Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

Online Course

Film Distributors' Association

Future Learn

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Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

What is the course about?
Prerequisites & Facts
Cost, Certificate & Degree
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What is the course about?

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

The course Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences is an online class provided by Film Distributors' Association through Future Learn. It may be possible to receive a verified certification or use the course to prepare for a degree.

Discover how your favourite films make it to your local cinema or television screen, through the film distribution process.

Course description

Get an introduction to how the UK film business works
4 weeks

With over 800 films a year being released, the choice for cinema goers is massive and ever changing. How do we, as members of the film audience, find out about films? What methods are available to film distributors to attract our attention to specific films in the digital age? In such a crowded marketplace, how do films find their audiences?
Through this online course, you’ll discover the ways in which films make their way to cinemas and beyond through the film distribution process. You’ll find out how film distributors play a pivotal role in connecting films with audiences.

Who the target audience(s) for a film will be. The many considerations include comparison with recent films of a similar genre. Defining the target audience will affect the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of the marketing campaign.
How distributors will advertise and promote the film and how much to spend on these activities.
When the film will open in cinemas – the distributor will carefully track the competitors’ release schedules, as well as all sorts of wider public/media events, aiming to ensure that they do not go head to head with similar types of film or major distractions for the target audience.
What sets this film apart from all the other films on release at around the same time? Distributors look for a film’s ‘selling points’ – its stars, director, genre, awards/nominations, based on a bestselling book or game, and more.

Who the target audience(s) for a film will be. The many considerations include comparison with recent films of a similar genre. Defining the target audience will affect the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of the marketing campaign.
How distributors will advertise and promote the film and how much to spend on these activities.
When the film will open in cinemas – the distributor will carefully track the competitors’ release schedules, as well as all sorts of wider public/media events, aiming to ensure that they do not go head to head with similar types of film or major distractions for the target audience.
What sets this film apart from all the other films on release at around the same time? Distributors look for a film’s ‘selling points’ – its stars, director, genre, awards/nominations, based on a bestselling book or game, and more.

Apply their own experiences of film consumption to the methods of film distribution.
Identify the key decisions made in the distribution business process, and gain a greater understanding of how the UK film business operates.
Compare the ways in which different types of films are distributed in the UK.
Discuss the apparent effectiveness of different types of film campaigns.
Reflect on the various ways in which audiences consume films and investigate the effects that the experience of consumption have on the mode of consumption.
Explore the different ways in which films are brought to the attention of potential audiences – the differences between advertising and promotion.

This course is aimed at anyone interested in the world of film and film distribution, but may be of particular interest to students and teachers of media and film studies.

Film Distributors’ Association
Film Distributors’ Association Ltd. (FDA) is the trade body for theatrical film distributors in the UK – the companies that release films for UK cinema audiences.

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Prerequisites & Facts

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

Course Topic

Creative Arts & Media, Photography and Visual Arts

University, College, Institution

Film Distributors’ Association

Course Skill Level

see course summary

Course Language

English

Place of class

Online, self-paced (see curriculum for more information)

Degree

Certificate

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Degree & Cost

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

To obtain a verified certificate from Future Learn / Film Distributors' Association you have to finish this course or the latest version of it, if there is a new edition. The class may be free of charge, but there could be some cost to receive a verified certificate or to access the learning materials. The specifics of the course may have been changed, please consult the provider to get the latest quotes and news.

Film Distributors’ Association

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

provided by Future Learn

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