Layed out are clear stepbystep gameplans for new and traditional selfpromotion, assembling your deliverables, building a press kit, submission strategies and much more. Though short films dont have the widespread appeal of the feature film format, there is still a variety of distribution options that can help you. A lot of filmmakers ask for our help because they dont know exactly what to do with the amount of information they get and which steps they must follow for the correct distribution of their short films. Independent films are sometimes distinguishable by their content and style and the way in which the. By establishing a new system of production, distribution, and exhibition which was independent of the edison trust in. How to make money shooting short films with carter pilcher. Youve scoured film festivals searching for new talent. The ultimate guide to short film distribution platforms. At the sxsw 2017, a group of producers, financiers, and distributors sat down on the pitch, package, produce panel to explain the process. The platform distributes to worldwide audiences through video on demand vod. To make sure you dont forget about distribution or just put your project up for free as an afterthought, ive put together the ultimate guide for short film though you can distribute featurelength films on these as well distribution. You have reached the secret landing page we have created for the social media capitalism for filmmakers talk here goes.
Once your short film has completed the festival circuit and secured any sales deals, it is time to roll out your online selfdistribution strategy. Just as a short can offer creative freedom for trial and error, it also gives you the chance to practice marketing a film so you can head into your first feature with experience under your belt. So you made a short film, and it got into some festivals now what. Yaara sumeruks short film if we say that we are friends was scheduled to have its new york premiere tonight at the museum of the moving images first look series. With their hopes for conventional movie deals increasingly dead on arrival, more and more indie filmmakers are opting for a doityourself model. That short then got into some major festivals, and was picked up and turned into a feature film. But if it didnt come out exactly the right way, it can backfire. The minimalist guide to selling a short film online. With netflix youll never see that money again, and itunes you need to guarantee a minimum number of views. Here is some insight into finding the right home for your short film or video content in todays online distribution world. Smart strategies to get your indie film seen lights film. Indiereign is a transactional video on demand so they would have to purchase it meaning you would have to promote it. Distribution how to make a baftanominated short film youtube. Image via quiver quiver is an online film distribution platform that allows filmmakers to keep 100 percent of their revenue for one flat fee.
Call them film buyers, call them acquisitions executives, or call them programmers. An independent film, independent movie, indie film or indie movie is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies. Beyond the finishing post marketing your short film part 1. Film festivals, the internet, and self promotion, mr. So the director, randall miller, opened the film himself the next week in 12 cities. The festival circuit may not be a good fit for every short documentary but with so many film fests out there these days you can probably find a few venues for a minidoc on just about any topic. Mark lipsky gigantic releasing a selection from filmmakers and financing, 6th edition book. Short films are no longer calling cards for a film career by james cullen bressack duration.
Use a short film to meet agents and managers to show what you can do. List of international short film sales agencies and. A massive list of international distributors for your short film. If your short film is successful, it can lead to larger projects, higher budgets, and feature film production opportunities. A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. Intellect books short film studies, editor richard raskin. On january 29th, my facebook feed blew up with posts about a short film that s right, a short film.
Below is a rundown of a recent talk given at idfa by indie film distribution guru and strategist peter broderick, as reported by our staff member, carol ann short. Following is a list of trial films, containing films which center on the legal process of a trial, usually a trial by jury. What are you supposed to do now, let it collect digital dust. Before you fully decide to sell your short film on itunes, it is important to know that getting on itunes is more involved than simply uploading your movie on youtube. A short film is any motion picture not long enough in running time to be considered a feature film. The road to getting a film off the ground is never straight and narrow, especially if youre starting at the bottom. The advantage of online selfdistribution is more control over where and how your film is seen, and whether it is behind a pay wall. With a story structure inspired by christopher nolans memento, trial is an immersive and cinematic experience that not only exists as a thrilling standalone short but also. This video shows you the exact scenario of a sir distributing the answer papers for the notorious students in a classroom. A filmmaker named john wrote with the following question. Short film contest short film competition short film.
