The Fithian Group today announced a data-driven, digital theatrical distribution marketplace designed to revolutionize how innovative and independent filmmakers and rights-holders book and release movies in theatres, increasing both the number and range of movies theatre owners can offer to satisfy the demands of today’s audiences.

The platform – called “Attend” – provides a unique opportunity to allow filmmakers to directly connect their movies to theatre owners, assist exhibitors in programming, targeting, and marketing a wider array of diverse titles, and attract more moviegoers to theatres more frequently.

The Fithian Group is working with the support of Vista Group and its global leading technologies and solutions already available across Vista’s suite of products. This collaboration aims to address industry challenges and help the entire exhibition ecosystem to thrive.

Filmmakers can upload details and materials for their films directly into Attend. Exhibitors can search the database, while Attend also recommends movies to exhibitors based on the preferences of their individual theatres and moviegoers. The platform also facilitates the logistics of getting movies on screen.

The Fithian Group plans to initially offer Attend in the United States and Australia, with an Alpha phase in the United States in Q1 2025.

Over the past 20 years, exhibition has faced numerous challenges, including a shrinking number and range of movies, a shift in supply to streaming, and more recently, the pandemic and industry strikes while audiences continue to show an undeniable desire for diverse theatrical programming.*

The Attend digital marketplace is designed to grow the annual theatrical release slate by featuring mid-range movies that have disappeared from cinemas, international movies seeking domestic releases, and movies that typically receive limited theatrical release but could gain broader audiences through data-driven theatre selection, scheduling and marketing.

“Attend expands possibilities for filmmakers and non-studio movies to reach audiences and to expand the reach and efficiency of existing distributors. Over many years of grappling with the challenges and opportunities facing the theatrical market worldwide, as industry leaders we have sought solutions that grow the business for all stakeholders. That is why we are grateful for the support of many filmmakers for Attend from Steven Soderbergh to Ted Hope to Patty Jenkins and more,**” said Jackie Brenneman, a founding partner of The Fithian Group. “With their leading technology, Vista Group’s support will help create new opportunities for filmmakers, exhibitors and audiences that might not otherwise exist.”

“Vista’s mission is to bring more people together to experience the magic of movies in cinema,” said Simon Burton, Vista Group’s Chief Film Officer. “We believe that supporting The Fithian Group with Vista’s technologies and solutions will create opportunities for rights holders, exhibitors and moviegoers”

*Between 2017-19 and 2022-23, the number of movies released fell by 26%. In these comparable time periods, the number of non-studio movies grossing $400K+ fell by 29%. This reduction contributed to a 38% decline in revenue and 47% admissions in this segment.

Even before the pandemic, a decline in the number of non-tentpole wide releases contributed to a decline in admissions and lost potential revenue. In the $50-100 million-grossing category alone, a 40% decline in the number of releases in 2019 compared to 2004, meant 261 million lost admissions and $1 billion in lost revenue annually. This is a huge market opportunity to match movie supply to what audiences have shown they want.

**Filmmakers and Film Organizations who have agreed to the us of their name and/or company in conjunction with the filmmaker “Attend” support statement

“We support Attend’s plan to revitalize independent film distribution and marketing through technology, transparency and respect for filmmakers and theatre owners. A modern, democratic, data-driven marketplace providing an efficient and effective way to distribute all genres of film directly to theatres and audiences is a vital need for our industry and art form. We look forward to using this important new tool for our work.”

(alphabetical by last name, or organizational name if only an organization)

• Chris Bender
• Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, Bona Fide Productions
• Juliet Berman, Spiral Stairs Entertainment
• Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal, Escape Artists
• Nina Yang Bongiovi, Significant Productions
• Effie Brown, Gamechanger
• Kristin Burr, Burr! Productions
• Anne Carey, Purple Pebble Pictures
• Susan Cartsonis and Suzanne Farwell, Resonate Entertainment
• Guymon Casady, Entertainment 360
• Liza Chasin
• Damien Chazelle and Olivia Hamilton, Wild Chickens
• Dylan Clark, Dylan Clark Productions
• Bruce Cohen, Bruce Cohen Productions
• Dan Levy Dagerman and Selina Ringel, Two Hands Productions
• Naomi Despres, Artina Films
• Dean Devlin, Electric Entertainment
• Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Di Bonaventura Pictures
• Jonathan Eirich, Rideback
• Marc Evans
• Erik Feig, Picturestart
• Bradley Fischer, Wise Owl Media
• Craig Flores, Bread & Circuses Entertainment
• Gary Foster, Gary Foster Productions, Inc.
• Brad Fuller, Platinum Dunes
• Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, Plan B
• Todd Garner, Broken Road Productions
• Howard Gertler, Little Punk
• Emile Gladstone, Latchkey
• Sarah Green, Brace Cove Productions
• Carla Hacken, Paper Pictures
• John Hall, Retinue Media
• Margot Hand, Picture Films
• Joe Hart, Hartland Studios
• Alex Heineman, The Picture Company
• David Hoberman, Hobie Films
• Ted Hope, HopeForFilm, Double Hope Films
• Leah Holzer, Defiant By Nature
• Gale Anne Hurd, Valhalla Entertainment
• Dan Janvey
• Patty Jenkins, Wicious Pictures
• Loretha Jones
• Caroline Kaplan
• Jonathan King
• Cathy Konrad, Tree Line Film
• David Koplan, Magnetic Fields Entertainment
• Karyn Kusama, Familystyle Film
• David Lancaster, Rumble Films
• Greg Lauritano, Black Magic
• Andrew Lazar, Mad Chance
• Laura Lewis, Rebelle Media
• Stephen Love, Made With Love Media
• Nimitt Mankad, Inimitable Pictures
• Andrew Miano, Depth of Field
• Rob McGillivray, Tip-Top Productions
• Tom McNulty, MC2 Entertainment
• Paul Mezey
• Kevin Misher, Misher Films
• Gil Netter, Netter Films
• Siena Oberman, Artemis Pictures
• Sev Ohanian, Proximity Media
• Bruna Papandrea, Made Up Stories
• Jamie Patricof, Hunting Lane Films
• Heather Rae, Iron Circle Pictures
• James Reatchlous, Two Daughters Entertainment
• Amy Redford, RedSkye Productions
• Nathan Ross, Lilyrose Productions
• Aaron Ryder, Ryder Picture Co.
• Peter Samuelson, Philmco Media
• Cathy Schulman, Welle Entertainment
• Jonathan Schwarz, Super Crispy Entertainment
• Stacey Sher
• Natalie Simpkins, 19Creative
• Steven Soderbergh, Extension 765
• Christina Steinberg, Locksmith Animation
• Laure Sudreau, Ouroboros Entertainment
• Lynette Howell Taylor, 51 Entertainment
• Bob Teitel, State Street Pictures
• Suzanne Todd
• Mark Vahradian, Di Bonaventura Pictures
• Monique Walton, Bluestack Media
• Kevin Walsh, The Walsh Co.
• Jim Whitaker – Whitaker Entertainment
• Janet Yang

About The Fithian Group
The Fithian Group partners with the creative community, movie theatre owners, leading research firms and innovators to bring custom, market-ready solutions to the global cinema marketplace.

The Fithian Group is led by passionate believers in the power of the movie theatre experience, with over 60 years in combined experience in the theatrical market. www.the-fithian-group.com