next level.

From basic accessories and tools to more advanced gadgets and equipment, we've rounded up some of the best gifts for filmmakers on any budget. So whether you're shopping for someone who's just getting started or an experienced professional, keep reading to find something special that will bring joy and satisfaction this holiday season!

And don't miss our selection of gifts for aspiring writers for gifts that are perfect for screenwriters.

9 Quick Gifts for Filmmakers

Filmmaking Gear

Cameras

We'll assume that you're not in the market for an Arri Alexa LF at roughly the price of a high-end sports car. But plenty of other high-end options will delight and impress even the most experienced filmmakers.

Editor's Choice

Sony Alpha a7S III

PRICE: Starting at about $3,000

Our pick for a great all-around camera is the Sony A7S III. The A7S III is an impressive camera with a full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS sensor. It delivers exceptional sensitivity, speed, and superior image quality. With phenomenal low-light capability, up to 15+ stops of dynamic range, and drastically reduced noise, the results are astounding. Additionally, the camera features Sony's acclaimed fast hybrid autofocus with 759 phase-detection AF points and 92% coverage.

Best Budget Option

Canon EOS Rebel T7

PRICE: Starting at about $480

The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is a solid performer and an excellent camera for the beginning filmmaker. It features a 24.1 megapixel APS-H sensor, full HD video recording, built-in Wi-Fi, and NFC technology.

Action Cameras

Best Action Cam

GoPro HERO12 Black

PRICE: Starting at about $399

GoPro is still the top all-purpose action camera, perfect for countless situations. The HERO12 Black elevates its image quality with HDR in videos (5.3K and 4K) and photos. HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization, a winner in its class, ensures incredibly smooth footage. Waterproof and durable as ever, HERO12 Black is primed to capture the fun on all your adventures.

Best Budget Option

AKASO Brave 7

PRICE: Starting at about $169

The AKASO Brave 7 is the best low price action camera available. eaturing 4K30fps, 2.7K30FPS video resolution and 20MP photos, waterproof up to 10 meters without a case, touch screen and dual display.

Drones

Drones are an increasingly popular tool in the filmmaking arsenal. Whether you're capturing aerial footage or filming a scene from extreme angles, there's no doubt that drones can offer unique perspectives and shots that aren't possible with other gear.

Editor's Choice

DJI Mavic 3 Classic

PRICE: Starting at about $1,599

DJI is the industry leader for cinematic drones, and the Mavic 3 is one of their flagship models. It features a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera capable of 5.1K HD Video, 46-minute flight time, obstacle avoidance sensors, a 15km video transmission range, and more.

Best Budget Option

DJI Mini 2 SE

PRICE: Starting at about $339

The DJI Mini 2 SE is an ultra-lightweight and portable drone that is great to have in a spare bag and always on hand. It features 2.7k video, 31-minute flight time, and many beginner-friendly easy flight features.

Gimbals / Stabilizers

A camera stabilizer is an essential tool for all kinds of applications. Whether it's handheld shots or capturing stable images while mounted on a drone, you can't go wrong with a camera stabilizer.

Editor's Choice

DJI Ronin RS 3

PRICE: about $550

The DJI Ronin RS 3 features an advanced stabilization algorithm for ultra-smooth footage and enhanced low-angle shooting performance. Achieve Hollywood-level camera stabilization with the DJI Ronin RS 3 3-axis gimbal.

Best Budget Option

DJI Ronin-SC

PRICE: Starting at about $279

The Ronin-SC is a lightweight 3-axis gimbal stabilizer for mirrorless cameras that allows users to capture smooth, professional footage. It provides fantastic stabilization and supports payloads up to 2 kg.

Lenses

For lenses, this will largely depend on the camera of your filmmaker and the lens mount they use. That said, in general, we recommend checking out Sigma's ART range. Their wide prime lenses are perfect for capturing breathtaking shots in all kinds of conditions, and their standard zoom is also a great choice for flexibility.

