Independent Film News

Three Filmmakers Try Self Distribution

They've got the film. Now, all they need is the audience.

Sure, companies like Truly Indie are out there. They'll put together a publicity blitz for your film, find indie theaters in big markets to get it into. But there's no guarantees, and I'd bet you pay dearly for their services.

IFC profiled three independent filmmakers recently who've taken matters into their own hands. They're all releasing films this month, and they're doing it on their own.

Andrew Bujalski's bringing Mutual Appreciation (pictured) to theaters. His first was 2002's Funny Ha Ha, the Indie Spirit Award winner as "Someone to Watch." Now, he's making good on that prediction, releasing this black-and-white comedy about an aimless musician new to NYC.

Sujewa Ekanayake is a veteran at the DIY thing, having screened his films in Washington D.C. Date Number One, five vignettes about first dates, is branching out, now open in New York and growing. He's using the blogosphere to get word out about his movies, and equates self-distribution with a process as easy as lather, rinse, repeat.

Lance Weiler is often credited with making the first Blair Witch Project. His The Last Broadcast has a similar story, came a year earlier, and was a completely self-distributed effort. His latest, Head Trauma (a thriller based on two seemingly unrelated events), is already open in Oregon, and he's traveling with the movie, building a fan base the old-fashioned way.

All the details about the three pioneers is here; you can follow links from there for details about where to catch each flick.

Posted by Lisa on September 6, 2006 10:03 PM
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Wow.. it's just their passion that really pushes them to do film distribution independently. It's definitely not easy. It needs a lot of moolah.

-- Posted by: Debbie at September 7, 2006 02:33 AM

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