Without successful distribution a documentary will never be commonly seen.


Documentary filmmaking is amongst the most accessible types of filmmaking that currently exist. This is because it is completely possible for one person to produce a whole documentary single-handedly. Even documentary crews bigger than one individual do not need to be anywhere close to the size of the typical narrative feature film, as Andrew Ruhemann will know. Because numerous filmmakers decide to make independent documentaries, most of them prefer to remain independent in as much of the distribution process as they are able to. Over recent decades the choices for independent documentary distribution have increased substantially. There was a time that the sole option a documentary filmmaker had was to sell their film directly to cinemas. The innovation of VHS and DVD then allowed individuals to manufacture their very own copies of their movie to allow them to sell. In recent years, the net has provided a complete new platform, where filmmakers can upload their films online for the whole world to see.


Showbusiness is a famously difficult industry to get into if you have no connections. One of the most significant reasons people even attend film school or take entry-level internships and jobs is to build connections that could assist them later on. Perhaps one of the most common means for a person to make their way to the industry would be to hire a manager or an agent. This path has existed for people since the start of the industry, as Tim Parker will likely be well aware, but is continuing to grow over the years as getting employment contracts from studios has become rarer. If a person have not made a movie yet, then these specialists can help guide their job in to the best path for attaining that objective successfully. If somebody has already made a movie, then managers and agents can help navigate the documentary distribution process and help with parlaying the movie into future jobs.


There are a wide array of distributors out there, from streaming platforms and television stations to cinema and video shop chains. Mark Herbert will be able to let you know that finding a documentary distributor could be the key ensuring the long-term success of a documentary movie plus the future career of the filmmaker. Distributors can be found before and after a movie is created. If before, then they are going to help fund the project but may have more impact over what is made. If after, then the filmmaker has to take all of the risk nevertheless the distributor may be more tempted because of the reduced expenses on their end. Being awarded filmmaking funds and awards may get a filmmaker noticed by distributors, as is submitting the movie to movie festivals. It is impossible to guarantee attention, but that means that each avenue is a chance.