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FILM FESTIVALS & DISTRIBUTION: THE BEST (AND WORST) STRATEGIES FOR FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES

Business Film festivals have long been an essential platform for distribution opportunities - but increasingly, coveted A-list premieres no longer guarantee international sales. Experts in the field, including Dogwoof, Madman Entertainment, Raina Films and TIFF, discuss strategies for maximising festival exposure and converting laurels into opportunities.

For the independent feature doc, film festivals have historically been an essential platform for distribution opportunities. But increasingly, the coveted A-list premiere no longer guarantees an international sale and a packed screening with a standing ovation doesn’t necessarily lead to more festivals.

So in the current landscape, what exactly is the best strategy to maximise film festival exposure and opportunities? What are the best festivals for your film? Are markets more useful than festivals for sales? And where-oh-where are all those pesky distributors hiding?

With so many questions unanswered, this session aims to use expert knowledge and contemporary case studies to help producers better understand the complex pathway to distribution deals via the film festival circuit. On the panel, Inka Achté (Raina Film Festival Distribution / DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival), Oli Harbottle (Dogwoof), Jason Ryle (Toronto International Film Festival) and Paul Wiegard (Madman Entertainment) discuss the best – and worst – strategies for converting your laurels to dollars and maximising sales.

 

Image credit: Cutting Through Rocks (Madman Entertainment, 2025)

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