Film Distribution

According to the UK Film Distribution Agency (UK FDA) film distribution is: 

Distribution is the highly competitive business of launching and sustaining films in the market place. Films don't become talking points, or find their place in the world, by accident. The distributor's challenge is to bring each one to market by:

1. Identifying its audience 
2. Considering why they’d go and see it 
3. Estimating the revenue potential across all the formats of its release
4. Persuading exhibitors (cinema operators) to play the film
5. Developing plans and partnerships to build awareness of and interest in the film
6. Aiming to convert as much interest as possible into cinema visits

How many of the 'Big Six' studios also own distribution companies? All of the 'Big Six' own distribution companies and this is what makes them a major studio.

work out what the following distribution terms mean, and find one example of a film released.

a) Limited 

a film, which is only sold within a specific location or through a specific chain of stores.

b) Key Cities

A film which is exhibited in big cities such as London

c) Wide

A film which is exhibited nationally

d) Saturation
A film which is exhibited everywhere

find out what these more complicated distribution strategies are:


e) Platform Release- based on a release in 2-3 stages, where you start of small in about 10-50 screens, then in the next step increases the number of copies somewhat, and finally  move over to the last step and open wide at 500+ screens. The strategy can also be applied in just two steps, where you move directly from small to wide.
f) Non-Theatrica- some of course go straight to video/DVD/VOD and to foreign TV-markets etcetera. However, it’s important to prepare such a release in about the same way as if the movie had a theatrical release – within the technical end economic restraint that comes with a non theatrical release.