This information is designed
to help you locate a distributor for your film or video project,
or weigh the alternative options that are available to you.
If you are pursuing a public television or premium cable broadcast,
there are articles available that offer insight as to the projects
some stations acquire and information on the executives in charge.
Overview
Film Markets
Documentary
and Educational Distribution
Recommended Reading
Narrative and Feature
Film Distribution
International Distribution
Premium Cable Information
Public Television Information
List of Distributors
Self-Distribution
Screening Venues
Overview
Remember to think of distribution early and often! Identify
the potential markets for your film and which are the most important
to you. Knowing who you want to reach with your film will impact
the length, quality and style of the finished film. Also, contact
potential distributors early in the process and let them know
you are working on a project that may be of interest to them.
You can also request a Letter of Interest from distributors
and public television which can be helpful in your proposal
package during the fundraising process.
Things every filmmaker should think about distribution while
in production:
-
Are you seeking fame,
fortune or good conscience with your film? The way you answer
this question will dictate the decisions you make throughout
the distribution of your project.
-
Keep in mind that every
film has an audience, but not every film has a market or
is distributable. Meaning that to reach a film’s potential
audience the costs are often too high for a distributor
to attempt to reach, or the audience is so small the market
does not exist.
-
Marketing is a way of
communicating that makes your project interesting to people.
-
The length of your film
matters and it determines the markets that are available.
Realize early in the process how the length of your film
will impact its distribution options.
-
Take professional photos
during production! Good quality photos are essential to
a successful marketing and distribution campaign and will
directly affect the amount of exposure and success your
film achieves.
-
Build a mailing list
and send out periodic updates. Keep an updated list of anyone
you contact or who contacts you about your project throughout
its development.
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There are six main markets for your film/video
project. The graphic below represents these markets.
Realize that this is a one-way street, from top to bottom.
Keep in mind that, generally, you can only move from the top
markets down to the bottom throughout the life of your film.
Meaning that if you start by releasing your film on home video,
you won’t be able to release it theatrically. (Though,
as we all know, there will be exceptions to every rule but generally
this is the case.)
The one-way street applies because each market drives the
other markets which are below it. For instance, a broadcast on
a public television station can build interest from professors
interested in the educational distribution. Likewise, a broadcast
on HBO can increase the home video sales. The length of your project
also dictates the markets that are available to you.
5 to 10 minutes ………………………. Festivals, Interstitial Material
20 minutes ……..………………………. High School Audiences, Universities
28, 58 minutes ………………..…….. Cable Television Outlets
26, 56 minutes ………………..…….. Public Television Outlets
65 minutes + …….…………………… Theatrical Venues
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The articles below discuss ways of reaching
educational audiences and ways to put together a grassroots
marketing plan. The basics of educational distribution are also
covered. When one talks about the educational market, the potential
customers include the following groups:
- Colleges and Universities
- Public and Private Libraries
- Prisons and Detention Centers
- Churches, Synagogues and other Religious
Institutions
- High Schools and K-12 Educational Facilities
- Hospitals and Health Clinics
- Community Groups
- Business Groups
- U.S. Military
Other points to keep in mind: The educational
market is strongest in English speaking countries. The general
price for education titles is anywhere from $295 for a feature-length
title to $125 for a short film, with most films falling between
is $250 to $195. If you choose to work with a distributor the
average educational contracts usually give 25%-40% of profits
to the Producer and 75%-60% to the Distributor.
Additional Reading:
 Educational
Distribution 101
Documentary
Outreach
Sample
Educational Promotional Flyer
Enhancing Education: A
Producer’s Guide
http://www.cpb.org/stations/reports/producerguides.html
An online guide prepared by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
to help you maximize the educational impact of your project.
Successful educational programs seamlessly integrate education
strategies with production tactics. However, the path to achieving
those results may not always be clear. “Enhancing Education:
A Producer’s Guide” was designed with a range of producers in
mind. So, regardless of experience or expertise, producers can
turn to the Guide for solutions to make the education process
easier.
Making Television Matter:
How Documentaries Can Engage and Mobilize Communities
http://www.benton.org/publibrary/mtm/index.html
A resource published by the Benton Foundation that is about
imagining–imagining cinema beyond the cineplex, television beyond
ratings, funding beyond deadlines. This is a guide for broadcasters,
producers, funders and community organizations. It provides
tools and case studies of how documentaries can engage and mobilize
communities.
