For film students and their films – distribution tips

There has been some discussion in the listserv I subscribe to about how students should go about distributing their work.  I think these folks had a lot of good to say and wanted to share it with you.  They are also the folks I turn to with film questions.

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Dennis Doros, Milestone Films:

They need to do their research. We get about five emails a week from filmmakers who want to show us their new horror film. Obviously, that is neither Milestone’s interest or within our capabilities. To successfully distribute a horror film, you need either a lot of money or a ready customer base. The same can be said with a medical documentary or one how to fix a motorcycle. You want a distributor who LOVES your film and has the knowledge on how to promote and sell it.

So the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of film they have, what companies distribute similar films, and how successful they are doing so. Find out in advance who is the head of acquisitions (call the company if you have to) and write a good letter (without typos or grammatical flaws, please!) with a well-designed and laid-out package of materials that go with it. The letter be addressed to that particular person in charge, should state why the film would be a good fit for the distributor and how you admired their release of “______” and think your film has a similar chance for success. Flattery helps a lot. Then call up a week later, be courteous and professional and offer a screener. Personality will help get your film at least screened. And for theatrical releas, it helps to have a professional, outgoing, well-spoken director — and distributors look for that.

The major film festivals like New York, Cannes, Sundance, Berlin, Toronto are important and then the next-tier festivals like Slamdance, South by Southwest, AFI and IFP (and others including all the great documentary festivals) are essential as well. Others less so to the point it can hurt a film because if it’s played too many festivals, then it gives the distributor the idea that it’s either been rejected by other distributors or that it’s played so much it will be difficult to get audiences. That could just be my own opinion, by the way — I’m not sure it’s true for others. Also, I may be wrong because this is one of the ways for filmmakers to travel, meet other filmmakers and distributors, and get to know more people in the field.  For features, it helps to play them if you can get reviewed in Variety, Hollywood Reporter and/or Screen Daily.

And don’t be too offended by rejections!!! For one thing, a lot of distributors are small and may have too many films at the moment already. We only do two to four films a year, for example. If rejected, you should write an extremely nice letter or note saying that if they change their mind, you would love to work with them if not on this one then on the next film. You don’t want to make enemies. (We do talk amongst ourselves and we are quick to mention the directors we love to work with and the horror stories of those otherwise!)

Lawrence Daressa, California Newsreel

“The New/Old World of Documentary Distribution: A Producer’s Guide to Digital Rights
Management.”

Again from Dennis Doros

Web Page:  Documentary Films & Festivals

Yes, of course, you can pass my email on. But new documentaries aren’t really my specialty — Amy does the new acquisitions and I do the classics. However, check out http://www.documentaryfilms.net/festivals.htm — I don’t know how many have markets, but some of the better known festivals are these below and they should check out each one to see if there’s a market and ask other filmmakers if they’re worth attending. Locally, besides SilverDocs, I’m also a big fan of the Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore which has a focus on young filmmakers. Most of these festivals, I believe, have Facebook pages.

http://www.ifp.org/

http://www.hotdocs.ca/

http://silverdocs.com/  (they also have a good links page at http://silverdocs.com/news-links/2009/11/06/silverdocs-voted-best-film-festival/)

http://www.idfa.nl/

http://www.sunnysideofthedoc.com/uk/index.php

http://www.fullframefest.org/

http://www.docfest.org/

http://www.documentary.org/

http://www.DocuFilmInst.org/