Distribution

From film festival strategies to theatrical to VOD to online options to finding and securing a sales agent the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on all things related to the distribution process

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Maurice Vaughan
Film Festival Experience

What’s one of your film festival experiences? It could be something like winning at a festival, a filmmaking tip you picked up, or a mistake you learned from. Post your experience in the comments. It could help others who are looking to submit their films to festivals.

Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, I think midtown Manhattan. I did camera work for Dimitris Athos, he was running the festival. A lot of good work

Maurice Vaughan

Cool, Billy Kwack. I looked at Dimitris' IMDb page. He worked on Uncharted: Live Action Fan Film. I wonder if there are festivals for fan films.

Maurice Vaughan
Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, cool, I haven't seen him in many years. I'll check it out, thanks

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Billy Kwack.

Chloe Webster
Netflix's Prince Documentary Shelved—A Missed Opportunity for Fans

It's a real shame that Netflix's Prince documentary, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman, will not be released. Despite being lauded by everyone who saw it, this six-part series will never reach the public. The project, which Edelman worked on for over five years, was canceled following...

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Mike Boas

It’s always a danger when you hang your project on the approval of your subject (or their estate).

Since Prince was a public figure, you could go the unauthorized route, but then you wouldn’t have acce...

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Philip David Lee

Chloe Webster This is why I always try to work in fiction. This way, I create the world I want to expose and not have to worry about revisionist historians or estate personnel that wish to cover up an...

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Sam Sokolow
Cineverse Grabs Digital Rights To ‘Highlander’

Niche streaming services are continuing to grab titles, extend IP value and will no doubt lead to more opportunity for original projects, which is another great sign for independent filmmakers.

This annoucement caught my eye because the original HIGHLANDER is one of my favorite movies - a kick ass a...

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There Can Be Only One: Cineverse Grabs Digital Rights To 'Highlander' And Other Davis-Panzer Productions Titles
There Can Be Only One: Cineverse Grabs Digital Rights To 'Highlander' And Other Davis-Panzer Productions Titles
Cineverse has extended its existing deal with Davis Panzer Productions, securing digital rights to nine titles including the original Highlander movie.
Maurice Vaughan

I saw HIGHLANDER growing up, Sam Sokolow, but I need to rewatch it since I don't remember what the story is about.

Leonardo Ramirez

This sure brings back some good vibes Sam Sokolow. I remember seeing it in theaters and absolutely loved it. Enjoyed the series although I don't remember the relationship between the two - I know they...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

I remember so well “Highlander”! It was epic and stayed in my memories since my youth. I am a Sean Connery fan and I think I would love to watch again. Thanks for sharing Sam Sokolow :))...

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Florin Şumălan

I liked "Highlander" the series with Adrian Paul

Mike Boas

I find it funny that the first film launched a franchise, given the story didn’t leave a lot of options open for sequels.

That said, this news got me to rewatch The Highlander last night. Simple story...

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Mike Boas
Hundreds of Beavers on 35mm

These guys keep doing unexpected things. Now they took their 1080p black and white cult film and struck a print for select screenings.

https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/hundreds-of-beavers-35mm-screenings-interview-1235095302/...

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At Last, 'Hundreds of Beavers' Is Ready to Rampage Through Theaters on 35MM
At Last, 'Hundreds of Beavers' Is Ready to Rampage Through Theaters on 35MM
Producer Kurt Ravenwood tells IndieWire about controlling the film's distribution and giving it a joyful new life in 35mm.
Debbie Elicksen
Crave Originals and How to Submit Content

The streaming world is on an ebb and flow. That doesn't mean there are not opportunities galore. As people leave one platform, they sign up for another. Nothing in the digital space is certain or permanent. Markets come and go, depending on circumstances and trends.

For example, right now, as I writ...

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Crave
Crave
Series development Canadian scripted feature pre-licensing Canadian documentary feature licensing
Nick Eff
Question

Hi all.

Who are some good distributors?

Sam Sokolow

Hi Nick Eff - there are many distributors around the world and some are broad based while others specialize in certain genres or budget ranges. It all depends on the film and finding the right fit and...

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Nick Eff

Thanks.

Ewan Dunbar

IMDb is also a very good resource for this. You can look up films similar to your own and go to the production company section to see who the sales company and dinstributors were.

