What is a Distribution Consultant?

There are individuals and small companies that you can hire to help create a distribution plan and guide you in your release.

This may be your first film or your fifth, but it’s likely you’re not releasing more than one film a year. Since the distribution landscape is constantly changing, it can help to get guidance from someone who is consistently working on distribution strategies for multiple films a year over many years.

Depending on your budget, distribution consultants can provide hourly advice or fully manage your release. Here are some of the services you can receive from distribution strategists. This is not comprehensive and varies by provider.

• Film Festival Strategy

• Hybrid Distribution Strategies

• Distribution Contract Review

• Introductions to Sales Agents & Distributors

• Website and Social Media Guidance

• Merch and E-Sales

• Audience Identification and Outreach

• Impact Producing

• Budget Creation and Management

What does it cost?

This entirely depends on the level of experience and time commitment. But here are some example pricing structures:

• Hourly consulting ranging from $100-400/hour
• Project-based ranging from $2500-5000 a month
• Revenue share on licensing, ticketing and deals
• Combination of project fee and revenue share

🧑‍🏫 Distribution Consultants

Here are some of the distribution consultants we’ve seen great work from. Their descriptions are in their words from their websites.

• Peter Broderick

• Jon Reiss / 8Above

• Liz Manashil

• Together Films

• Suncatcher

• Truant

• Cinema Collet

• Brian Newman / Sub-Genre

• Launch Releasing

• Blue Harbor

• Mia Bruno

• Forston Consulting

• Gavin Briscoe

• Film Collaborative

📕 Learn More

Many wonderful strategists also publish their guidance online for free or offer short courses!

• Jon Reiss & 8Above | Distribution Lab