Now that you’ve made your film, you want to ensure that it gets seen in theaters so that it can make money and get audience and industry attention. There are many independent and international film distributors that can promote your work in such avenues as film festivals to attract film distributors to your project.

Here some thing to consider about making the most of film distributors and getting your film the attention you want from critics, film industry insiders and audiences:

1. Learn about movie distributors that use the Internet to get your film attention.

2. Use international and independent film distribution companies that promote theatrical, home video and other means to get your film interest.

3. Find out how you can use a film festival to attract a movie distribution company to your film.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Work with movie distribution companies that use the Internet to promote films

Because so many people use the Internet to watch movies and learn about them, working with independent movie distributors that use the Internet to promote films is a great way to get attention for your film project. Many of these independent and international motion picture feature film distributors have used things such as Facebook or Myspace, as well as their own company websites, to generate interest in upcoming movie and DVD releases.

I recommend: Go to Zeitgeist Films, which is an independent film distribution company that promotes films with theater exhibitors as well as DVD sales. Reframe is a movie distributor program from the Tribeca Film Institute, which helps filmmakers and distributors showcase films that might not easily get the attention they deserve by promoting them on the Internet.

Work with independent film distributors that use digital distribution to promote films

Digital distribution is technology where films can be compressed and encrypted into files that can be quickly sent to theaters where they are opened with digital projection equipment without the need or the cost of transportation used for traditional distribution methods.

I recommend: Work with Technicolor or Magnepix Distribution, which are two film distribution companies that use digital distribution to promote films.

Learn how to attract film distributors to your film via film festivals

Film festivals have become a great way for independent and international filmmakers to attract attention to their film projects and get distribution deals. You will need to prepare a press kit, which should include a synopsis about your film, some production stills, and information about how long it took to shoot your film. Also include a biography of your cast and crew and your previous film credits. Have enough copies of your press kit to pass around to film distributors.

I recommend: Visit Film Festivals.com to search through its listings of upcoming film festivals so that you can submit your film and generate interest from motion picture distributors. Show your film at Indie Film Festival to generate interest for your film from film distributors and audiences. Go to Versfelt Communications Group to have an electronic press kit of your film made to showcase at film festivals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  An electronic press kit has a short video or trailer of your film, biographies of your cast and crew, interviews about the making of the film, and other promotional material to get film distributors interested in your film.

Film distribution can be a confusing process. Finishing your first film is a great accomplishment. Dreams of scoring blockbuster status on the big screen fuel your passion to see audiences enjoy your masterpiece. So you submit your films to the big festivals like Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca. After what seems like an eternity, you receive an email in your inbox. Hopes dashed, you're not sure what to do next. How do you get your feature film distributed beyond YouTube?

The old model of film distribution was at the mercy of movie distributors. Producers, directors and audiences no longer have to kneel at the feet of film distribution companies as the only avenue to stardom. Consider these tips and make the most of the movie distribution process.

1. Eliminate the confusing and frustrating film distribution process. There are a lot of online resources and advice to help you maintain the integrity of your film while shopping it around.

2. Don't abandon film festivals just yet. Continue submitting to festivals, even the small ones.

3. Look for ways to self-distribute through a variety of mediums and create your own marketing buzz.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get advice on film distribution

There are plenty of resources and advice out there that can help you understand the often complicated film distribution process.

I recommend: Downloading film distribution podcasts like the one from Genwi can really help you understand movie distribution. Indie Film Nation did an episode in 2007 on independent movie distributors. Also check out FILMspecific for current news about the movie distribution industry. Become a member with FILMspecific and receive valuable resources like seminar information. The leading directory of motion picture distributors is the Hollywood Distribution Directory.

Apply to festivals to increase exposure to independent film distributors

It's a fact, film distributors frequent movie festivals like Cannes, Sundance and Tribeca. However, your goal is to get your movie seen by as many movie distribution companies as possible. Whether well-known or small, submit your film to as many festivals as you can. Hopefully you'll get a write up in a local paper that could give you some leverage when speaking with agents.

I recommend: Check out Cooblae for links to national and international film festivals, including the well known ones like Sundance and Cannes where movie distribution companies are sure to be in attendance. Check out Withoutabox to submit your work to festivals and competitions worldwide.

Self-distribute as a movie distributor

While actively pursuing conventional avenues to independent film distributors, begin educating yourself on the art of self-distribution. Unlike the old model that film distribution companies like to use, you have media channels at your disposal.

