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SpeakersAre you a producer with big ambitions for your feature film project but struggling to gain interest from sales agents, distributors or programmers?
Do you want to gain invaluable insider knowledge from active industry practitioners that gives your film a fighting chance of reaching an audience on the big screen and beyond?
The Independent Cinema Office (ICO), in partnership with the Film Distributors’ Association (FDA), are offering this intensive and practical crash course, designed to provide emerging film producers with a greater knowledge and understanding of the interconnected film distribution and exhibition sectors. Participants will gain insights from sector insiders that will get them thinking more strategically about potential audiences and how to reach them.
The four-day course will be delivered through a mix of lecture and open forum discussion, case studies and targeted advice. Participants should be currently working on a film project, which they’ll have the opportunity to develop during the course.
Who is it for?
Up to 18 places are available for UK-based film producers.
Participants should have already produced one completed feature from any genre, animation, documentary or artists’ moving image and work predominantly in the film industry.
Participants can bring this completed project to the course, or a new feature-length project they are currently working on at any stage of development from idea to post production
What will the course cover?
The course will offer a thorough understanding of the business of film distribution and exhibition in the UK and an introductory overview of international markets and exhibition models in key territories.
The specific areas covered will include:
The role of sales agents
Acquisitions
Distribution deals: understanding contracts and revenue
Practicalities of a release: patterns, datings and bookings
Ancillary revenues: DVD and Blu-ray, broadcast and online
Marketing and publicising a film release
DIY: self-distribution
UK and international theatrical exhibition
Cinema programming
Alternative models of exhibition: festivals, film clubs and event cinema
Fees
Fees for the four day course are £350 + VAT = £420
A limited number of bursaries are available to individuals whose financial circumstances mean they would not be able to attend the course without extra financial support. For more information on what bursaries are available and how to apply, click here.
“The film that I applied with to the 2013 Get it Seen course was released day-and-date on 4th July 2014. I distributed it myself and it’s safe to say that I wouldn’t have gotten it into 10 cinemas and known how to negotiate that, known which platforms were relevant, how to start a conversation on social media or how to get it reviewed if it weren’t for the brilliant course last year. Truly, thank you so much.”
Martina Kilch, Producer, Here and Now
Speakers
Course Director
The course will be led by Julia Short, Film Consultant. From a background in advertising and consumer PR, Julia joined Rank Film Distributors in the early 1990s. After moving to PolyGram she became responsible for running the theatrical marketing department in the UK, releasing such films as Trainspotting, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fargo, Twelve Monkeys and The Usual Suspects. After PolyGram shuttered in 1999, Julia moved to Redbus (now Lionsgate) and Film Four Distribution. In 2003 Julia set up Verve Pictures with Colin Burch, after which she spent two years as Head of Acquisitions at The Works International. She is actively involved in delivering several high profile training courses for both the Film Distributors’ Association and Creative Europe/Creative Skillset. She is also a trustee of the Independent Cinema Office and on the Board of Bird’s Eye View
All sessions will be led by experienced industry professionals, including key distributors, sales agents and exhibitors from both the commercial and independent sectors. Confirmed so far:
Andrew Woodyatt, Film Marketing Consultant
Beatrice Neumann, Acquisitions Manager, The Works
Carey Fitzgerald, Managing Director, High Point Media Group
Catharine Des Forges, Director, Independent Cinema Office
Sylvia Wroblewska, Business and Marketing Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest
Claire Beswick, Senior Film Booker, Odeon UCI
Chris Fell, Director, Leeds International Film Festival
David Sin, Head of Cinemas, Independent Cinema Office
Deborah Sheppard, Film Marketing Consultant
Geraldine Moloney, Policy Advisor, Film Distributors’ Association
Ian Cartwright, Director, elevenfiftyfive / OurScreen
Jacqueline Chell, General Operations Manager, Cinema For All
Jake Garriock, Publicity Executive, Artificial Eye / Curzon Film World
Jason Wood, Director of Programming, Curzon Cinemas
John Ramchandani, Managing Director, Hollywood Classics
Kate Taylor, Programmer and Acting Programme Manager, Festivals Department, BFI
Marcus Markou, Writer/Director/Producer, Double M Films
Mark Batey, Chief Executive, Film Distributors’ Association
Matt Smith, Head of Distribution, Lionsgate UK
Muffin Hix, Event Producer and Programmer, Lost Picture Show
Patrick Hurley, Distribution Manager, Dogwoof
Rebecca del Tufo, Programming and Business Manager, Saffron Screen
Rebecca Hawkes, Managing Director, Schedule 2
Tom Raffe, Director, Screenburn Media
Vivienne Avery, Head of Research & Statistics, BFI
Plus more to be announced!
Supported By
*The training venue is a charity offering support groups, skills classes and drop-in facilities for people in vulnerable accommodation or other particular need.