Grants & Awards

Distribution

Assorted exhibition & distribution venues of interest:

Arab Film Distribution - When AFD began “spreading the word” about Arab Cinema, they had only five films in their library – the titles they acquired after the first ever Arab Film Festival at the 1990 Goodwill Arts Games in Seattle. AFD’s distribution project began soon after that as an effort to maintain a permanent flow of Arab films – their version of a year round “Arab Film Festival”.

Autlook Filmsales – Sharing the same clear vision on the definition of a Filmsales company, Amour Fou Film, Nikolaus Geyrhalter Film and Navigator Film founded AUTLOOK Filmsales.

Bullfrog Films – Bullfrog Films is the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States. Founded in 1973, Bullfrog Films brings together programs that point the way to a new paradigm for living happily, healthily and sustainably.

California Newsreel – California Newsreel produces and distributes cutting edge, social justice films that inspire, educate and engage audiences. Founded in 1968, Newsreel is the oldest non-profit, social issue documentary film center in the country, the first to marry media production and contemporary social movements. California Newsreel’s Library of African Cinema was launched in 1981 with 8 titles from 5 different countries as an initiative to provide film resources to educators and build an appreciation for African cinema. The collection has since grown to more than 70 titles from 25 countries – making it North America’s largest collection of African films!

Cinema Guild – The Cinema Guild was established by Philip and Mary-Ann Hobel, and is one of America’s leading distributors of films and videos. For over thirty years, The Cinema Guild has distributed both documentary and fiction films (narrative features and shorts), offering producers full service distribution in all markets, including educational, non-theatrical, theatrical, television, cable, internet, and home video.

Cinema Libre Studio – Cinema Libre Studio produces and distributes social issue films in the US. “We believe movies should make a difference and as such we created a company to distribute political films in theatres, on DVD and thru home entertainment channels. We’ve been involved with film such as: OUTFOXED, UNCOVERED: THE WAR ON IRAQ, DARFUR DIARIES, PALESTINE BLUES, ANGELS IN THE DUST, DESERT BAYOU, etc. Our work is usually political. We’ve also just produced a feature length doc, THE END OF POVERTY which premiered at Cannes in May 2008 and will have a US theatrical release in 2009.”

Documentary Educational Resources – Documentary Educational Resources is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1968 and incorporated in 1971 for the purpose of producing and distributing cross-cultural documentary film for educational use. DER specializes in the international broadcast, educational/institutional, and direct to consumer markets. They provide a diverse, world-wide network of customers and filmmakers with a wide range of personalized services to suit individual and institutional needs.

Docurama – Docurama Films is dedicated to making critically acclaimed and cutting-edge documentaries available digitally and on DVD. The collection unites both classic and contemporary docs from award-winning filmmakers whose work continues to astound and enlighten. Since being launched by parent company New Video in 1999, Docurama Films has released over 250 award-winning and highly acclaimed titles.

Emerging Pictures – Emerging has a network of arts institutions, media arts centers and independent art house theaters, tied together through digital technology – enabling them to cost effectively exhibit art films, documentaries, foreign language films, independent cinema and cultural programming. The Emerging Cinemas Network currently consists of 65 venues and is rapidly growing.

Envision – The non-profit Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) is collaborating with the United Nation’s Department of Public Information to create an annual destination in NYC that unites the international filmmaking community, civil society organizations, entrepreneurs, activists, journalists, economists, public policy makers, NGOs, and the general public with representatives from the UN in the shared goal of envisioning a better world for all. Through this jointly produced forum, IFP and the UN seek to combine film presentations with substantive, live-audience (real and virtual) discussions on pressing global issues.

The Film Collaborative – Founded by Orly Ravid, The Film Collaborative is a non-profit, full-service provider dedicated to the distribution of independent film, including narrative features, documentaries and shorts.

Filmakers Library – Filmakers Library, founded by Sue Oscar and Linda Gottesman, has been distributing documentary films for almost 40 years. The collections grew from life cycle films to a constantly widening perspective of issue oriented documentaries. Gathering films from American independents as well as filmmakers from all over the world, Filmakers Library is proud to make available these insightful documentaries.

