February 06, 2008
The statistics are daunting. Each year, an estimated 3000 new independent feature films enter the marketplace in search of a distributor. In 2007, only 530 of them made it into theaters. Even so, a mere 82 found their Holy Grail – a theatrical distribution deal with one of the major players: Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Goldwyn, Lionsgate, Miramax, Paramount Vantage, Picturehouse, Sony Pictures Classics, ThinkFilm, The Weinstein Co., Warner Independent, or the Yari Film Group.
Like everything else, films must be marketed—including those with A-list names—so that industry buyers can fully assess their box office potential. As veteran filmmakers know, there can be nothing haphazard in your approach to landing a distributor – especially one that pays an advance, provides the P&A, and has the muscle to get your masterpiece booked onto the nation’s best art house and commercial screens.
This seminar will take you through the steps of positioning your film to maximize its chances of getting accepted by top festivals, represented by a leading sales agent, and ultimately considered for acquisition by the majors.
Download a PDF for the full story
