Film Distribution Today: The Basics, Recent Changes, and What Might Be Next

Presented by Brian Newman

The indie and arthouse film distribution landscape is constantly changing, but is perhaps more in flux now due to the recent pandemic, the streaming wars, and the shaky global economy.

This workshop, presented by Sub-Genre founder Brian Newman, will focus on the current state of the industry—how it seems to be working, some generally tried and true best practices for getting your film distributed to an audience. We'll cover different approaches to everything from film festivals and sales/marketing to theatrical, event-based releasing, streaming, and the rise of FAST and AVOD options.

We'll also look at recent changes and what that means for traditional indie financing, how to break through the noise in a crowded marketplace, and what changes might be on the horizon.

Event Breakdown

What: Film Distribution Today: The Basics, Recent Changes and What Might Be Next

When: September 22, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM EDT

Where: Online via Zoom Webinar

Audience: Any Filmmaker

Cost: $15 for NYFA-affiliated artists (Fiscally Sponsored, NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellows, Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program Artists, NYC Women's Fund, etc.) and $20 for the general public

Register: Click here to register. You will receive an email with information about how to access this webinar two days before the event. You may attend the session(s) using either a Mac or PC computer (with speakers), standard phone, smartphone, or tablet device. This webinar takes place on Zoom. Strong wifi or hard-wired Internet connection is preferred. 

Questions: Email sponsorship@nyfa.org

Recording: This presentation portion of this meeting will be recorded and shared with all previously-registered participants after the session concludes. The recording will be available for viewing up to 30 days after the scheduled date and will not be available for download. A recording of this event will not be available for purchase after the event registration closes. 

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Presenter Bio

Brian Newman, founder of Sub-Genre, consults on content strategy, distribution, and marketing for some of the top brands in the world. Current and former clients include: The Climate Pledge (Amazon), IBM, The New York Times, Oatly, Patagonia, REI, Stripe, Sundance, Unilever, and Yeti Coolers.

His producing credits include The Outside Story (narrative, Tribeca Film Festival 2021 premiere, theatrical distribution by Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2021) and Love & Taxes (narrative, 2017 theatrical release). He executive produced Shored Up, The Invisible World (docs), and Remittance (narrative). Newman has served as CEO of the Tribeca Film Institute, president of Renew Media (known for the Rockefeller Fellowships), and executive director of IMAGE Film & Video (producers of the Atlanta Film Festival & Out on Film). He writes a popular weekly newsletter on film.

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By registering for this event, you acknowledge that your email address will be added to the NYFA mailing list to receive NYFA's free bi-weekly e-newsletter, NYFA News. The newsletter features news about programs and events that are free and open to the public and professional development and awards opportunities for artists. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time. 

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) was established in 1971 to empower artists at critical stages in their creative lives. Today, the nonprofit organization’s programs and services are far-reaching and are rooted in a wealth of physical and online resources. This program is part of NYFA Fiscal Sponsorship, which increases funding opportunities for individual artists and emerging arts organizations in all disciplines by allowing them to raise funds using NYFA's tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3)-classified organization.

Image credit: "Interested In: Season 2" actors Ava Sofia Mattox and Michael Witkes, Director: Erica Rose (NYC Women's Fund Fiction Webseries '22).

Headshot courtesy of Brian Newman.