The Film Sales Company – Since its inception in 2002, The Film Sales Company has sold over 100 films for domestic and international distribution and has raised financing for numerous fiction and documentary projects. The Company specializes in both highly commercial movies and critically acclaimed, award-winning films.

Film Sprout – Caitlin Boyle is the founder of Film Sprout. Offers filmmakers both consultation on and implementation of grassroots, campus and community distribution campaigns for independent documentaries. Film Sprout charges a retainer and a share of revenue.

Films Transit International – Founded 25 years ago by Jan Rofekamp, Films Transit International is one of the longest running, renowned and respected international sales agencies of quality documentaries with offices in Montreal and in New York. They specialize in the worldwide release and marketing of high profile, theatrical and TV documentaries in two specific genres: Arts, Sports & Culture and Society, History & Politics.

First Run Features - First Run Features was founded in 1979 by a group of filmmakers to advance the distribution of independent film. Under the leadership of the late independent film pioneer, Fran Spielman, First Run Features quickly gained a reputation for its controversial catalog of daring independent fiction and non-fiction films. First Run remains one of the largest independent theatrical and home video distributors in the United States, releasing 12 to 15 films a year in theatres nationwide and 40 to 50 videos and DVDs annually.

Icarus Films - Distributing innovative and provocative documentary films from independent producers around the world.

Indiepix – IndiePix was founded in 2004 to bring film fans the very best of independent cinema. Today, IndiePix is proud to be home to the broadest online selection of indie films from around the world, including the latest award-winning titles from the festival circuit, popular indie classics, foreign, documentaries and more. Buy a DVD online or use Indiepix’s patented Download-to-Own technology for a professional quality DVD, without the wait. Fiercely committed to the spirit of indie film, Indiepix provides filmmakers the opportunity to distribute their projects while maintaining the rights to their work.

International Film Circuit - International Film Circuit (InFC) was founded by Wendy Lidell in 1987 to bring quality international cinema to American audiences through innovative distribution strategies. In addition to distributing its own titles to the theatrical, nontheatrical, television and home video markets International Film Circuit also provides theatrical releasing services to producers and other distribution companies.

Lorber Films – Lorber Films is a New York-based theatrical distributor and DVD label dedicated to the best in recent and classic world cinema and independent documentaries.

Magnolia Pictures – Formed in 2001 by Bill Banowsky and Eamonn Bowles, Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment, specializing in a unique and eclectic slate of films. Magnolia’s releases have included the Academy Award nominated documentaries Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Capturing the Friedmans, Bubble by Steven Soderbergh, and numerous other successes.

Media That Matters Film Festival – The Media That Matters Film Festival is the premiere showcase for short films on the most important topics of the day. Every June, MTM presents a new collection of twelve shorts. The festival launches in New York City with a World Premiere at the IFC Center and an Awards Ceremony at HBO where every filmmaker is honored and many receive cash awards sponsored by major foundations and corporations. Previous presenters include Tim Robbins, Al Franken, David Cross, Woody Harrelson, Barbara Kopple and Peter Yarrow. The festival launch also includes the Media as a Tool for Social Change Workshop, a unique convening of filmmakers, educators, activists, nonprofits and youth.

The June launch events are just the beginning of a jam-packed year of MTM. The films stream online in their entirety, broadcast nationally and are distributed on DVD to educators and activists. MTM reaches thousands through community screenings around the country. From classrooms to board rooms, movie theatres to home theatres, hundreds of events take place throughout the year. For more info visit our website.

Milestone Films – Formed in 1990 by Amy Heller and Dennis Doros, Milestone Films is dedicated to discovering and distributing films of enduring artistry from both yesterday and today. Their collection now ranges from the earliest days of the cinema, to the golden age of the silents, to the postwar foreign film renaissance, to brand-new American independent features, documentaries and foreign films.

National Film Board of Canada - NFB’s collection includes animation, documentaries, experimental films and alternative dramas. They showcase films that take a stand on issues of global importance that matter to Canadians – stories about the environment, human rights, international conflict, the arts and more. Works that push the boundaries, give a voice to the underrepresented, and build bridges between cultures.

