Distribution involves launching and sustaining films in the marketplace through various methods. Some potential distribution companies mentioned are Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures UK, and Sony Pictures Releasing. Lionsgate would likely be interested in distributing the film due to their previous success with similar genres like action thrillers. The film would also likely have wide appeal, not just in the UK, but globally due to the popularity of the thriller genre in films like Taken, Inception, and The Lovely Bones that found international success. Effective distribution strategies include creating visibility through posters, trailers, awards season promotion, and premieres to build excitement and persuade audiences to see the film.

1. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and why?

2. What is distribution?
• Distribution is the highly competitive
business of launching and sustaining films in
the market place. Films don’t become talking
points, or find their place in the world, by
accident. The distributor’s challenge is to
bring each one to market by a number of
ways.

3. 20th century fox​​, Lionsgate​​, Metrodome Distribution Group​​, Network Releasing​​,
Paramount Pictures UK​​, Park Circus​​, Pathé Distribution​​, Peccadillo Pictures​​, Pinewood
Pictures​​, Reliance Entertainment​​, STUDIOCANAL
Soda Pictures​​​, Sony Pictures Releasing​​​, The Works UK
Distribution, UTV Motion Pictures​​​, Universal Pictures UK​​​, Vertigo
Films​​​, Verve Pictures​​​, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures,
Warner Bros.​​
Examples of distribution
companies

4. Think about the sort of film you have produced. Compare
this to the type of films the distribution companies have
released before – are any of them likely to be interested in
your film? Explain why.
• One company that I would think would be interested in the
sort of film we have produced is Lionsgate who have
successfully produced the film The Hunger Games,
although the genre is more of an action thriller, I think our
film would work with this independent company who has
had previous success with similar genres.

5. Is your film
going to
appeal to UK
audiences
only? Or does
it have a wider
appeal? Why?
Why not?
• I think our film would appeal to all audiences,
not only in the UK but I think it would have a
wider appeal as the genre of a thriller is very
popular worldwide and there have been a
number of successful thrillers with a big success
worldwide. For example, Taken, Inception and
The Lovely Bones.

6. Possible marketing strategies,
release strategies and
exhibition options
• The job of a distributor is to create visibility and to
raise enough awareness and interest in a film to
persuade potential audiences to buy tickets to go
and see it at the nearest cinema at the earliest
opportunity.
• With probably a dozen or more different posters on
display in a cinema at any one time, distributors and
their designers must work hard to make each one
stand out.
• The strongest asset, and probably the single most
cost-effective marketing technique, available to a
film distributor is a good trailer.
• The build-up to the major awards is an important
time for publicists promoting the films vying for
consideration.
• Perceived as glamorous and exclusive, but
painstaking and expensive to organize, premieres
generally take place one or two weeks in advance of
the release. They form the culmination of all the
publicity and promotional work to date.