SXSW 2012 Panel: Festribution

SXSW Film Festival is past now and the business is just getting started. On the second day of the fest, I took the time out to attend panels about how films will be seen and sold in the future. "Festribution" focused on how film festivals are beginning to get in on the action with distribution. Panelists included Chris Horton (Associate Director of Artist Services, Sundance), Jason Janego (Co-president of RADiUS-TWC), and Nancy Schafer (Executive Director of Tribeca Film Fest).

Horton mentioned something that's already been in the public sphere for almost a year now: Sundance Film Festival has created an Artist Services program which is designed to help films reach more audiences after their Sundance premiere. Just last week, Sundance announced the first ten films to be included in this program through a unique digital distribution deal through New Video. Any film that has played at Sundance, either this year or 15 years ago, qualifies to have their film placed on iTunes, Hulu, Amazon VOD, Netflix and Sundance NOW.

The most exciting aspect about this new development is that not only will it include recent Sundance films, but past films which never got their proper release after Sundance. As more festivals get hands on with the films that they curate, it could really open up the marketplace more for unseen films. Just this year after Fantastic Fest, Drafthouse Films announced that they would be distributing two of my favorite films from the fest (Klown and Bullhead). The gap between festivals and distribution is getting smaller every year.

Regardless of what a panel is really about, one message has been clear: filmmakers need to be using the crowdfunding tools that are readily available. Crowdfunding not only works as a way to raise money for your movie, but it's also the perfect opportunity to build an audience. More importantly, the distributors appreciate a successful crowdfunded film, because it tells them that there is an audience out there for it. Distributors are looking to make some of their job as light as possible, so having fans before your release is key.

There were so many great panels out there at this year's SXSW about VOD, online distribution, and the future of what's going to happen. Check out www.filmcollaborative.org for more information about distribution.

Austin Culp is the Interim Artist Services Manager for the Austin Film Society.