Everything Filmmakers Must Know About Distribution Is Now Yours, for Free

Reporter Brian Welk reviews The Distribution Playbook: a free, open-source guide aimed at helping indie filmmakers take control of their distribution strategies. The Distribution Playbook emerged from Seed&Spark’s workshops and years of engagement with filmmakers seeking clarity in the distribution landscape. The Playbook encourages filmmakers to incorporate distribution planning early in production rather than relying solely on traditional industry gatekeepers or waiting for a breakthrough opportunity. Seed&Spark founder Emily Best and Kinema CEO Christie Marchese highlight the Playbook’s creator-driven ethos, which dismantles traditional gatekeeping practices in favor of transparency and collaborative knowledge-sharing. Quarterly updates to the guide ensure that the Playbook remains dynamic and relevant, incorporating case studies and direct contributions from filmmakers across the industry. The guidebook’s core message emphasizes that filmmakers must be active players in distribution strategy, as the traditional model of waiting for corporate distributors to “pick” films is no longer sustainable in today’s landscape.