A distributor has bought a small drama for their country. They decide to open it in forty cinemas on a quiet weekend in autumn, after a festival screening and a run of interviews with the director. The posters, trailer and online campaign are theirs to pay for. The distributor is the company that brings a film to audiences in a particular country or region.
What a distributor does
A distributor buys the rights to a film for a territory (a country or group of countries) and for certain ways of showing it, such as cinemas, streaming, TV or physical media. They buy from the producer directly or from a sales agent. Sometimes they commit during financing, with a minimum guarantee (an advance against future income) that helps the producer raise the budget.
When the film is ready they plan the release. They choose the date, book cinemas or agree terms with platforms, create the local poster and trailer, run advertising and arrange press. They collect income from cinemas, platforms and broadcasters, deduct their fee and marketing costs, and pass on what is left according to the contract.
Responsibilities
- Select and buy films for their territory, often at markets and festivals
- Negotiate rights, release windows and the minimum guarantee
- Plan the release strategy and date
- Create and pay for local marketing, trailers and posters
- Book cinemas and negotiate with platforms and broadcasters
- Collect income and report it to the producer or sales agent
- Handle later releases on streaming, TV and other channels
How the role touches the budget
Indirectly for the production. A minimum guarantee from a distributor can be part of the financing, and their delivery requirements, such as local subtitles or dubbed versions, can add costs at the end. Marketing at release, often called prints and advertising (P&A), is paid by the distributor from their own budget. The producer gets money back only after the distributor has recovered those costs and fees, so the deal terms matter a lot.
How people get into the role
Many start in a distributor's marketing, bookings or acquisitions team, or at a cinema chain. Some come from festivals or sales companies. A head of acquisitions at a distributor or platform is often the person who decides which films are bought.
In TV and streaming
Broadcasters and streaming platforms act as distributors when they buy finished films and series. They pay a licence fee for the right to show a programme for a set period, and often take care of all marketing on their own channels. See how film festivals bring buyers and films together.