Sam Sokolow
Food commercials will dominate the Super Bowl

This Sunday's Super Bowl will include a slew of new commercials and food and drink brands see it as a once a year opportunity to reach the biggest and most engaged audience. Are you planning to watch tge Super Bowl? And, if so, what team are you rooting for or are you tunig in for the commercials an...

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Super Bowl Food Fight: Glut of Grocery Commercials Will Push Viewers to Eat, Eat, Eat
Super Bowl Food Fight: Glut of Grocery Commercials Will Push Viewers to Eat, Eat, Eat
Super Bowl viewers will see a food fight among advertisers, with a significant chunk of commercials devoted to junk food, food delivery or obesity
Sam Sokolow

So... what did you all think of the Super Bowl commercials?

Maurice Vaughan

I liked the commercials, Sam Sokolow. They were fun and unique. My favorite commercial/the most unique one is the Mountain Dew Seal commercial. And I watched the halftime show this time....

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Debbie Elicksen

For me, it was all about Kendrick Lamar. I didn't care about the teams in it, although maybe a slight edge to the Eagles. However, Kendrick broke the Internet and the world with his masterclass on pol...

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Maurice Vaughan

I really liked the halftime show, Debbie Elicksen! I don't know a lot about the Kendrick Drake beef, but the halftime show was incredible! I understood some of the messages from the show, but I didn't...

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Debbie Elicksen

Maurice Vaughan lots of rabbit holes to dive into. Oh, and it's not about Drake. This was an awakening to the next revolution.

Sam Sokolow
Amazon MGM Studios Exploring International Theatrical Distribution Arm

Another sign that global theatrial distribution is on a great trajectory. While this may be a big piece of Amazon/MGM's bigger budget film strategy, a rising tide lifts all boats and this would also be helpful to arthouse theaters and indie productions. What are your thoughts on Amazon expanding it'...

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Amazon MGM Studios Exploring International Theatrical Distribution Arm - The Dish
Amazon MGM Studios Exploring International Theatrical Distribution Arm - The Dish
Amazon MGM Studios is looking to build out an international theatrical distribution division as they ramp up more features for the big screen.
Ashley Renee Smith

Sam Sokolow, it’s encouraging to see Amazon/MGM committing to a bigger presence on the global stage. While their focus may be on larger-budget films, an expansion like this could absolutely benefit in...

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Sandra Isabel Correia
Huge News – Stage 32 Partners with Bloomberg Original Studios!

Have you read the news?

Stage 32 has officially partnered with Bloomberg Original Studios to provide world-class training and certification to their global production teams!

This collaboration represents a major milestone for Stage 32 and reinforces our position as the global leader in entertainment i...

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Sam Sokolow
CBS and Sony square off on Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy

My popcorn is out and I'm watching this one. While it seems the courts will decide it does speak to the greater bandwidth in distribution and content creators working to control their own destiny. If Sony feels it can win on their own in this game, independent film distributors can win on their own...

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Ashley Renee Smith

Sam Sokolow, it speaks to the larger shift happening in distribution and content ownership, where studios and independent distributors alike are trying to carve out more control over their revenue str...

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Sam Sokolow

Agreed 100% Ashley Renee Smith!

Nick Phillips
2025 Box Office Continues the Rebound Trend

This year's box office is 12.3% ahead of 2024. Still not at pre-pandemic levels, but it means that more people are going to the movies. More people means more money, more money means more movies being made. It's all part of what looks to be a big growth year in 2025. That's good news for us all!

http...

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Sam Sokolow

Yes, Nick Phillips! The industry is on a great trajectory right now and the global marketplace is abuzz with action and potential. It seems everyone wants in this game around the world and the project...

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Philip David Lee

For me, it's really too early to tell.. 12.3% is a significant percentage but what films are 2025 competing against as opposed to 2024? There were a lot of underachievers in 2024 and 2025 is just star...

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Ashley Renee Smith

This is definitely encouraging news, Nick Phillips! It’ll be interesting to see what kinds of films continue to drive this momentum. Whether it’s big-budget tentpoles, mid-range genre films, or indie...

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Maurice Vaughan

I'm looking forward to seeing TRAIN DREAMS, Pat Alexander. I don't think I've watched a Lyrical Drama before. At least I didn't know I was watching one.

Sam Sokolow

This is good news for indie films - cool to see Black Bear fully financing a film like this. Edgerton has done some remarkable work in smaller films and boy is Felicity Jones having a great run fueled...

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