Distribution Archives - Celluloid Junkie

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The Europa Distribution session at New Nordic Films in Haugesund brought together an eclectic mix of speakers to discuss how this celebrated subcategory of international cinema is marketed internationally. Festival premieres, awards success and recognisable auteurs can be invaluable, but they don't tell the whole story.

Nordic Cinema Doesn’t Have an Export Problem. It Has a Conversion Problem

A Europa Distribution session at New Nordic Films in Haugesund looked at a well regarded subcategory of international cinema, and found that a reputation for quality doesn’t always lead directly to strong ticket sales. At festivals, Nordic films travel extraordinarily well. They win prizes, attract…

(From left) Moderator Cathrine Jakobsen led the case-study discussion during the "Youth, Trends and Taboos on Films" seminar at Haugesund 2026. Silje Salomonsen, co-director of “Back to Tottori,” and Norwegian distributor Linn Barholt participated in seminar on August 25, 2026. (Photo: Grethe Nygaard)

Young Audiences Already Like Cinema. The Hard Part Is Giving Them a Reason to Go

The film industry may be asking the wrong question about younger audiences. Rather than wondering how to persuade teenagers to care about cinema, new Nordic research suggests the more immediate challenge is turning an already positive attitude towards theatrical viewing into an actual trip to the mo…

(From left) Locarno's Mitchell Harper moderated the "It Takes A Village: Investing in Film Beyond Cinema" panel, which featured Darcy Heusel, of Outside Pictures; Nicola Ofoego of Black Mic Mag, Logical Pictures; and Samuel Tebandeke of Kiasi. The panel took place on August 8, 2026, as part of the Swiss film festival's industry platform. (Photo: courtesy of Locarno Film Festival/Ti-Press)

At Locarno, Restored Films Face Their Next Challenge: Finding an Audience

At Locarno Pro 2026, archivists, exhibitors, distributors and filmmakers explored why restoring a classic film is only the first step in putting it back in front of audiences. Locarno Pro (August 5-11) – the Swiss film festival’s industry platform – closed its biggest edition yet this August with 2,…

(From left) Moderator Zac Ntim of Deadline, Oscar-winning producer Mollye Asher ("Nomadland," "The Rider," "On Swift Horses") and film marketing strategist Mathias Noschis of Alphapanda participate in the "Audience First: Rethinking Film Marketing Before Distribution" panel at the Karlovy Vary IFF on July 6, 2026.

Indie Film Marketing Can’t Wait Until the Film Is Finished

A panel at Karlovy Vary examined the need to begin the marketing conversation at the earliest possible stage… even before production begins. At Karlovy Vary’s Industry program (July 5-9), a sharp conversation held on July 6 on audience strategy argued that independent films can no longer afford to t…

Cinerama Dome - Hollywood, California

Cinerama Dome Revival Gives Sony a Hollywood Flagship for Its Exhibition Ambitions

Sony Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse will restore the landmark cinema and reopen the adjoining ArcLight complex in early 2028, returning a major moviegoing hub to Los Angeles while giving Sony’s growing experiences business its most recognizable venue yet. For six years, Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome has…

2026 Box Office - January through June - First Half

International Box Office Recovery Accelerates as Local Films Gain Ground

Selected markets across Europe, Asia and Australia reported stronger revenue or attendance during the first half of 2026, with China the major exception and domestic productions increasingly powering the rebound. One year ago, the international theatrical recovery still looked fragile, uneven and he…

(From left) Host Aylin Kazi; TikTok creator Melo Nsuka; Jackie Meire, EU Head of Social at Amazon Prime Video, UK; and actress Runa Greiner, who participated in the EFM 2026 panel "From Community to Box Office: How Fandom on TikTok Drives Impact," held on Feb 13, 2026. (Photo: Winson, courtesy of EFM)

Social Media, Fandom and the Hard Question of Conversion

The question of whether social media buzz can actually drive potential audiences to cinemas is as pertinent as ever. As the first reactions for “The Odyssey” break, we reflect on panels that explored this topic at the European Film Market earlier this year… The news that Christophe…

Andrew Cripss, Head of Global Distribution, Walt Disney Studios - ICTA Barcelona Seminar 2026 - June 21, 2026 - Infinity Vision

Disney’s Andrew Cripps Says Infinity Vision Is More Marketing Program Than Certification Scheme

Speaking at ICTA’s Cinema Technology Experience in Barcelona on the eve of CineEurope, Disney’s head of global theatrical distribution offered the clearest public explanation yet of Infinity Vision — and confirmed that several key details are still being worked out. When Andrew Cripps, H…

Theatrical Windows Are Stretching Again — and Hollywood’s C-Suite Wants Them Longer Still

Average first TVOD windows rose in 2025, Disney again led the majors with a 61.6-day average, and early 2026 releases point toward a stronger 45-day baseline. After several years in which theatrical windows seemed to be shrinking by the quarter, the North American market may finally be settling into…

(From left) Daniel Berger, President at Oscilloscope Pictures; Sarah Mosses, Founder & CEO of Together Films; John Nein, Senior Programmer & Director of Strategy, Sundance Film Festival; Sharon 'Rocky' Roggio, Founder & Creative Director, 1946 Studios; and moderator Iddo Patt, CEO & Co-Founder of Eventive (Photo: Eventive)

Can Direct-to-Audience Distribution Give Indie Films a New Path to Theatres?

For decades, the independent film industry has operated according to a familiar hierarchy. A filmmaker completes a project, premieres at a major festival, secures a distributor, launches a theatrical run, and hopes that audiences discover the film through cinemas, home entertainment releases or – mo…