Distribution Research

What is a film distributor? A film distributor is a company or individual in control of the marketing of a film. The distributor has the responsibility of setting a release date for a film and being made responsible for exhibiting the film and making it available for viewing, (DVD).

A distributor may do this directly, if the distributor owns the theatres or film distribution networks, or through theatrical exhibitors and other sub-distributors.

In terms of features, a distributor is usually an organisation who handles the theatrical release of a film in a particular country as well as the marketing and circulation of films for home viewing (DVD, Video-On-Demand, Download, Television etc).

Examples of film distributors

How do they work?

• Large distributor companies buy the rights to a movie.

• They cover all the costs of P&A - prints and advertising.

• They will then contact cinema owners and work out a percentage deal. The bigger the movie, the more money cinema owners will be willing to pay for it. The smaller the movie, the less the cinema owners are willing to pay.

• The percentage varies depending on the movie. A straight 50/50 split is very rare. The percentage changes over the time of the movie.

A distributor is commonly an organisation who deals with the theatrical release of a film in a particular country as well as the marketing and circulation of films for home viewing (DVD, Video-On-Demand, Download, Television etc). Often feature films have different distributors representing them in different territories and different distributors handling the home-viewing circulation. Independent film distribution in the UK is generally managed by indie distributors such as Metrodome, Optimum Releasing and Momentum.

How is a film distributed? A distributor’s job is to find new films to represent in their distribution catalogue, this could be at film festivals, markets around the world such as Cannes, Rotterdam.

Although they may be interested in voluntary submissions or works in progress, the majority of films that distributors attain are completed films sourced at film festivals and related markets.

Distributors require a clear paper chain - clear contracts and license deals so that they know that you are legally allowed to sell all the different elements of a film on to a third party.

Conglomerate owned distribution companies

A conglomerate is a large company or organisation that shares a large number of companies in various mass media channels. For instance Walt Disney is an example of a conglomerate film company. A major film studio is a production and distribution company that releases a considerable number of films annually. They consistently have significant shares of box-office profits.

The American film industry is dominated by 6 major studios, each of which are subsidiaries of major media conglomerates, these are;• Warner Brothers• Paramount• 20th Century Fox• Walt Disney Pictures• Columbia Pictures• Universal Pictures

Independent distribution companies

Independent films are produced and/or distributed by subsidiaries of major film studios. Independent films can usually be recognised by their content and

personal unique style. Many independent films are made with significantly lower film budgets than major film studios. The marketing of independent films is

categorised by limited release, they can also have major marketing campaigns and worldwide releases. Independent films are often screened locally, nationally or at international film festivals before distribution (theatrical and/or retail release). An independent film production can rival a mainstream film production if it has the needed funding and distribution. Independent film distributors are different to

conglomerate companies as they have no formal connection between producers, distributors and exhibitors.