How to distribute your short film in todays online marketplace. An independent film, independent movie, indie film or indie movie is a feature film or short film. Moore lays out what to expect and how to prepare for it. I mean billy jack is an indulgent film, with the casting of laughlin as the titular character, and his wife as the founder of freedom school, and making them saviors for the youth of the 70s. First, what i discovered is that there are lessons you can take from silicon valley and apply directly to film pitching marketing distribution. With tom cullen, ana ularu, joseph mawle, akie kotabe. Mar 04, 20 well, id argue that things are a bit more complicated than that. Lights online film school recently had the opportunity to chat with indie filmmaker ryan patch about his distribution and festival experiences. To get on netflix and itunes you have to submit via 3 rd party aggregators, and they charge in the region of. A few animated shorts continue within mainstream commercial distribution. How to get short film distribution the guerrilla rep. The sheol express, the offering, and the sea in between, respectively. In the past, this would more than likely be the end of your film s public life, especially without a sales agent. Filmmakers need to get a good, rocksolid understanding of how film distribution works.
A quadriplegic soldier is offered an experimental procedure. Having been to a lot of smaller festivals lately, it seems that so many short filmmakers are hung up on the idea of distribution as the endall beall the glorious pot of gold at the end of the short filmmaking rainbow. Making a short film is a typical initial step to beginning an imaginative vocation in film. One example of this working is the film slingblade, which started with billy bob thornton giving a riveting performance as the title character in a single location and largely a single shot. Many people wanted to take selfies with it, so it got lots of social media attention during the festival, generating buzz for the film. Trial, by the brothers lynch, whilst being a standalone short, also works as a teaser for a feature, residual, which they hope to shoot later this year. Distribution strategies for a changing world the current state of independent film distribution is complex and evershifting. Upcoming hollyshorts deadlines early bird deadline. Theres no simple method to display a short film in a growing universe of celebrations and online outlets. The trial stands as one of the most accomplished booktofilm adaptations, and in welles rich career, its a film that ranks among the very best. Short films have a life in the festival circuit and are a great way to create a calling card. Thats right, it costs nothing to put your film on amazon, and you can do it yourself. Running time between 5 and 20, fiction films and animated films, must be subtitled in english, broadcast via satellite in israel and palestine.
Jan 24, 2018 key benefits of buying a short film package from discover. With all the cool distribution outlets available, one question i get a lot involves selling a short film. Dazzle films short film and animation distribution. From new and emerging to industry pros, raindance connects, trains, supports, and promotes visual storytellers through every step of their career. When i made my first short, i already had marketing experience due to my previous work in book publishing. When we released our first feature on amazon and started making sales, it was hard to believe we could do so without a traditional film distribution deal. The films shall not be more than 3 three minutes 180 seconds, including the beginning and end credits. That said, this is much more the exception than the rule. The buyers call them film buyers, call them acquisitions executives, or call them programmers.
Online selfdistribution puts the power back in the hands of filmmakers. Alternately, sometimes you can use a short to post online, and if have a lot of hits, you show that there is interest in the idea. How to distribute your short film in todays online. A hub for filmmakers, film festivals and film fans.
The film must have won a qualifying award at a competitive film festival, as specified in the short film qualifying festival list, regardless of any prior public exhibition or distribution by nontheatrical means. The film portrayed the visions of 16thcentury spanish nun st. Time was, filmmakers promoting their short film trod a wellworn path. With so many factors to consider and different paths to go down, the new guide to short film exhibition, distribution and marketing from the random acts network is a vital resource. A short film is any motion picture not long enough in running time to be considered a feature. Films exceeding this time limit are liable to be rejected. My names curt jaimungal and i know what its like to struggle as an artist.
Youve tapped your friends and family for as much money as. The continue short film initiative is a unique opportunity for filmmakers with a feature film or longform tv idea to demonstrate proof of concept through the production of a short film. Then theyd try to get a small distribution deal, and usually fail, just because supply was so much higher then demand and still is. Superhero surfing swashbuckler swordandsandal sword and sorcery travel trial vigilante war antiwar euro war. Is it multiple personality disorder or is he time sharing the body with the original owner. Superhero surfing swashbuckler swordandsandal sword and sorcery travel trial vigilante war. Raindance aims to promote and support independent filmmaking and filmmakers. John i am having great success with my 30minute minifeature. Of course, its been cancelled, along with the majority of the citys cultural activity in the wake of the coronavirus. Disney kicked off a decidedly unusual trend when it released. Whatever their title, these are the people responsible for selecting selection from swimming upstream. Jun 21, 2017 image via quiver quiver is an online film distribution platform that allows filmmakers to keep 100 percent of their revenue for one flat fee. Were going to take a look at all kinds of issues from online distribution and thirdparty film licensing to digital series and shortform funding. The trial of billy jack 1974 letterboxd social film.
