Sales agents and distributors work in collaboration with filmmakers to deliver new films to audiences worldwide. Come to the Marketplace at Cutlers’ Hall on Sunday 11 June to learn just how these professionals can help you reach out with your story.
The one-day event features sessions that give you an up-to-date insight into how sales and distribution works in 2017, how to best reach audiences online and what to think about when marketing and building audiences for your film. With afternoon sessions introducing you to leading sales and distribution companies, this event is an excellent opportunity to meet first-hand with industry professionals. Bring your business cards!
Sales and Distribution Day is open to everyone with a Festival Pass. No pre-booking is required, just turn up on the day. Register for your pass now.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sales and Distribution But Were Afraid To Ask
Sun 11 June / 11:00 – 12:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Effective sales and distribution are essential for a film to reach its audience, yet these stages remain mysterious to many filmmakers. What’s more, the ways in which films are sold and distributed are constantly changing in response to industry developments. This session is designed to demystify sales and distribution in a ‘no assumed knowledge’ and ‘no questions are stupid’ environment. Our Head of Marketplace & Talent, Patrick Hurley, will lead the discussion, explaining how filmmakers can work with sales agents and distributors and how to best navigate the marketplace.
Online Distribution
Sun 11 June / 12:00 – 13:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
Digital distribution is an enormous and growing means for documentaries to find audiences worldwide. In this session, a panel of industry professionals will explain the options and opportunities for online distribution.
Panellists:
Wendy Bernfeld, Rights Stuff
Nelly Voukaki, MoMedia
Orly Ravid, The Film Collaborative
How to Market & Build an Audience
Sun 11 June / 13:00-14:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
‘If you build it, they will come’ ain’t necessarily so. Often seen as the fifth act in producing a film, publicity and marketing play a vital role in reaching an audience. This session will explore the ins-and-outs of engaging with press and formulating an effective marketing strategy on a budget. Our panel will give examples from recently successful documentary campaigns and discuss what filmmakers can do to help get their work seen.
Panellists:
Elizabeth Wood, Bertha DocHouse
Dorottya Székely, Dogwoof
Margy Kinmonth, Foxtrot Films
Sally Hodgson, Pipoca
Meet the Sales Agents
Sun 11 June / 15:00 – 16:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
International sales agents can help a film find distribution partners in markets worldwide, often inputting into marketing and festival strategy. In this session, executives from a range of international sales companies will introduce themselves, explain their approach to acquisitions – what they’re looking for – and share examples of films they have recently worked on. Following the presentations, there will be time for filmmakers to connect with sales agents and exchange business cards.
Sales agents in attendance:
Ana Vicente, Dogwoof
Daniel Cantagallo, Cargo Film & Releasing
Esther van Messel, First Hand Films
Gorka Gallier, Doc & Film International
Heleen Gerritsen, Taskovski
Jan Daae, DR Sales
Pauline Mazenod, WindRose
Rebecca Nicholls, Java Films
Salma Abdalla, Autlook
Stefan Kloos, Rise & Shine
Timo Suomi, AMP International
Vesna Cudic, MET Films
Meet the Distributors
Sun 11 June / 16:00 – 17:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Hadfield Hall
A chance to find out more about how distributors handle a film’s delivery to the audience by managing and marketing its journey through the various exhibition platforms. In this session, we invite executives from different distribution companies to introduce themselves, explain how they work with filmmakers and comment on the kinds of documentaries they are seeking with reference to recent examples. Following the presentations, there will be time for filmmakers to connect with distributors and exchange business cards.
Distributors in attendance:
Amy Freshwater, Espresso
Andy Whittaker, Dogwoof
David Cornwall, Scorpion TV
David Doepel, Demand Film
David Tames, Documentary Educational Resources
Eve Gabereau, Soda
John Von Thaden, Magnolia Pictures
Jonathan Miller, Icarus
Kristen Fitzpatrick, Women Make Movies
Lewis Meade, NBC Universal
Mat Levy, Passion River
Matt Wells, Park Circus​
Michael Garrad, Curzon
Orly Ravid, The Film Collaborative
Petra Blaskovic, Restart
Robin Smith, Kinosmith
Ben Braun, Submarine Entertainment
Marketplace Drinks
Sun 11 June / 17:00 – 19:00 / Cutlers’ Hall, Old Banqueting Hall
Rounding off Sales & Distribution Day and kicking off a new week of industry activity, Marketplace Drinks offers an opportunity to get to know Decision Makers and fellow filmmakers better. The event welcomes everyone involved in Sales & Distribution Day, MeetMarket, Alternate Realities Market, Doc/Player and all Marketplace initiatives. The Marketplace & Talent team will be present so do come by for a drink, say hello and tell us about your documentary projects – we’re here to help get them made!
Questions?
Please contact Marketplace Sessions Coordinator Jenni Tuovinen - jenni.tuovinen@sidf.co.uk.