Best Anamorphic Lenses

SIRUI 50mm F1.8 1.33X Anamorphic Lens

PRICE: about $470

The Sirui 50mm 1.33X Anamorphic Lens has a fast F1.8 minimum aperture and is available in a wide range of lens mounts. It features a lightweight and compact design with 11 elements in 8 groups. The lens produces oval bokeh and sci-fi-like horizontal lens flares.

NOTE: Be sure to select the lens mount that is appropriate for your camera. There are many options available.

Best Spherical Cine Lens

SIRUI Night Walker 55mm T1.2 Cine Lens

PRICE: Starting at about $349

With a large T1.2 aperture, the SIRUI Night Walker lenses are perfect for low-light filming with a pure, low-noise night scene. Impressive optical design enhances performance even at max aperture with sharpness, minimal focus breathing, and controlled aberrations. Last but not least the lenses are surprisingly lightweight at about 500g.

NOTE: Be sure to select the lens mount that is appropriate for your camera. There are many options available.

Lens Filters

Filters can be an affordable and effective way to improve the quality of your footage, whether you're shooting video or photos. A few good options in this price range include circular polarizers and low-contrast filters from a variety of brands, such as Tiffen and Hoya.

Lights

Good lighting is key to any professional video shoot or photo session. At the higher end of the price spectrum, we recommend checking out offerings from companies like Arri and Aputure. These powerful, affordable, and durable LED lights make them the perfect choice for any filmmaker.

Audio

Bags and Cases

Other Gear

Computer / Laptop

If you want to go the computer route, there are many options here. The best-in-class would be Apple's new Macbook Pro.

But if the Apple ecosystem isn't for your filmmaker, there are PC options such as the Alienware Area 51m or the Dell XPS 15.

With their powerful processors, excellent displays, and great build quality, these laptops provide a high-end platform for editing, color grading, and other tasks that filmmakers need to get done.

Filmmaking Subscriptions

Assets / Libraries

Best for VFX

FX Elements VFX Library

PRICE: Free to get started | Subscriptions options start at $99

FX Elements allows filmmakers to add professional-grade VFX to any project with ease. With their high-quality VFX stock footage, anyone can get started with visual effects simply by dragging and dropping footage from their extensive library. With a subscription, users have access to their entire collection of VFX packs and individual clips to download as needed.

Best for Sound FX

Soundly Sound FX Library

PRICE: Free to get started | Paid options starting at $14.99

Soundly is both a sound effects management software and a sound effects library. With the free version, users can manage and organize their local sound files as well as access a limited free library from Soundly. With the paid version, users gain access to the full Soundly Pro library and 10GB of cloud storage.

Software

Best for Screenwriting

Arc Studio Pro

PRICE: Free to get started | Paid options starting at $69

Our first choice is Arc Studio Pro, which offers a range of powerful tools to help you write and format scripts. Its modern, intuitive layout makes it easy to use, and it also includes various collaboration features that can be useful for teams or writers looking for feedback on their work.

Best for Video / Image Enhancement

Topaz Video AI

PRICE: Free to get started | Starting at $299

Topaz Labs is the creator of an incredible range of AI-assisted photo and video enhancement tools.

Best for Post-production

Adobe Creative Cloud

PRICE: Starting at $54.99 per month

Adobe Creative Cloud offers apps, web services, and resources for various creative projects, including photography, video editing, graphic design, UX design, drawing and painting, social media, and more. Customize your plan with individual app subscriptions or opt for the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.

Training & Tutorials

If you're looking to give your filmmaker friend a gift that will help them improve their skills, then why not consider training or tutorials? There are a wide range of options available, from online video tutorials to paid programs like Skill Share and Lynda.com.

Editor's Choice

Masterclass

PRICE: Starting at about $120 per year

Masterclass is one of the best resources on the internet for creatives in general. For filmmakers, in particular, there are a number of masterclasses taught by award-winning directors such as Ron Howard, James Cameron, and David Lynch, just to name a few.

---

Books for Filmmakers and Creators

There is a huge variety of great books and guides available that can help filmmakers improve their craft, from beginner-level instruction manuals to more advanced texts on specific topics such as cinematography or lighting.

Screenwriting Books

Story

by Robert McKee

Robert McKee's book Story is one of the all-time essentials for any aspiring writer. It explores the fundamentals of story structure and provides invaluable insight into creating engaging stories with memorable characters. Spanning over 400 pages and chock full of examples from modern classic films.

