Distribution Questions

What is film distribution?
Distribution is about releasing and sustaining films in the market place.

Who distributes films normally in the UK?
The UK has six major distributors (directly affiliated to the Hollywood studios) and many independent (unaffiliated) distributors who tend to handle films made outside the major studios.

What steps are involved in the steps of film distribution?
Licensing, marketing and logistics.

What are the major decisions made during the marketing of a film?
The marketing of a film release revolves around two key questions: 'When?' and 'How?'. The Distributor has to carefully assess what would be the best time to begin distributing the film based on when competitors are releasing there's etc. and also the best method to use when thinking of how it would appeal to the audience.


What is P&A? And why is it important?
P&A means "Prints and Advertising" and it's a form of distribution through elements such as the quantity and production of release prints and trailers, press materials, clips reels, images, press previews, screener tapes etc.

How is digital technology revolutionising the process of film distribution & marketing?
In distribution terms, the advantages of digital technology are even clearer, though perhaps longer term. Digital technology is seen to offer a more cost effective and logistics-light alternative to the tried and trusted, but unwieldy model of 35mm print distribution described above. It will, eventually, be cheaper and much less stressful to send films as computer files to cinemas across the UK, than to transport 20-25kg tins of film in the back of a van.