Filmmakers, producers and distributors keen to unravel the confusing world of cross-platform film distribution, and to hear the latest techniques and insider tips on internet marketing, are encouraged to attend the New Zealand Film Commission's one day workshop on digital distribution - Smashing The Window - in Auckland on Friday 3rd October.

Smashing The Window will include presentations from several international speakers flying into Auckland especially to speak at this event. Filmmakers, producers and distributors keen to unravel the confusing world of cross-platform film distribution, and to hear the latest techniques and insider tips on internet marketing, are encouraged to attend the New Zealand Film Commission's one day workshop on digital distribution - Smashing The Window - in Auckland on Friday 3rd October.

Smashing The Window will include presentations from several international speakers flying into Auckland especially to speak at this event.Speakers include: from New York, DIY film distribution and social networking guru and internet whiz, Brian Chirls; from London internet PR and E-marketing expert Andy Freedman, who orchestrated the hugely successful UK viral campaign for Black Sheep; and also from New York Jason Janego, Head of Legal and Business for Magnolia Pictures, who were one of the first independent US distributors to experiment with multi-platform releases.

PLUS, a keynote speaker - news of which will be announced shortly - who will set the tone for the day.

Says Kathleen Drumm, NZFC's Head of Marketing and Sales: "The internet has radically changed the way in which the film industry does business. We'd like to reflect upon how we might benefit from new opportunities and to consider alternative models for accessing audiences. Smashing The Window is designed to be an opportunity for producers and distributors to hear from some of the people who are leaders in the digital distribution field and whose practices will redefine future ways in which we market and exhibit movies".

"Smashing The Window is for those filmmakers who wish to stay in touch with emerging new technologies, and the opportunities, as well as pitfalls, they offer ", continued Drumm.

Background to the Workshop:

Traditional theatrical windows, marketing and distribution patterns are changing beyond recognition. Some distributors in the USA and Europe are boldly orchestrating ground-breaking campaigns and releasing across several platforms, simultaneously staggering and overlapping releases applying new and adventurous strategies

Cold start releases - with minimal or no marketing - offer the possibility of recouping production costs earlier. For those films with a distributor in place, web distribution, social networking, blogging and low cost viral marketing provide a much welcomed form of DIY exhibition and promotion.

New sources of income such as Mobishows, PVPs, downloads, streaming, PPV and VOD are in their infancy, but may also offer welcome new pots of income to filmmakers struggling to lock in theatrical distribution. Or do they? We want to explore what these can realistically offer us now and in the near future.

Smashing The Window will consider the pros and cons of internet distribution and E-marketing; offer practical advice and insider knowledge; and de-mystify the labyrinthine maze of new media. It will suggest real solutions and new market possibilities.

International Speakers at Smashing The Window:

Brian Chirls - Based in New York. Guerrilla DIY guru, Brian orchestrated the ground-breaking internet campaign for Four Eyed Monsters which recouped half its production costs in 6 months via the internet. He is one of the US's leading exponents of digital DIY distribution for independent movies. http://www.chirls.com

Andy Freedman - Based in London, Andy runs Substance PR, a film marketing, promotions, PR and creative services company which specialises in webdesign, Virals, blogging and E-Marketing for UK distributors. Their clients include: Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers, Icon, Optimum and Momentum. http://www.substance001.com

Jason Janego - Based in New York, Jason is Head of Legal and Business for Magnolia Pictures one of the USA's leading independent film distributors. In January 2006 they were the first to orchestrate a multi-platform release for Steven Soderbergh's movie BUBBLE which they simultaneously released theatrically, on the HDNet Movies cable channel and on DVD through Magnolia Home Entertainment. http://www.magpictures.com

Further Information:

One day Workshop, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Auckland, Friday 3rd October

Smashing The Window will be from 9.00am until 7.00pm (with registration from 8.30am), in The Princes Ballroom C at The Hyatt Regency Hotel, Corner of Waterloo Quadrant and Princes Street, Auckland.

To Register:

If you are interested in attending please contact: marketing@nzfilm.co.nz Registration costs $50 which will cover tea and coffee and networking drinks after the workshop. Registration deadline is Friday 26th September.

19/09/08