A film distributor is responsible for the marketing of a film. The distribution company is usually different from the production company. Distribution deals are an important part of financing a film.
The distributor may set the release date of a film and the method by which a film is to be exhibited or made available for viewing; for example, directly to the public either theatrically or for home viewing, such as, DVD, video-on-demand and download. A distributor may do this directly, if the distributor owns the theatres or film distribution networks, or through theatrical exhibitors and other su-distributors. A limited distributor may deal only with particular products, such as DVDS or Blu-ray, or may act in a particular country or market. The primary distributor will often receive credit in the film's credits, one sheet or other marketing material.
There are many different ways of distributing a film:
Theatrical Distribution
If a distributor is working with a theatrical exhibitor, the distributor secures a written contract stipulating the amount of the gross ticket sales the exhibitor will be allowed to retain, usually a percentage of the gross. The distributor collects the amount due, audits the exhibitors ticket sales as necessary to ensure the gross reported by the exhibitor is accurate, secures the distributors share of these proceeds, surrenders the exhibitor's portion to it, and transmits the remainder to the production company, or to any other intermediary, such as a film release agent.
The distributor is also responsible for ensuring a full line of advertising material is available for each film which it believes will help the exhibitor attract the largest possible audience, create such advertising if it is not provided by the production company, and arrange for the physical delivery of the advertising items selected by the exhibitor at intervals prior to the opening day.
International Distribution
If the distributor is handling an imported or foreign film, it may also be responsible for securing dubbing or subtitling for the film, and securing censorship or other legal or organisational 'approval' for the country in which it does business, prior to approaching the exhibitors for booking. Depending on which studio that is distributing the film, the studio will either have offices around the world, by themselves or partnered with another studio, to distribute films in other countries. If a studio decides to partner with a native distributor, upon release both names will appear. The foreign distributor may license the film for a certain amount of time, but the studio will retain the copyright of the film.
There is also a wide variety of different film distribution companies available:
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