Proof of the award must be submitted with the entry. Start earning money with your old footage with blackbox. The short film visions of ecstasy was the only work ever banned for blasphemy by the british board of film classification bbfc. The entries can be short digital animation films too on the topic. Starring tom cullen downton abbey, joseph mawle benjen stark in game of thrones and ana ularu the wicked witch of the west in the upcoming emerald city. If youve made a great film, and plan the right sales and distribution strategy, you have a shot at.
In each issue, two short films will be selected for comprehensive study, with articles illuminating each film from a variety of perspectives. Aug 16, 2015 so youve finished your movie, youve perhaps dipped a toe in the film festival world and gotten nowhere. Trial was an opportunity for us to hone our skills before our feature directorial debut and try out some techniques as well as show potential investors exactly the kind of film they will get. Twohour movies are great for most people, but there are many people who love to watch short films. Apr 04, 20 upcoming hollyshorts deadlines early bird deadline. Jan 30, 2018 but bottle shock found no love among distributors in park city, utah. Imdb url enter your films imdb and we will auto fill as much as we can for you. Check out our short documentary distribution guide below. Distribution options for a short film by daniel sol youtube. The conventional wisdom is that there just isnt much short film distribution out there. Whatever their title, these are the people responsible for selecting the short films for their particular distribution outlet. Were going to take a look at all kinds of issues from online distribution and thirdparty film licensing to digital series and short form funding.
Today on the show we have the founder of the worlds largest short film distribution company shorts international, carter pilcher. For example, kiwi short film maker ivan barge took the stuffed cat from madam black to the 2016 clermontferrand international short film festival where he won the peoples choice award. From 90second, digital micromovies to super35mm masterpieces, dazzles bijou short film collection is often provocative, always original and. The changing game of distribution short of the week. Mgm distribution on behalf of glassnote entertainment group llc. What if you could pitch your film in exactly the right way to exactly the right people. A science fiction narrative set in the near future, the brother lynchs trial is a 16min short that throws its viewers into the perspective of a quadriplegic soldier who undergoes a pioneering mind transfer procedure. The full display of stephen daldrys directing ability is evident in this short film that launched his career.
A proof of concept can be amazing, like whiplash, said mcintyre. As a result of internet film distribution and the inevitable demise of dvd retail distribution you can now reach a global marketplace. A massive list of international distributors for your. Learn how to get your film distributed, in under 3 months. The promise of his future work such as billy elliot, the hours, and the reader, is definitely evident in eight. I mean, if you can get distribution, you re all set. This is a short film competition and hence only short films should be submitted no documentaries. Catalogue of international short film distributorsbroadcasters. How i got my feature film on amazon prime and how much i have. In the past, this would more than likely be the end of your films public life, especially without a sales agent. Mar 22, 2017 it depends if you can pull it off the short film with your current resources. With so many factors to consider and different paths to go down, the new guide to short film exhibition, distribution and marketing from the. Key benefits of buying a short film package from discover. Exam paper distribution school life part 1 veyilon.
Apr 30, 2020 about blog the blog is about short film direction and how we were making it frequency 9 posts quarter since dec 2019 blog arshortfilmcreationstudio. Youve approached traditional distribution with no avail, and selfdistributing methods arent paying off. Teresa of avila by intercutting scenes of lesbianism between teresa and another nun with scenes of teresa caressing a crucified jesus and fantasizing about kissing jesus. Second, i learned that the determiner of your success is your psychology which is why i teach entrepreneurship leadership. Domestic dvd distribution best of the lds film festival, 2008 best student film gloria film festival, 2008 gloriafilmfestival. How i got my feature film on amazon prime and how much i.
Short film distribution film festivals, the internet, and selfpromotion digital filmmaker series by jason moore 5. The academy of motion picture arts and sciences defines a short film as an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all credits. He covers two awardwinning short films and one feature length documentary. This is short film trial animations montage by hugh bakhurst on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. This article is enriched by the addition of a very rare scan of orson welles script of the trial from simon and schusters 1970 the trial modern film scripts, a book that has been outof. We can provide files to match the specifications of a range of infotainment systems. The trial of billy jack is one of the most indulgent films that i have ever seen. If your trying to get paid for your short film i think indieflix is the safer choice as it is subscription based so if anyone looks at your movie, you get paid. In the united states, short films were generally termed short subjects from the 1920s into the 1970s when confined. Available for svod, theatrical and other forms of short film distribution. Successful filmmakers and by that i mean filmmakers who successfully recoup their budget and repay investors, are the ones who develop a distribution strategy before they embark on the filmmaking process, and sometimes before they write the script.