Screenplay

by Syd Field

Screenplay by Syd Field is a groundbreaking book in the industry of scriptwriting. It provides a comprehensive look at what it takes to craft an effective screenplay, guiding aspiring screenwriters through the basics of building story and characters, plus the technical aspects of formatting, writing style, and other essentials.

It allows readers to transform their ideas into workable shots and scenes and feel confident with producing a professional script.

The Screenwriter's Bible

by David Trottier

The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier is an invaluable resource for aspiring screenwriters. Creating a screenplay takes knowledge of formats, structure, and conventions - all of which are discussed in depth in this book. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned writer, The Screenwriter's Bible is an essential companion and valuable reference for all things relating to formatting.

Save The Cat

by Blake Snyder

Save the Cat, written by Blake Snyder, is a popular guide to screenwriting and developing stories. Written in Snyder's signature down-to-earth style, this book demystifies the screenwriting process by breaking down the core tenants of successful movies. Save the Cat dives into topics such as beats and structure with examples to help readers understand concepts quickly. Readers will come away from this book inspired to keep their stories fresh and captivating for audiences.

Save the Cat Goes to the Movies

by Blake Snyder

Save the Cat Goes to the Movies by Blake Snyder is a follow-up in the wake of the success of Save the Cat. This in-depth look at the structures, tropes, and themes found in cinema by examining many of the famous films throughout film history. He provides several examples from each of his previously defined genres to give the reader real-life tangible models to reference and better illustrate the Save the Cat system.

Making a Good Script Great

by Linda Seger

Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger is a guide for screenwriters and filmmakers on how to take their script to the next level and make it stand out. The book covers various elements of scriptwriting, including structure, character development, theme, dialogue, and pacing.

Seger offers practical tips and exercises to help writers improve their scripts and make them more engaging and compelling for audiences. She emphasizes the importance of taking a critical and analytical approach to scriptwriting and encourages writers to think beyond the conventions of the genre to create something truly unique and memorable.

Misc. Filmmaker Gifts

Coffee Subscription

What filmmaker doesn't love coffee?

KOA Coffee

PRICE: Starting at $36

KOA Coffee offers award-winning hand-picked Kona Coffee via single purchase or subscription. They have multiple options for grind type, roast, and bean so that your order can be tailored to suit any need. To set up a subscription, just tick the box for My Daily Aloha when adding an item to your cart, and you can have deliveries scheduled as frequently as you like.

Headphones

Headphones can be a great gift for filmmakers as they can be useful both in production to monitor audio on set and in post-production as well.

Apple AirPods

PRICE: $129 - $549

Our top pick for wireless headphones would have to be Apple AirPods. Whether you go with the AirPods, the AirPods Pro, or the AirPods Max, they are all solid options that work seamlessly with Apple products.

Bose QuietComfort

PRICE: Starting at about $249

If your screenwriter isn't an Apple user, you might prefer to go for an equally valid option such as the Bose QuietComfort.

What makes a great gift for a filmmaker?

Gifting something special to a filmmaker or creator in your life is an excellent way to show them how much you appreciate their talent and hard work.

As we mentioned in our gift guide for screenwriters, buying a coffee mug or t-shirt with the image of a clapper board or the words filmmaker or director printed on it is probably NOT the best idea.

Most artists are fairly sensitive, and buying a novelty gift such as this could be seen as trivializing their passion.

At the high-end and mid-level, there are a few standard categories to consider: a camera and lenses, a computer or laptop, camera stabilizers, drones, and lights.

At the lower price range (under $100), it's harder to find quality gear for these categories, so we have to be a little more creative in that price range.

Wrapping Up

Whether you're looking for a high-end gift or something on a tight budget, there are plenty of great options out there for filmmakers and creators. Whether you're looking for a high-end drone, a powerful lighting system, or some great filmmaking books and guides, there's something out there that will meet your needs and fit into your budget.

What do you think? Have we missed any of the best holiday gifts for filmmakers? If so, reach out to us on social media!