Film distributors are behind the marketing; they have the role of deciding the method for how a film will be exhibited or made available for public viewing, they also set the release date. Many films are now distributed and exhibitioned offline and also online; the amount of films that are initially exhibited online is increasingly growing all the time. Online institutions differ to offline institutions with the availability any time (with streaming tools making it viewable when you want), although cinema exhibitions may appear to be offline, more often than not, the films are streamed online via an online streaming system.

 

The audience for offline distribution is often a very small group in the older age groups with little 'online' knowledge, because of this, our film will be distributed and exhibited via an online distributor with our target audience being between the ages of 15-30.

 

An exciting method for offline distribution would be via the OFFline Film Festival in October 2016. This alternative viewing method displays independant films in multiple "quirky", unconventional locations in an Irish town to enthusiastic audiences. This would be a great opportunity for alternative distribution, however, films are required to be no longer than 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the increasing use of online use to exhibit films, TV films are decreasing drastically; instead distibutors distribute their film to online streaming sites as they know that they will receive more audience exhibition. This can be shown with the audience for the indie film Submarine:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although this film was shown in the cinema, we feel that our target audience relates to the audience of Submarine. Statistics show that the audience only watches TV for less than 5 hours per week, but they spend 26-30 hours per week online; this clearly shows that to entice the audience that we desire.

 

An example of an online film distributor is iTunes which allows audiences to easily download and play films from their phone; it has been said that it is an easy way to get an indie film distributed by simply paying a film. On this platform, getting the film noticed is quite hard and recommendations from Apple are very unlikely.

 

Vimeo On Demand is the perfect distribution method for our independant film, film makers simply pay a small amount of money for their film to be available in Vimeo On Demand- audiences then have the option to buy, rent or view the trailer for the film. Owners receive 90 percent of the revenue which would be very beneficial for us as it would allow us to make a better viewing experience for the audience with more money. There is no restrictions for content other than with explicit content, which is not permitted. This method would be ideal to us as it allows us to maintain control of our film and Vimeo On Demand is increasingly gaining popularity. Below is the genre search page with top films for each genre at this moment in time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having completed the research, I have concluded that our film should be distributed through Vimeo On Demand; the feedback from our focus groups supported that they would watch this on the online streaming site as it is cheap, easy to use and is available at any time that is suitable for that viewer.