Attend Theatrical Marketplace announced today at the American Film Market its platform was live and open for business. The online marketplace directly connects independent filmmakers and distributors with theater owners and film bookers across the United States. The innovative distribution marketplace eliminates gatekeepers and reduces costs and frictions that today make independent theatrical film distribution a baffling, frustrating and unprofitable experience for filmmakers and cinemas alike. Attend will have a presence at the new AFM House all week for meetings and demonstrations.

Created by The Fithian Group in association with film rights and revenue management company Titlepool, Attend provides filmmakers with a step-by-step process and tools to make their films available and attractive to theater owners. After filmmakers enter key information about their film along with marketing plans and budgets, Attend uses machine learning to analyze those plans along with local demographics and other robust datasets to match the film to specific theaters and build a release plan. As more data enters the system, the targeting will become increasingly accurate and effective. Exhibitors receive notifications of films matched to their locations and can browse available films.

Attend provides tools to guide the entire theatrical distribution process – from creating and shipping DCPs and in-theater marketing materials to negotiating film terms and invoicing.

Fithian Group founding partner and Attend Board member Patrick Corcoran said, “After a quarter century of serving the interests of theater owners and hearing the needs of independent filmmakers who wanted theatrical release, but were prevented by institutional barriers and outmoded business practices, it is deeply gratifying to bring Attend to market to serve the shared interest of cinemas and filmmakers in expanding the range and reach of independent film. The connections and tools Attend brings to the industry are just the start of rethinking what independent film distribution can accomplish.”

Titlepool CEO Charles Beale added, “As a producer myself, I understand the frustrations and barriers for filmmakers seeking theatrical distribution. Tying that experience together with the technologies we have created at Titlepool and The Fithian Group’s unmatched credibility with theater owners, we have created something that is unique in the market. It all comes together in today’s launch.”

At launch, Attend serves several thousand theater screens with more in process. The system expects to incorporate the vast majority of US screens by year’s end.

Attend launches with four curated inaugural films planned for 2027 release in order to guide filmmakers and theater owners through the process and refine the platform. Filmmakers can join a waiting list and receive demonstrations of the platform prior to the platform opening more widely to the filmmaker community.

The launch films are “Honeyjoon,” a dark comedy from writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel; “Mouse,” a crime drama and thriller written and directed by, and starring Kenny Riches; “Spoke,” a documentary about what firefighters carry home with them. The risks that do not end when the call is over. The consequences that sometimes take years to reveal themselves, from Filmabee Studios; and, “Censurada,” an evocative, LGBTQ+ drama, explores the devastating beauty of forbidden love in 1969 Spain, directed by Mario Garza. (IMAGES and PRESS KITS at the link)

Press demos of Attend are available on request before and after launch.

About Attend
Filmmaker and Exhibitor Sign-Up: www.attendtheatricalmarketplace.com