Distribution is the competitive business of launching films in theaters and other markets to maximize their commercial success. Distributors obtain films from producers, studios, or through output deals, then develop tailored release plans considering the target audience and film's earnings potential. Their goal is to bring each film to market from scratch through effective marketing like posters, trailers, and word of mouth to build demand and realize the film's box office potential.

1. What is distribution ?

2. Distribution is the highly competitive business of launching and sustaining films in the market place. It's vital to the health of the film industry as a whole. Films don't become well known, or find their place in the world, by accident. The distributor's challenge is to bring each one to market, starting from scratch (except for a sequel) and realising its potential.

3. The Film Value Chain Usually feature films open first in cinemas. A cinema release has been and still is the most effective way of creating demand to see it. After the big screen run, films are released on various other formats so consumers can choose when and how they watch. These are called ‘ancillary markets’ Home entertainment for example DVD Various forms of pay/subscription TV for example Sky Finally free to air television

4. Where and how do UK distributors obtain the films they release ? A third-party sales agent, acting on behalf of a producer A continuous flow of new content from a parent studio A studio or production company with whom the distributor has negotiated an output deal covering a slate of titles A single title acquired at any stage before, during or after production

5. Planning A Release Every film has its own tailor-made distribution plan, which the distributor develops in consultation with the producers and/or studio. The most important strategic decisions a distributor makes are when and how to release a film in order to optimise its chances. Distributors have to consider how much a film may earn before they start to prepare a budget to release it A detailed understanding of the target audience such as their age, gender and lifestyle always helps to make decisions on how to market a film to that specific audience

7. Film poster

8. Radio interviews

9. Merchandise

10. Trailers

11. Magazine reviews

12. Premiere