'The State of Film Distribution' panel took place on September 24

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Wed, 25 Sep 2019 - 10:19 GMT

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Wed, 25 Sep 2019 - 10:19 GMT

File - 'The State of Film Distribution' panel discussion.

File - 'The State of Film Distribution' panel discussion.

CAIRO - 25 September 2019: The State of Film Distribution’ was the title of a panel discussion held September 24, in the framework of the CineGouna Bridge program.

The event, presented by Film Independent and the U.S. Embassy in Egypt, was moderated by Lebanese producer Myriam Sassine.

The panelists were Missy Laney, the director of development at Adult Swim; Jordana Meade, the director of distribution at ITVS; and Rebecca Sosa, an accomplished film executive and consultant.

The panelists discussed the role of the new direct-to-consumer platforms that continue to subvert traditional distribution models and provide multiple options to release a movie.

As distribution experts, the panelists presented snapshots of the distribution landscape today, as they explained the various ways filmmakers can distribute their movies and monetize their content.

According to the panelists, the many different kinds of mediums expanded the limits of viewership and the access to different kinds of movies, as people are now not only watching more, but they are also creating more space to watch films.

They agreed on the point that filmmakers of today should be aware of the differences between those mediums, in addition to recognizing their target audience, where they live, and the platforms through which they have access to movies.

Talking about documentary films, which face more viewership challenges compared to narrative films, the panelists stated that filmmakers should seek alternative distribution opportunities that may seem rather unpopular, such as educational institutions that are eager to buy various documentary films for their students.

Filmmakers need to go beyond the traditional distribution mechanisms and realize that there is not only one plan that would lead to success in every case.

Instead, amid the wide range of opportunities out there, they should find the right plan for each specific case.

There are no right answers for questions as to whether a filmmaker should participate in as much film festivals as s/he can with her/his very first short film, or make her/his debut by streaming the film on online platforms.

When faced with these decisions, the most important point, according to the panelists, is that filmmakers should think about distribution during the film’s production process, and not after.

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