Congratulations! You’ve just completed your documentary film and want to send it out into the world. It’s an exciting time, yet it can also be frustrating trying to find a distributor.
Many documentary filmmakers will seek to enter their works in various film festivals throughout the world in the hopes that a distributor might view them and become interested in presenting them to larger audiences. Grassroots and community screenings (often booked by colleges and universities) can also attract the attention of those who can offer distribution.
Filmmakers should also consider educational distribution (DVD and streaming) as well as public television. But understand that screening your film isn’t always enough. You’re also going to have to talk to distributors and other industry professionals, pitch your product, and, perhaps most importantly, know your audience and which distributors best represent them.
You can also take a look at Rachel Gordon's guide to documentary distribution, which is available for purchase here.
What is your film about? Why is it relevant? Who is your audience?
Your documentary on the life of a legendary comic book artist won’t be of much interest to ESPN Films. Neither will your regional true crime film catch the eye of National Geographic Documentary Films. As ridiculous as those two examples sound, such mismatches often happen. Start with the people in your film. Who are they? What’s their story? What moves and motivates them? What are they after?
Is your film educational? For television? For theatrical release?
Filmmakers must not only know their audience but also how best to reach them. Depending on your subject and viewers, your documentary might be a good candidate for the educational (school and library) market, or perhaps television or a streaming service. Although theatrical releases outside of festivals account for a small percentage of documentary distribution, you shouldn’t ignore this option.
This list is made up of different types of distributors. Some act as pure distributors and others as distributor databases for physical media and streaming. Some companies do both. Know that, generally speaking, distributors compile films for specific markets such as theatrical, non-theatrical (educational and community centers), streaming, and television. Distributor databases normally collect films for physical media or streaming.
Take a look at Video Librarian's distributor database to discover even more distributors that would be the perfect fit for your film!
Founded in 2005, A&E IndieFilms is the feature documentary component of A+E Networks, producing a wide variety of documentaries for both the large and small screen with a successful track record with audiences, festivals and critics. Four A&E IndieFilms works have been nominated for Academy Awards.
For over 40 years, Black Public Media has supported visionary creators, developing and distributing films focused on the global Black experience. Black Public Media’s work is leading to a more inclusive and equality-based world.
Based in Berkeley, California, Mu Films produces and distributes documentaries and educational films addressing social, historical, and cultural issues, focusing on lesser-known stories from under-represented peoples and communities. The goal of Mu Films is to champion social justice, cultural understanding, and to help bring about positive change.
Women Make Movies has worked with 2,883 filmmakers from 86 countries. For 50 years they have been delivering films produced by women from different cultures, LGBTQI women, older women, women with disabilities, and women of color.
Since 1988, Zeitgeist Films has distributed an impressive array of independent films from the U.S. and around the world including narrative films and documentaries, many of which have been honored at festivals throughout the world.