FILM DISTRIBUTION

LIAM SAVINE

WHAT IS FILM DISTRIBUTION?

• A FILM DISTRIBUTOR IS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY COMPANY OR OCCASIONALLY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHICH ACTS AS THE FINAL AGENT BETWEEN A FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY, AND A FILM EXHIBITOR, TO THE END OF SECURING PLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCER'S FILM ON THE EXHIBITOR'S SCREEN. IN THE FILM BUSINESS, THE TERM "DISTRIBUTION" REFERS TO THE MARKETING AND CIRCULATION OF MOVIES IN THEATERS, AND FOR HOME VIEWING (DVD, VIDEO-ON-DEMAND, DOWNLOAD, TELEVISION ETC.).

THE DISTRIBUTION PROCESS• THE STANDARD RELEASE ROUTINE FOR A MOVIE IS REGULATED BY A BUSINESS MODEL

CALLED "RELEASE WINDOWS". THE RELEASE WINDOWS SYSTEM WAS FIRST CONCEIVED IN THE EARLY 1980S, ON THE BRINK OF THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT MARKET, AS A STRATEGY TO KEEP DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF A MOVIE FROM COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER, ALLOWING THE MOVIE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DIFFERENT MARKETS (CINEMA, HOME VIDEO, TV, ETC.) AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

• IN THE STANDARD DRILL, A MOVIE IS FIRST RELEASED THROUGH MOVIE THEATERS (THEATRICAL WINDOW), THEN, AFTER APPROXIMATELY 16 AND A HALF WEEKS, IT IS RELEASED TO DVD (ENTERING ITS VIDEO WINDOW). AFTER AN ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF MONTHS IT IS RELEASED TO PAY TV AND VOD SERVICES AND APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AFTER ITS THEATRICAL RELEASE DATE, IT IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR FREE-TO-AIR TV.

DISTRIBUTORS IN THE UK• VERTIGO FILMS

• PATHE DISTRIBUTION

• ICON FILM DISTRIBUTION

• LIONSGATE