Dok Incubator: 2012 Documentaryfilms on the international market By Producer Sigrid Dyekjær

Seminar 1.How do you make a distribution strategy 2. Different kinds of distribution strategies 1.Questions & Answers

Documentaryfilms on the international market Normally a distributiondeal is negotiated and signed after the film has been made Selection for A-festivals is important for the international life of the film Most distributors are looking for films with a wide audience appeal, more than films for niche audience Presold TV licenses can be important for financing the film, but can make it less interesting for a distributor

What are your goals for the distribution Get the film shown? Make money? Get awareness about the director and the production company? How involved do you as the producer and/or the director want to be in the distribution? Do you have financial resourses to promote the film?

Strategy and analyse your films distribution potential Audience potential: Does you film have commercial / arthouse potential or is it a nichefilm? What is the key hook for the international market? Is it a non – english speaking film? What TV rights are presold?

When do you start your distribution strategy? In the development fase Financial pitching forums Pre-sale stage Pre-festival participation After salgsagent is identified Festival participation Post festival After international deals are made

Possible distribution strategies 1.You hire a sales agent / rep 2.You make all right deals with an international distributor, on all territories/some territories 1.You make different deals on different platforms/ different windows. 1.Service deals with consultants / producers reps 2.Selfdistribution and marketing of your film

1. Sales Agent / Rep Advantages Producer already has a salesagent Salgsagent has a distribution network Salgsagent has a network with publicist and press (US) Salgsagent can promote the film together with a publicist on festivals and create momentum for deals. Take care of all legal work with lawyers regarding distribution deals (and E&O) Stamp of approval for the project

1. Sales Agent / Rep Disadvantages Exsclusive deals means that the film is locked with a salesagent for a period of time Salgsagent decides if the rights can be split up Marketing expences / commission needs to be negotiated

2. All rights deal with a distributer: Advantages Control over the process/ negotiations (depends on the deal) Control with marketing & distribution costs Fiction remake rights is not a part of the deal

You are not the key person involved in the different distribution windows. You need an international lawyer You don´t necessarily get the best deals for each window. You will spent a lot of time controlling cost reports 2. All rights deal with a distributer: Disadvantages

3. Producer makes the deals and split up the rights Advantages: Flexibility concerning windows and platforms Possibility to choose your different partners for theatrical run, DVD, VoD etc Disadvantages: Time consuming for the producer Can be complicated especially concerning the legal work

4. Hybrid models – service contracts Advantages: Keep the control over your film Distribution can be adjusted according to demand All Rights not sold off in one deal Disadvanteges: You need money to pay the expenses your self up-front Team (producer, consultant, rep, pr- agent) need to work well together Commission for the rep, consultant

5. Selfdistribution and marketing - VoD / DVD Advantage: Control over the process / negotiations Control over the marketing expenses / personel You build up mailing list and client/audience network Disadvantages: You need money to pay up-front Lack of experience Difficult to understand and analyse the market Time consuming

Financial sources in the US Sundance ITVS Tribeca Cinereach Broadcasters: HBO, OWN, PBS (Independent Lens, POV, WGBH), A&E, Documentary Channel, Discovery, National Geographic, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel.

Thank you for your attention