I started an online course from Future Learn called: Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences. Will leave some notes and resources in this post.
Distributors who are member companies of Film Distributors’ Association, the trade body that represents film distributors’ generic interests in the UK – https://www.launchingfilms.com/fda-members/
If you work for a film distributor and have responsibility for acquisitions, a film festival market is like being in a big bazaar.
There are dozens of busy film festivals in towns and cities worldwide, but the main annual events attended by thousands of international film buyers and sellers, and almost as many journalists, are at Sundance (January), Berlin (February), Cannes (May), Venice (August) and Toronto (September). The annual American Film Market is another large gathering that takes place in November.
Most distributors need to have a ‘slate’ – a line-up of various films – to release in any year. Normally this would be a mix of different genres of films and the mix would depend on the distributor.
In his book, Adventures in the Screen Trade, William Goldman wrote of the film industry the now famous adage: “In the film industry nobody knows anything”.
Two distinct factors are assessed for every film: their overall marketability and playability:
Marketability refers to the film’s potential to be marketed effectively, e.g. having clear selling points such as stars, genre or director that can be turned into a strong advertising campaign and a feeling of ‘want to see’ among the target audience.
Playability refers to audience reaction to the film. If an audience has enjoyed it, they will encourage friends and contacts to go and see it too. This allows the film to grow and sustain itself in the marketplace.
Second highest cost involved is the media. Right audience, right media (target media). What are the main selling points or hooks. How to position the film in the current market place.
