The Coolest Holiday Gifts for Filmmakers, From Storyboard Notebooks to Vlogging Gear

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

Whether you’re a professional or an amateur filmmaker (or shopping for one), modern smartphones make it incredibly easy to create big-screen-worthy content without a budget-busting kit.

In fact, Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow said at the iPhone 13’s reveal in 2021 that its cinematic cameras “might even birth a new genre,” while Apple’s latest iPhone 17 features a 48-megapixel back camera, 48-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 18-megapixel front “selfie” camera. The smartphone can also capture video at 4K Ultra HD resolution at up to 60fps.

For those looking to top up on technical knowledge or play with some of the newest toys, we’re rounding up some of the best gifts for filmmakers of all ages and skill levels.

From fancy cameras and precise microphones to sound engineer-approved headphones, there is no shortage of accessories for future directors and cinematographers. And it’s truly a question of personal preference; filmmakers rely on their perfect combination of equipment to produce the look and feel they want. For that very reason, buying the best gift for the aspiring filmmaker in your life can be quite difficult.

That’s why practical and personal gifts are an excellent fit for any movie creator you know. Tripods can simplify the content creation experience, while posters and books make great gifts for your recent film school grad. A new camera is always among the best gifts for film students on a budget, along with laptop-friendly backpacks that let them work from anywhere. May we also suggest a print or digital subscription to this very publication too?

So, whether your recipient is just starting out or has a wealth of experience (or maybe you’re treating yourself to new gear), here’s an eclectic selection of the best gifts for filmmakers or anyone else who loves movies and TV.

Need more ideas? Check out The Hollywood Reporter‘s holiday gift guides here.

Step up filmmaking game with the Meta Quest 3 headset. Priced at $500, the headset lets filmmakers immerse themselves in mapping out scenes, editing, cinematography and other techniques and processes. The mixed reality headset is one of the best ways to create 360-degree and VR content for aspiring filmmakers.

Sony’s latest WH-1000XM6 Bluetooth headphones are also our go-to gear for long flights. They boast an Auto NC Optimizer that adjusts noise canceling based on your environment, and wearers get up to 30 hours of battery life so they’ll enjoy uninterrupted time while editing or listening to music.

Whether they use it as decor or on set, no aspiring filmmaker’s kit is complete without a movie clapboard. This acrylic dry-erase filming slate comes with an eraser and two pens.

If they’re dedicated to creating the most realistic scenery on their film sets, Dublin-based designer Annie Atkins reveals how to do just that in her 208-page book, Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking. From invitations, love letters, coffee shop receipts and more ephemera, this book provides endless inspiration.

Our new favorite essential for on-the-go group shots, selfies and videos, the credit card-sized Pocket Tripod universal kit slips easily into wallets and fits a range of phones. (It includes nine adapters with different widths for customizing the fit.)

On-the-go film fanatics can turn any spot into a movie theater with Kodak’s Luma 350 portable projector, which supports up to 4K quality in 1080p and delivers an image size as large as 150 inches (or up to 200 inches for 16:9 widescreen content) on any wall or other flat surface with a maximum throw distance of 15 feet. It can be plugged into an Amazon Firestick or Roku to watch movies and TV shows from streaming accounts or mirror your laptop or smartphone screen for presentations. It has built-in speakers and USB ports for supporting flash drives loaded with photo or video files, and the rechargeable battery lasts up to three hours.

There are tons of good monitors out there, but versatility is key. The ASUS ZenScreen 15.6-in. 1080p portable USB monitor is one of the best travel-friendly screens for on-the-go video editing, playback, online browsing and movie watching — a perfect combo for a filmmaker.

Nikon’s Z f compact mirrorless digital camera is a treat for photographers and videographers. In our hands-on testing, we were impressed with the autofocus and video stabilization while taking photos during hikes and bumpy rides through Arches National Park. The 24-70mm lens kit is especially great for taking portraits, landscape photos and smooth 4K video with ease, and it’s excellent in low-light situations (we shot many gorgeous and blur-free full moons in Utah and Colorado).

They’re going to need a lot of space to jot down their future script and scene ideas, and this Storyboard Notebook has 170 pages for them.

You never know what’s going to happen on set — and this multi-functional pen features nine convenient tools to ensure they’re always prepared.

A proper camera bag is essential for any on-the-go filmmaking enthusiast. One of the best camera backpacks for busy shutterbugs is Moment’s DayChaser 35L Travel Camera Backpack that features a modular, padded and shockproof interior camera compartment with removable dividers, a zippered accessories pocket and SD card slots. It’s also equipped with a padded laptop sleeve for up to a 16″ MacBook Pro, a main compartment with a valuables pocket and other handy features. The exterior is made of weather-resistant 500 KODRA fabric and the overall weight is just over 5 pounds.

A photographer friend recently recommended Benro’s lightweight tripod as one of his favorite gifts for budding shutterbugs and videographers. It weighs just over 2.6 pounds (or upgrade to the carbon fiber option that’s only 2.4 pounds) and folds up into a compact size for easy travel in the included storage bag.

Help them manifest their name on the big screen with this “Written & Directed By” hardcover journal that can be personalized with their name.

Several photographer friends recommended Panasonic’s Lumix line of mirrorless digital cameras. The G100 camera is a great choice for beginners and intermediate shutterbugs and includes a micro four thirds interchangeable lens, a built-in microphone with audio tracking and automatic adjustment and other features for filmmaking and vlogging. It shoots in 4K and up to 30p video, and users can get the perfect shot in iA (intelligent auto) mode or use their own settings in manual mode.

