How are documentaries distributed and is there an underlying reason for how it’s distributed?
Courtesy of Bence Szemerey
Introduction
Documentaries are often thought of as something that you see at a film festival. But that isn’t always the case. In fact, many documentaries are distributed by mail-order or online platforms. Here's how that process works:
Documentaries are distributed by film festivals.
Documentaries are distributed by film festivals.
The reason for this is because film festivals want to promote the film and get the word out about it.
There are some documentaries that are not distributed by a film festival.
There are some documentaries that are not distributed by a film festival. For example, the Sundance Film Festival is known for its independent films, but they also have a lot of corporate sponsors and advertising revenue to balance out their costs. Their distribution partners include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
Courtesy of Gela
Sundance Festival always takes place in January in Park City, Utah. I only visited Utah once last year thanks to a layover but, the brief visit was a memorable one with a breath taking view of the snow-covered mountains.
Other distributors include major movie studios like Warner Bros., Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) or Paramount Pictures (PP). These companies often distribute the same types of movies as well as other types of content such as television shows or short films rather than just documentaries. The distributor will then sell rights to these products through their own channels like DVD sales or streaming services like Netflix or Stan which allows viewers access to what's being broadcasted on TV without having cable subscriptions needed every month just because someone wants them!
Certain documentaries have been distributed by major companies.
Certain documentaries have been distributed by major companies.
Netflix, Hulu and Amazon are three of the most popular distributors of nonfiction films, including documentaries. Each company has its own unique distribution strategy and viewers can find a variety of titles on these platforms. Netflix is especially well known for its original programming, which includes live-action series such as House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black; as well as animated series like BoJack Horseman (which was created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg).
Hulu also offers a wide selection of streaming options that include movies from major studios like Disney/Pixar Animation Studios or Sony Pictures Entertainment in addition to independent productions from smaller filmmakers such as Spike Jonze & Charlie Kaufman's Adaptation (2002), Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) or Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood (2007).
Documentaries can be distributed through mailing lists and online platforms.
As you may have guessed, documentaries don't just get distributed through DVDs and Blu-rays. They can also be distributed through mailing lists or online platforms like Netflix.
The way that documentaries are distributed is changing, but there are still many ways to distribute them.
The way that documentaries are distributed is changing, but there are still many ways to distribute them.
Some documentaries are not distributed by film festivals.
Certain documentaries have been distributed by major companies like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video.
Documentaries can be distributed through mailing lists and online platforms like iTunes so that you don't have to wait for your favorite documentary to come out on DVD or Blu-ray.
Conclusion
The distribution of documentaries continues to change. The future of film distribution is uncertain, and we’re still learning about how it will work. While there are still many ways that documentaries can be distributed, one thing remains certain: they will always have a place in our lives, whether on screens or in bookshelves around the world.