Neoflix – Neoflix helps build self-distribution channels. Neoflix is an integrated solution for e-commerce, order fulfillment, and customer service created for filmmakers and distributors with multi-channel sales strategies. Whether a DVD is sold to a consumer, wholesaler, library, institutions, or any other outlet, Neoflix can handle the order processing and fulfillment. DIY filmmakers and distributors can set-up a self-branded shopping cart system and begin selling products without incurring a large upfront investment or protracted vendor search. Neoflix handles credit card processing, e-commerce security issues, customer service, and fulfillment for both domestic and international orders.

New Day Films - New Day Films is a unique member-owned distribution company comprised of more than 100 independent filmmakers. For nearly 35 years, New Day has worked collectively to distribute work directly to the audiences who most want and need them.

Oscilloscope Pictures – Beastie Boys member and filmmaker Adam Yauch has expanded his music and film production company, Oscilloscope Laboratories, with the addition of Oscilloscope Pictures, a full-service film distribution company. The new movie division will release independently produced English and foreign language films and documentaries into the U.S. theatrical marketplace, as well as handle international sales.

Palm Pictures – Since its inception in 1998, Palm Pictures has been actively involved in the acquisition, production and distribution of innovative music and independent film projects. Releasing 10 – 12 films theatrically per year, Palm Pictures has solidified its brand as the film studio dedicated to bringing audiences quality cutting-edge cinema and continues to deliver the best in foreign, arthouse and music films. Releasing award winning films and cutting-edge music projects on the DVD format, Palm has an extensive library including: Arthouse Films, Palm World Voices, The Directors Label Series and Palm Pictures Video.

ReFrame – Reframe, a program of Tribeca Film Institute, aims to help individual filmmakers, distributors, archives, libraries and other media owners to digitize and sell their work using the internet, and to become a one-stop location for anyone seeking these films. Under a unique deal with Amazon’s CreateSpace division, ReFrame offers digitization at little to no cost to their partners. Once digitized, these works are made available for non-exclusive distribution through both the Amazon storefront and Reframe website at a price set by the partner. Titles may be sold via DVD-on-Demand, which forgoes the cost of large product runs and inventory storage, and Digital Download to rent or buy, which allows consumers to download films directly to a PC or to a television via TiVo.

Ro*co Films International – A documentary distribution company that aims to “inspire and entertain,” ro*c0 represents documentaries that “connect us to human experiences well beyond the boundaries of our own…transport us to new places and persuade us that they possess the power to do the same for audiences around the world.” Ro*co recently partnered with Oprah’s OWN network and screening club network.

Rooftop Films – Annual NYC summer film festival that engages large audiences with innovative, entertaining, socially-aware films by hosting screenings in unique outdoor locations pertinent to the films’ subject matter, covering issues relevant to the local communities’ diverse audiences.

Snag Films – SnagFilms is always on the look-out for excellent documentaries seeking online distribution to join their ever-expanding library. They welcome titles with a diversity of styles, subject matter and points of view, and are interested in both well-known titles and little known gems.

Third World Newsreel – For 40 years Third World Newsreelhas been a major distributor of social issue films and videos made by and about people of color. TWN’s collection includes over 450 works by over 200 established and emerging film and media artists. TWN remains committed to expanding its collection with works that are representative of Third World cultures and issues.

Visit Films – Visit Films is an independent film production and sales company based in New York whose mission is to develop, produce, and sell unique and interesting independent American and international films. Visit’s films are made with reasonable budgets and possess commercial viability. The company’s partners, Ryan Kampe and Sylvain Tron, aim to craft stories that have appeal both domestically and internationally which bring the joy of discovery to each audience that watches a Visit film.

Women Make Movies – Women Make Movies distribution service seeks to expand the public’s exposure to independent film and videos that are directed by women, and whose content is about women and the issues that affect their lives. Our collection of more than 500 films includes award-winning works by both established and emerging independent media makers all over the world, and explore an incredible range of timely, important and global topics.

Zeitgeist – Zeitgeist was founded in 1988 by co-Presidents Nancy Gerstman and Emily Russo. Zeitgeist films are strongly auteur-driven and have a distinct visual style and unique content. Zeitgeist acquires their films with the following criteria in mind: passion for the film, its quality and prestige, and its marketability.