I recommend: Create a demand. Release your film on your website making it available on DVD for a limited time with the help of CreateSpace. Post your film online at Film Baby or Undergroundfilm.com. Approach local movie theaters and see if they would be willing to show your movie over a weekend.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The film industry is buzzing about the online community at triggerstreet.com. Insiders report that top film executives, movie distributors and screenwriters have occasionally stopped by the hip site offering a tip or two to up-and-coming talent.

Because of their ability to promote a film, sell it to exhibitors who will show it in their theaters, and check into things such as gross profits and how many seats were used per showing, film distributors can have an impact on a movie being seen by critics, audiences and other film industry insiders. Learning what film distributors do will help you, as a filmmaker, decide what kind of film distribution company you want to work with.

An independent film maker it’s important to the success of your film as well as your career to learn what film distributors do as well as how to find one to distribute your film. Here are some film distributors basics that you should consider learning about:

1. Find out about film distribution companies by reading listings of feature film distributors and independent movie distributors.

2. Learn about feature film distributors that distribute independent films.

3. Get information about independent film distributors as well as international film distributors and what markets they serve.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about movie distribution companies by viewing industry listings

In order to better understand what movie distributors do, read through film industry listings of film distribution companies. Most of these company's websites give listings of the films they are producing along with upcoming dates of new releases.

I recommend: Go to Film Forum to view the listings of both feature, independent and international film distributors. Submit a film to Undergroundfilm.com, which is an independent film distributor that not only helps filmmakers but also screenwriters, musicians and composers.

Get information about feature film distribution companies for your independent film

Since a significant number of recent Oscar winners have been independently produced or financed films, learning the names of feature film distribution companies is important for an indie filmmaker to know. Granted, most likely a big budget movie distributor isn't going to give a novice filmmaker a chance, nut there have been examples of that happening with such films as Blair Witch Project and Boyz N the Hood. Clearly, anything is possible if the film is of merit.

I recommend: Visit Fox Searchlight, which is the specialty film division of leading movie distribution company 20th Century Fox. This company is responsible for the indie hit Little Miss Sunshine. Learn about Lionsgate, one of the leading independent motion picture distributors. You can receive its upcoming releases on its website. Both of these websites have promotional features of the films they are currently featuring.

Find out about independent and international film distribution companies

For makers of independent films or foreign filmmakers, creating a relationship with independent and international film distribution companies is essential to the success of the film. These kinds of film distribution companies can be especially helpful for filmmakers who, because of budget concerns or are in foreign countries, are trying to have their films seen by wider audiences.

I recommend: Go to Strand Releasing, which is an acclaimed independent film distributor to learn about how they promote independent and art films. International Film Circuit distributes foreign films to the United States. This company also distributes its own titles as well as those by filmmakers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A film distributor of international films may also be responsible for making sure that foreign language films have subtitles or dubbing so American audiences can understand them.

You have the dream of playing your film for people all over the world. Film distributors help you make that happen. Through time-tested marketing strategies and technological advances, film distributors know exactly what to do to get your movie out there. Finding the right film distributors can be a challenge because there is a lot of competition among companies in that market. Use film distributors key terms to help you find the company that will launch your career.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Genre

In film, a genre is the type of film that you've made. Examples of genre types include action and adventure, documentary and drama.

I recommend: See a list of the different film genre types at Reframe, which is a program of Tribeca Film Institute.

Electronic press kits, EPK

Electronic press kits have many functions, but the main one is to attract attention to your film. Among other things, electronic press kits can drive people to online social networking sites for more information and can even help you establish more attention in the press.

I recommend: Read about electronic press kits at Versfelt Communications Group, also known as VCGTV.

Digital distribution

Digital distribution is a method by which your film distribution company will deliver your film to the market place. Hard disk drives are one way that companies can digitally distribute films; they may also send the film via a satellite distribution network.

I recommend: Technicolor Digital Cinema digitally distributes films to theaters across the United States. Read about the process on the company's website.

Film festival

To snag a distribution company, your best bet is to have a good showing at a film festival. If you have a good film that simply needs more attention, your film distribution company may recommend that you attend a film festival. Either way, this celebration where critics can watch numerous films can garner you the attention you deserve.

I recommend: IndieFilmFest.net defines film festival and offers details about the Indie Film Festival (IFF).

Video download

With new technological advances, video download is one way that your film distribution company can ensure a screening of your film. Video download doesn't require a large theatre for the audience to view your film. In fact, all that's really necessary is an MP3 player that's equipped to play videos as well. Video downloads are available for purchase as 'download to own' or 'download to rent.'

I recommend: Read about video download features at CreateSpace.

Exhibition

After working with a film distribution company, you end goal is the exhibition, or the screening of your film.

I recommend: Read about film exhibition in the Film Encyclopedia.

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