For editors, writers or producers who prefer in-ear headphones, Apple’s best-selling AirPods Pro 3 provide excellent noise cancellation, sound quality, Spatial Audio and other professional-approved features to keep them focused.

Test their Tinseltown knowledge with the Cinephile game that includes 150 illustrated cards with questions about film and pop culture.

If your giftee still has quite a lot to learn about editing, In the Blink of An Eye is a good option if they want to soak up tips and tricks from an acclaimed industry veteran. The award-winning book by film editor, director, writer and sound designer Walter Murch is the blueprint for film editing, as Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola (who frequently works with the author) can attest.

There’s nothing quite like learning from the best. That’s exactly what a Masterclass subscription provides: top-notch video lessons from some of the most accomplished professionals in the filmmaking field. There’s something for everyone, including anyone inspired by Shonda Rhimes’ many hit TV series, Ken Burns’ documentaries, Aaron Sorkin’s quick writing, Michael Lewis’ investigative chops or Natalie Portman’s approach to acting (to name just a few topics and celebrity instructors on the platform.)

A gourmet grub experience is just what they need to upgrade their home movie theater. This gift box includes popcorn kernels and two seasonings (salted caramel and white cheddar) from Dell Cove, a W&P personal popcorn bowl and Andrew Rea’s Eat What You Watch movie-inspired cookbook.

Maybe they’re a new or soon-to-be film school grad, or they wrapped their first big project. Toast their accomplishments with Megalopolis director Francis Ford Coppola’s Director’s Cut Cinema Red Blend 2019 made at the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s Sonoma County winery. (If they’re more into whites, Coppola has other options ranging from sauvignon blanc chardonnay.)

A subscription to American Cinematographer will help them keep up with the latest and greatest in the industry, with monthly issues featuring in-depth interviews with directors, lighting and camera work tutorials, the best camera gear releases, historical featurettes on Tinseltown’s best works and more.

If they’re regularly shooting outdoors, upgrade their budget setup with Sennheiser’s professional shotgun microphone (compatible with Canon 5D to 7D cameras and others), which “effectively attenuates noise coming from the sides and rear,” per the brand. There’s also an option to minimize wind noise and it can be used with or without a battery.

A favorite among DIY filmmakers and content creators, Aputure’s Amaran MC mini on-camera video light offers a CCT range of 3200-6500K and built-in lighting effects to recreate fireworks, paparazzi flashbulbs, TV, lightning, police cars, parties and more.

Filmmakers have to be ready to adapt to a variety of climates and conditions, especially if they want to make a documentary. Now compatible with new HB-Series lenses, the latest GoPro Hero13 Black waterproof action camera boasts a 27MP camera that shoots 4K and 5.3K Ultra HD video, Bluetooth connectivity for AirPods and other audio devices for wireless recording and sound control, 2x digital zoom, HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization and a HyperView digital lens that offers 8:7 and 9:16 aspect ratios.

Content creators will dig the webcam mode for livestreaming and vlogging, and the camera has a rechargeable, long-lasting battery. Of course, GoPro is known for withstanding the elements, so users can shoot underwater as deep as 33 feet.

A trusted and sizeable memory card — like SanDisk’s generous 2TB Extreme Pro — lets them stay focused on snapping and shooting all day without worrying about running out of space.

Speaking of digital space, having several memory cards going at once is a normal part of being a filmmaker. And a particularly thoughtful gift is something to keep everything together. Kiorafoto’s card holder can store 12 SD cards and is entirely waterproof and anti-shock.

Regeneration: Black Cinema (also available at the Academy Museum’s online store) explores the overlooked history of Black filmmakers, performers and producers such as Lena Horne, Bert Williams, Oscar Micheaux, Dorothy Dandridge, Herb Jeffries and many, many others. Spanning 288 pages and covering the period between 1898 and 1971, the must-have coffee table book has a foreword by Whoopie Goldberg and includes insightful interviews with award-winning contemporary filmmakers Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Julie Dash, Charles Burnett and Dawn Porter.

Techies will have fun playing with Hiturbo’s mini drone camera, a great gift for beginner drone photographers of all ages. It can record in 1080p HD resolution directly to smartphones via the free app and features a 90-degree manually adjustable lens for a stunning wide field of view. Reviewers love the one-click take-off and landing button, and the included batteries can last up to 22 minutes. It weighs just over three ounces and can fly up to 160 feet above the ground with three gear speeds. It can perform 360-degree flip and roll moves in any direction and comes with a handy carrying case.

For movie buffs and filmmakers of all ages, this poster of film terms will help them brush up on their set knowledge — or help them learn new ones.

Whether they’re facing writer’s block or they just need to let their creative juices flow, Speks’ Crags magnetic putty is a fun fidget-friendly accessory to help them concentrate (or get their mind off things).

Designed in collaboration with gear reviewer Chase Reeves and with the input of over 300 travelers, Pakt’s travel backpack boasts more than 20 features that make it essential for filmmakers who want to stay organized wherever they’re headed. Made of water-resistant fabric spun from recycled single-use plastics, this carry-on-sized pack has a cool dual-compartment clamshell design with a mesh divider, room for cameras and lenses, a separate laptop compartment, a waterproof section for toiletries (or items that might leak), an exterior water bottle compartment, a hidden back pocket for important documents, a luggage pass-through and plenty of easy-to-adjust straps to keep wearers comfortable.

This book by filmmaker and writer Rickey Bird is a good option for low-budget enthusiasts who are just getting into the filmmaking business. This 288-page guide will teach readers how to shoot “any film project into a piece of art,” as The Walking Dead actor Vincent M. Ward professes. After all, sometimes it can take just one great film to launch a career.