Distribution : 10 Tips for Getting your Indie Feature Released Nationwide! by David Liban

10 Tips for Getting your Indie Feature Released Nationwide!

My 2nd feature film, Publish or Perish is coming out this week. So I thought I'd take the time and share some of the things I learned about distributing a feature. So... here it goes:

1) Make a good movie. No... I mean really... make a good movie. Your script needs feedback from professionals and try your best to make the film engaging. Ask yourself (not your mom) Is it a movie people will want to see? Are there characters who have clear 'wants' and goals? Is there a story? (not a concept... but a story).

2) Test the film in front of an audience. Take notes and make the appropriate adjustments.  

3) If you don't have big names in your film, you will be unable to compete with the studio or bigger budget indie films. That's just the sad truth. The machine of Hollywood will build marketing strategies around names, so if you don't have them, you'll need to find alternative methods of distribution.  

4) Submit to film festivals. Laurels help sell your film. Now... it's very hard... nearly impossible to get into the big ones (SXSW, Sundance, Telluride, Berlin, Cannes, etc) but I cannot help myself from submitting to those even though I know I probably won't get in. (What if? That's my weakness :)

Festivals should not be your end all. Think of it as networking and not where deals are made. Mostly you meet other filmmakers who want you to see their movie.  

There is some value in getting into 2nd and 3rd tier festivals. Spend some time on filmfreeway and select carefully. I am a curmudgeon about festivals so I have my sh**list that I will never again submit to. (They just never take my films... so no... not giving them my money any more.). But... here's my personal guidelines about submitting to film festivals.  

a) Look at the pictures of the venues posted on FilmFreeway where the festivals screen the films. (Ignore the reviews... they are all 5 stars) In the pictures, do you see folding chairs and an erected screen? If so... nope, I'm not submitting. I want to screen it in theater.

b) Do they screen DCP's? If so that's a big plus since that is a huge device that typically is only in a movie theatre. 

c) Is it located in a place you want to visit? If the answer is no, don't submit. Plan on going to the ones you get into.

d) Don't submit to on-line festivals. My experience with that is there's no feedback at all, no way of knowing if people liked it... you get laurels, yes.. but no audience feedback... nothing. It's as if it didn't even happen... don't bother. 

e) Avoid festivals that give out a slew of awards. That may be a festival that is either selling trophies or looking to get as many submissions as possible for the money it will generate. 

5) Join IMDBpro. This allows you to get contact info from other filmmakers, distributors, sales agents... all of that. When I am considering a distribution company, I will look to see what other films that company has distributed, then I will reach out to the filmmakers and ask about their relationship with said company. I've gotten responses like, "I would rather eat glass then ever work with that company again." OR. "Nice people, but never received a dime." So we filmmakers can stick together that way.  

6) Get a poster made. A Must! You can use something like Fivrr.com to get an inexpensive poster that looks pretty good. Later you may want to change it up, but you'll want to get a poster early so people will have a sense of the film based on the imagery.  

7) Consider using a producers rep. They charge a hefty fee but they have connections with distribution companies. Is it a good value?? Maybe. It is more likely that a distribution company will take your film from a well known Producers Rep verses you submitting directly. More and more companies are not taking unsolicited submissions. For a decent movie, you may get distribution, but making money... again, it ultimately comes down to whether or not people want to watch your movie. 

8) If you're an indie and did not get into a big film festival, don't bother with traditional distribution companies. Just go to Filmhub.com. They are trustworthy and transparent and you DON'T GIVE AWAY THE RIGHTS TO YOUR MOVIE. It's non-exclusive agreement. They take 20% of all revenue, but no other fees. It's free to submit! I distributed a documentary via filmhub and it's out in the world. It's on dozens of platforms and I get a quarterly payment like clockwork. I'm not making a killing, but its out there on well know platforms and people email about the film from all over the world. They have a user friendly website where I can look to see how the film is doing and what platforms it is currently on.

The thing to know about FilmHub.com is that they don't do any marketing. They are upfront about that. Marketing is entirely up to you. There are many distribution companies that SAY they will help publicize the release but all they'll do is post a few times on Instagram or Facebook. That won't push the needle.  

9) If you do go with a distribution company here's what to expect: they will likely make you a lousy offer without an MG (money guaranteed). They'll ask for 10-15 years of ownership (you lose control of your movie). They'll ask for 30-35% of revenue. But that won't ever happen because they first need to make back their P&A spend before they pay the filmmaker. And like magic, they never make back that spend and you never see a dime... an you gave your movie away. You should know that all this is negotiable. Don't say yes if you don't like how that sounds. You only have control until you sign away the rights. Many of these companies make money by stealing your film. Which is why I like filmhub. 

10) Hire a PR team and/or marketing specialist. We are filmmakers not marketing people. .Most of us we don't really know how to market a film aside from your measly 500 people on your instagram. You need a professional to do it right. THAT is a good investment.... but again... only if there's an audience for your film.  

Finally... what do you want from your film? Do you want money? Do you want recognition? Do you want an attaboy? Be clear about what you want and then go after that.

I hope this info is useful to you and happy to share my experiences if you like.

DL