Evaluation - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product & why?

According to the BFI, distribution is about 'releasing and sustaining films in the market place'. I feel the best studio to do this for our product is Summit Entertainment.

Summit Entertainment are owned by Lionsgate (who are considered to be a mini-major film studio).  I believe that this distribution company would distribute my product because they have a history of distributing similar independent films to my own. For example, Memento, Insomnia & P2.


Also, a good reception at a film festival (Berlin or BFI Future Film) can increase the likelihood that this studio would distribute our product. The festivals can give us a chance to show why our film stands out above the rest of them, leading Summit Entertainment giving us the opportunity to release the film in cinemas (its likely to be limited release to gain a small view on how the film is received). I think the category I would enter my film into at the Berlin film festival is the Sci-Fi/ Horror one as my film could be classified as horror due to the murders that happen in the main plot.

Social media can play a big part on whether our film turns out to be successful or not. If the film creates a buzz at a film festival then people are likely to talk about it and recommend it to other film/thriller fans. This means that attention will be brought to our film, which might make Summit Entertainment wanting to distribute our film because of the potential of money being made.

I think that the film would only be distributed in the UK, at first. We'd enter the film into a festival or competition like Berlin or the British Independent Film Festival to generate a response. If the film is successful and distributor is found, then it can be limitedly released in cinemas. To, increase the chances of our film being successful nationally, we would have use simultaneous distribution on platforms like a website (using Web 2.0, giving an inside look at the making of part of the film),  VOD & Q&A screening online (with trending hash tags like '#façade' can increase the interest in the film).

For our film, we could apply to the BFI for distribution funding. The award I think would apply most our film is Breakout Reward and the Big Audience Award.