Distributor Q&As

Distributor FAQ: Udy Epstein of Seventh Art Releasing

Nikki — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:11:35 -0500

Seventh Art Releasing is a distributor and sales company founded in 1994 by Jonathan Cordish and Udy Epstein. The company is known for distributing award-winning documentaries and fiction films, many dealing with Jewish culture, lesbian and gay issues, human rights, music, and popular culture.

Distributor FAQ: Vanessa Domico of Outcast Films

Nikki — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:01:31 -0600

Vanessa Domico was tired of seeing too few LGBT films, so she drew on her expertise as a film distributor and founded Outcast Films.

Distributor FAQ: Talking to Oli Harbottle of Dogwoof Pictures

Nikki — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:13:39 -0600

Already a successful London-based distribution company, Dogwoof has launched its own DVD store, an independent distribution site called Dogwoof Indie (which allows filmmakers to keep all rights to their film), and Dogwoof TV, a platform that brings independent movies from the web to the television (in conjunction with blinkx BBTV).

Boom or Bust: The Cinema Guild's Ryan Krivoshey

Nikki — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Much has changed since 1968 when Philip and Mary-Ann Hobel created The Cinema Guild and television was the niche market for all things educational.

Case Study No. 3: "On Broadway"

mike — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:31:10 -0500

On Broadway, a movie about a working-class Bostonian’s attempt to stage a play in the back of an Irish pub, has received such a good response from film festival audiences around the country that the producers decided to self-release the film in Boston last month.

Case Study No. 2: "Buddy"

mike — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:51:35 -0500

Cherry Arnold didn’t know what she was in for when she started filming Buddy: The Rise and Fall of America’s Most Notorious Mayor. “If I had known all the work involved…,” Arnold says. “Pure ignorance kept me going. I underestimated by months at a time how long each step would take.”

Case Study No. 1: "The Sensation of Sight"

mike — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:16:36 -0500

It’s no wonder Buzz McLaughlin feels some pride and relief. His New Hampshire-based film production company, Either/Or Films, just signed a distribution deal for its first movie, The Sensation of Sight, during the last week of March.

Adventures in Self Distribution: Three Case Studies

mike — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:58:07 -0500

Long after they wrap their films, independent filmmakers struggle to get their projects seen by as many people as possible. A distribution deal with a mainstream distribution company is, of course, the Holy Grail. And in the quest for a deal, a filmmaker's family ties will often get strained, their bank accounts will dwindle, and their stress level will surge.

The DVD Isn't Dead... At Least Not Yet

erin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

With a call for shorts for Independent Exposure 2008 open through the end of the month, The Independent wanted to talk strictly shorts with Microcinema’s founder, Patrick Kwiatkowski.

Download This: The Future of Distribution is Just a Click Away

michele — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Video blogs, vodcasts, YouTube -- in many ways it seems that independent filmmakers have taken the internet by force. But what about independent films picked up for distribution? In many cases, they are notably missing from the online arena. Companies like Zipporah Films, Women Make Movies and Davidson Films still stick with their tried-and-true model of