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The list of articles below discuss issues related to working
with a distributor, from how to choose a distributor to what
to look for in a distribution contract.
How
to Choose a Distributor (And Not Cry Yourself to Sleep After
the First Year)
Mapping
the Distribution Landscape
Distribution
Contracts
Distribution
and the Indie Filmmaker
Delivering
the Goods: Distribution Delivery Items
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Distributing
the Art-House Wealth
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Selling
in the International Marketplace
Let’s
Make a Deal
Documentary
Buyer Information Session
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The following
broadcasters are known to acquire independent projects for programming.
Related Articles:
Sheila’s
Gotta Have It: An Interview with HBO’s Executive Vice President
of Original Programming, Sheila Nevins
Dream to Screen: The Independent Film Channel
An
Interview with Kelly DeVine, Film Acquisitions Supervisor
for IFC Entertainment
An
Interview with Holly Becker, Director of Production for IFC
Productions
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Guide
to Public Television Acronyms
A
Producer at Heart: A Conversation with PBS’s New President,
Pat Mitchell
It’s
the Audience, Stupid: What PTV Programmers Want
Understanding
the PBS Greenlight Process: Getting PBS to Yes
Following
the Breadcrumbs Through the PBS Jungle
Up
to Spec for PBS
Making
Your P.O.V. Known: An Interview with Executive Director of
P.O.V., Cara Mertes
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The list below contains contact and general
information on independent distributors in the United States.
While this is not a comprehensive list of available distributors,
the list should be used as a resource of possible distributors
for your completed film or video project. Be sure and read through
their websites to find information on their method of acquisition
or contact them first before sending materials to them. Some
distributors will not accept unsolicited submissions choosing
to find acquisitions at film festivals or markets exclusively.
List
of Independent Distributors
For a more complete listing, consider purchasing
The AIVF Guide to Film and Video Distributors, published
by The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers, available
via their website.
www.aivf.org
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Self
Distribution
"Self-Distribution:
If You Don’t Do It, Who Will?”
“Self-Distribution
and Understanding Sequencing”
“D.I.Y.
Distribution with Doug Wolens, director of ‘Weed’”
“Distribution
Strategy Worksheet”
“Putting
Your Film on DVD”
“Self-Distribution
Secrets”
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Screening
Venues
The following document lists screening opportunities in New
York. For more information, please contact the venue directly
and please note that all rates are subject to change.
List
of New York Screening Venues
For a more comprehensive list
of cinemas and alternative exhibition venues across the United
States, refer to The AIVF Guide to Film and Video Exhibitors.
You can order a copy via the AIVF website.
www.aivf.org/store/index.php?page=catalog&type=books&sid=
Below is a list of monthly screening series, or “microcinemas”
that will also screen works-in-progress or completed films in
New York City. You are also strongly encouraged to send samples,
works-in-progress and rough cuts to the Production Assistance
staff who are always willing to watch and offer feedback on
new cuts. Additionally, the entire staff of Women Make Movies
is available to screen rough cuts and offer feedback if the
completed film is about women and you will be submitting the
completed film for WMM acquisition consideration.
Cinewomen
www.cinewomenny.org/screenings/index.html
Opportunities to screen work are important to any filmmaker.
To promote women working in film, Cinewomen NY (CWNY) has entered
into a series of partnerships with various screening venues
in town, particularly with NEW FILMMAKERS, an on-going film
series screening weekly at Anthology Film Archives. This series
has developed a loyal following dedicated to new voices in film.
All proceeds from the series go to Anthology Film Archives to
continue presenting alternative visions on film and video.
Docuclub
www.docuclub.org
Docuclub’s In-the-Works NYC offers filmmakers a safe environment
to screen a rough-cut of their documentaries before an audience
of their peers and lovers of the form. The audience is encouraged
to give constructive feedback about the structure, content,
characters and clarity of the film in a post-screening discussion
with an experienced editor/filmmaker who facilitates the feedback
session. A reception will follow to give everyone a chance to
network.
Reel Roundtable
www.reelroundtable.com
The Reel Roundtable has two weekly programs in New York City
and one weekly film series in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami.
Their weekly film series, The Film Medley, showcases the best
independent films and the wisdom behind them. Screening are
followed by Q&A's with filmmakers and industry executives.
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