Independent Films distribution in USA is in focus at the What US Distributors Want panel: the role of promotion, the impact of Festival selection and awards, the marketing strategies and the competition of the big streaming outlets are some of the topics that will be addressed in this conversation.
What does a foreign language film need to stand out in one of the toughest and most competitive marketplaces? What is key to success? What does it take to craft an impactful Oscar campaign? What US distributors are looking for, when buying films? A panel of savvy experts will answer these questions and many more: Thania Dimitrakopoulou (The Match Factory), who handles the international sales of some of the most inspiring and original auteurs’ films (from Fatih Akin to Aki Kaurismäki, from Christian Petzold to Marco Bellocchio, whose latest Il Traditore is Italy’s candidate for nominations in the 2020 Oscar Best International Films’ category).
Kristen Figeroid (Endeavor Content), who has over twenty years of experience in independent films sales and distribution (among the titles she worked on: Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron and Damian Chazelle’s Whiplash). Richard Lorber (Kino Lorber), who has been distributing acclaimed World Cinema in America over the past forty years (seven Oscar nominations in the recent past, including, in 2017, Gianfranco Rosi’s Fuocoammare and the nomination for Best Documentary for Of Fathers and Sons by Talal Derki in 2019). John Von Thaden (Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing), whose line-up includes the acclaimed Matteo Garrone’s Dogman and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 2019, among many others. Ryan Werner (Cinetic Marketing), a long time indie film Marketing and Publicity Executive behind the US launch of Personal Shopper by Olivier Assayas, La grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino, Cold War and Ida, by Paweł Pawlikowski, among others, who’s currently working on Parasite by Bong Joon-ho and Portrait Of A Lady On Fire by Céline Sciamma, soon to be launched on American ground.
Speakers
Thania Dimitrakopoulou, Head of Sales, The Match Factory
Kristen Figeroid, Senior Vice President, International Sales & Distribution, Endeavor Content
Richard Lorber, President & CEO, Kino Lorber
John Von Thaden, Senior Vice President, Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing
Ryan Werner, Marketing and PR, Cinetic Marketing
Chair
Wendy Mitchell, Screen International