Film Distribution

A question that is probably on the minds of a lot of filmmakers, is after I make my film, how do I distribute it?  Good Question.   There are a few options.  You could get an agent, self-publish it, film festivals, try to get a network to distribute it or try to get a distribution company like Lionsgate to distribute it.  But what is your best option? 

The first option is an agent.  You have to convince them that you have a good enough idea and that they should try to sell it for you.  You can then always send your film to a film festival in hopes that it gets picked up and wins some awards.  The nice thing about film festivals is there are a lot of industry people who see it and may want to help you distribute it. 

One popular avenue is self-publishing.  There are many sites out there that offer services for you to self-publish.  One in particular is Createaspace.com, they make it so your public can buy a DVD or download your movie.  However there a lot of questions that you need to ask yourself and the list is long.  For starters, do you keep the copyright?  When do you get the royalty checks?  Can you use more then one self-publishing company?  These are some and I mean some of the question you need to ask yourself. 

One of the more involved avenues is distribution through a company like Lionsgate or a television network.  However there is a lot to consider, such as profit sharing.  How much are you willing to give up.  The question beg another response, can you do better on your own?  A studio such as Lionsgate has the money to promote your film and can distribute to a wider audience.  So there is a lot you need to take into consideration when it comes to what avenue will work best for your film.