The limited number of screens for the distribution of documentary films greatly influences the way in which films meet the public. It is therefore essential to develop an effective strategy to obtain the maximum possible dissemination of the film we are making. This last stage can be carried out alone, through self-distribution, or in the company of a sales and/or distribution agency. In both cases, it is essential to select the film’s target audience, design a complementary strategy for screenings and viewings in different areas of interest and develop an attractive communication plan to achieve the maximum number of viewers.
ProfilesDistribution Production Programming Sales agency
Knowing the Film Before Its Birth
- How much do you know about the film before making it?
- What kind of film do you think it will be?
- What audience will it target?
- What kind of trajectory could it have?
- How does it affect the search for financing?
- How does it influence the earliest phases if the project originates from the director or if it is a commission or a production initiative?
Production Scale: From Self-Production to Industry
- How do you identify the scale a production should have?
- Can a film lose direction or coherence if the production is disproportionate (in terms of financing or production design)?
- What factors determine whether a film is produced on a more artisanal or less industrial level?
- As a filmmaker, how and when do you decide to engage in producing your own film as a self-production?
- How does self-production allow you to optimize the result?
- What are the particularities of production on an artisanal or self-produced scale?
- And on an industrial scale?
- Can you provide some examples?
- How do you approach budgeting at this stage?
Tailored Financing
- How is the search for financing for a documentary film designed?
- How specific is this task for each film?
- Can you provide examples or particular cases of financing models in your career?
- How do you identify possible financing avenues?
- How do you reformulate the strategy if funds are not secured?
- How do you evaluate the current landscape of financing funds for documentaries in your context? How has it evolved in recent years?
The Creation of the Dossier, Teaser, and Other Materials
- Is the dossier a creative or marketing element?
- To what extent?
- In your opinion, who should participate in preparing the dossier?
- What elements of the film should be conveyed/communicated/distilled in the dossier and teaser?
- How does the renewal of the dossier evolve throughout the creative process for different calls?
Selling Your Documentary: Pitching, Markets, and WIP
- What are the key points for pitching your project? How does the context and specific audience of each event influence the preparation and execution of the pitch?
- How do you identify which markets/labs to present your film in?
- How do you make the most of the opportunities each market offers?
- Can a film succeed and find its path without resorting to markets in today’s landscape?
- How much do you learn about your own film during the journey through markets/labs?
- How can you improve your film during this process while preserving its essence and creative freedom?
