Looking into the distribution option for our film

1. Distribution Options
There are three main distribution companies that could properly
distribute our film to a mainstream audience. We have compiled
a brief case study on each of these companies and from this
information decided upon the best company for the distribution
of our product.

2. The BFI (British Film Institute)
What do they do?
The BFI was founded in 1933. We are a charity governed by a Royal
Charter. We combine cultural, creative and industrial roles, bringing
together the BFI National Archive and BFI Reuben Library, film
distribution, exhibition and education at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX,
publishing and festivals.
They award Lottery funding to film production, distribution, education,
audience development and market intelligence and research.
Film Forever is our five year strategic plan for 2012-2017 to support UK
film. The plan covers all our activities and is based around three
priorities – education and audiences, support for the UK film industry
and unlocking film heritage.

3. Funding and Money
The BFI uses National Lottery funds to develop
and support original UK filmmakers and films, and
to increase the audiences who can enjoy them.
We seek to reflect the public in the films we
support, the audiences who watch them, and the
filmmakers, actors and crews who make them.

4. Film Releases
• The Changes
• The Big Melt
• The Ghost
• Ghost Stories for
Christmas

5. Film 4
What do they do?
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division.
Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known
for working with the most distinctive and innovative
talent in the UK, whether new or established.

6. Funding and Money
As a production company, they aim to operate ten
to twelve feature films a year with a mix of license
fee and equity. Almost all of their films are co-
financed with other financing partners. After each
film’s theatrical release, they tend to receive
premieres on either Channel 4 or Film 4, leading to
them gaining more money to fund more films.

7. Film Releases
Some top films that they have produced include:
• 12 Years a Slave
• Slumdog Millionaire
• The Iron Lady
• Four Lions
• Starred Up
• Amy (Documentary Film)
• Ex Machina
• Carol
• Room

8. Patterns/Trends
Some pattern and trends that I can see in the films
that Film 4 have produced are that majority of them
have been recognised by the Academy which works
for the Oscars, with films such as 12 Years a Slave
and Slumdog Millionaire winning Best Picture,
whereas other films such as: The Iron Lady; Amy; Ex
Machina; and Room have won several Oscars and
other acclaimed awards.

9. Audience
Their target audience, with the types of films that
they have produced, tend to be adults or young
adults. This is because majority of the films that
they have produced tend to be dramas or biopics,
with only adults or young adults truly
understanding the full meaning of the film.

10. BBC Films
What they do
BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It
is firmly established at the forefront of British
independent film-making and co-produces
approximately eight films a year. Working in partnership
with major international and UK distributors, BBC Films
aims to make strong British films with range and
ambition. We are committed to finding and developing
new talent, as well as collaborating with some of the
foremost writers and directors in the industry.

11. Funding and Money
Government funding for shorts comes largely
through the UK Film Council*, but there are other
sources if you are prepared to look hard and to
work your film around their agendas. Many funding
sources look to fund digital shorts rather than
projects that want to shoot on film, based on the
argument that new directors should cut their teeth
on the cheaper medium.

12. Film Releases
• Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
• Man on Wire (2008)
• Sarafina! (1992)
• Wonder Boys (2000)
• Hard Rain (1998)
• Conspiracy (2001)
• Persuasion (1995)

13. Audience
Because the BBC is a government funded
cooperation they are required to conform and
appeal to a mass audience and are not as risker
as out companies as they may not get backing.

14. Conclusion
From this we have decided that the distributor we would most like to
go with is Film 4 as they are more creative with their releases as they
are not as restricted by government and public funding so they can
appeal to more niche audiences but also to audiences that are not
necessarily our target audience but those who will still appreciate our
film.
Using Film 4 also allows us to correspond between our film and the
audiences of the shows shown on all of channel 4s channels such as
E4 as our film has a similar target audience to a lot of their shows and
thus be the ideal place to market our product
It also means that our film can be shown on their channels which
means even after the cinema release is over our product will still have
publicity.