Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

With over 800 films a year being released, the choice for cinema goers is massive and ever-changing. How do we, as members of the film audience, find out about films? What methods are available to film distributors to attract our attention to specific films in the digital age? In such a crowded marketplace, how do films find their audiences?

Through this online course, you’ll discover the ways in which films make their way to cinemas and beyond through the film distribution process. You’ll find out how film distributors play a pivotal role in connecting films with audiences.

• Who the target audience(s) for a film will be. The many considerations include comparison with recent films of a similar genre. Defining the target audience will affect the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of the marketing campaign.
• How distributors will advertise and promote the film and how much to spend on these activities.
• When the film will open in cinemas – the distributor will carefully track the competitors’ release schedules, as well as all sorts of wider public/media events, aiming to ensure that they do not go head to head with similar types of film or major distractions for the target audience.
• What sets this film apart from all the other films on release at around the same time? Distributors look for a film’s ‘selling points’ – its stars, director, genre, awards/nominations, based on a bestselling book or game, and more.