Film Distribution: How to find the right distributor for your film?
7 Sep
There’s one word that hangs the heaviest in every filmmaker’s head, and that word is “distribution”. Let’s look at the definition of the word according to the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary, because the fifth definition of “distribution” explains it perfectly for the film world as “the marketing or merchandising of commodities”. Film may be an art form, and it may be a collaborative medium of expression, but at the end of the day, no matter what the film is like, it’s a product. A product is something that is produced. So, when a film gets completed, it is then the product of the hard work and artistry that made it real. Distributing it to end consumers or audiences is the primary goal for any production. The film distributor is the one with the actual means to make it happen.
It’s not easy finding the right distributor, but it can happen when a filmmaker is properly educated about distribution. There are so many companies out there that release films. Distributors handle different rights, and distribute their titles in different ways. Some distributors release films theatrically, some only on DVD, while others are now only handling digital streaming or VOD rights. All of these are avenues for your film to get more widely seen, and are also ways to make revenue from the cinematic product you’ve created. Finding out how and what a distributor releases is essential to your search for the right distributor. If a distributor releases only family films, for instance, don’t send them your bloody slasher film! At the end of the day, it’s more than time and money that’s at stake. It’s also your reputation as a filmmaker.
Certain films are better suited to certain distributors. It’s no surprise that just like a Country/Western music company releases Country/Western music, or a Hip-Hop record label releases Hip-Hop music, film distributors are sometimes just as specific as their target audience’s needs are. Now, if your film is a Drama or a Comedy, you may have better or worse chances than films in other genres of finding distribution, depending on which distributor you’re sending your film to for consideration. The more information you’ve gathered on a specific distributor, the better off you’ll be. It will save you time and money to submit your film to the right companies, while avoiding the ones that are most likely going to pass on your film.
Wait, what does “pass” mean anyway? When a distributor uses the depression-inducing word, “pass”, in regards to a film, it means they’re not interested in acquiring that film. This can be due to various reasons. Most filmmakers immediately take it the wrong way, thinking that it means that their film is terrible, and will never get released. This is not true in the slightest. More often than not, the film did not fit into the genre categories that are working for that company at the time, or perhaps found the film to be too small or too big for their respective release patterns. What it does mean is that the film still needs to find the right home, and you might have to do more research to get it there.
The road to distribution is not necessarily an easy one, but it is just as important as the road to getting a film completed in the first place. Whether it’s a major studio or a smaller niche distributor, your film has to get to the right people for it to move ahead. Many filmmakers take this road on alone, achieving mixed results. There are, of course, filmmakers who did it all themselves, and get lucky, but most films need additional help to get released properly. This is where Sales Agents and Producer’s Reps can help you. They can strategize around your film, and get your film further down the road than you can imagine. Again, if you’re armed with the right contacts and information, you may just as easily be able to sell the film yourself, but like we mentioned before, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Of course, there’s no guarantee when you make a film that it’ll find distribution at all, no matter what you do. That being said, you’ll want to cover every base to give your movie the best life it can possibly have, whether it’s released theatrically, on DVD, via broadcast, or digitally.
Cinesouq gives you a launching point, and publicity-garnering mechanism to help you go straight to the source. We help you, by giving you the sales tools to help you achieve your distribution goals. Whether it’s the contact database that you gain access to, or the online screener that’s available 24/7 for distributors to watch, or the community of industry professionals that you can share information with… We’re making it easier for you to be truly independent, while spreading the word about your film to its prospective audience around the world. Find your future sales agent, producer’s rep, talent agent, or distributor, with the help of Cinesouq. We’re helping you market your film the right way, and giving you the foundation to do it with.
Every film needs to find a home. We Welcome You!
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