exhibition & distribution related links: exhibition & distribution - feature films Useful organisations and websites for feature film distribution and exhibition.

Film Distributors' Association
The Film Distributors' Association (FDA) is the trade body of the UK's theatrical film distributors. The FDA website - called Launching Films - contains a wealth of information about UK distribution:
www.launchingfilms.com

Despite the intensely competitive market, new distribution companies emerge every year in the UK. Here are the current main players:

Artificial Eye
Specialises in high-quality world cinema and arthouse movies and rarely buys British. In the past 30 years it has released more Cannes Film Festival winners than any other UK distributor.
Titles include: Three Colours Trilogy, Hidden, Welcome To The Dollhouse
UK titles include: Orlando, Land & Freedom
www.artificial-eye.com

Buena Vista International (UK) Ltd
A subsidiary of the Disney empire, Buena Vista is best known for its mainstream fare (most notably the Disney/Pixar animations and Jerry Bruckheimer productions). However, it also releases low-budget UK movies, including Kinky Boots, I Want Candy and Hallam Foe.
Titles include: Sin City, Pirates Of The Caribbean
UK titles include: Breaking And Entering, Calendar Girls, Venus
www.thefilmfactory.co.uk

Contender Films
With its DVD arm the leading independent DVD distributor in the UK, Contender Films has also recently launched a theatrical strand. The company was also recently acquired by Entertainment One.
Titles include: The City Of Violence, Shutter
UK titles include: Daddy's Girl, A Very British Gangster
www.contendergroup.com

ContentFilm
Film and television sales company which has also recently started distributing movies within the UK.
Titles include: The Man Who Sued God; Slap Her, She's French
UK titles include: Lava, Triggermen
www.contentfilm.com

Dogwoof
A leading distributor of independent films, focusing largely on ethical and political documentaries.
Titles include: The Devil Came On Horseback, La Antena, The Nameless
UK titles include: Black Gold, The Age Of Stupid
www.dogwoof.com

Entertainment
The largest independent distributor in the UK, Entertainment has enjoyed a fruitful (and prosperous) relationship with US mini-studio New Line for many years. It also releases mainstream UK fare, both theatrically and via Entertainment-in-Video.
Titles include: Rush Hour, Brokeback Mountain, The Departed
UK titles include: Stormbreaker, St Trinian's

Eros Films
The UK's biggest distributor of Bollywood movies.
Titles include: Salaam-E-Ishq, Namastey London, Cheeni Kum
www.erosentertainment.com

Guerilla Films
A unique UK distributor which deals exclusively with British and Irish films, both theatrically and on DVD. Films released over the years include serial killer pic White Angel (1993) and romantic comedy Understanding Jane (1998).
UK titles include: Frozen, The Truth, Cheeky
www.guerilla-films.com

Icon Film Distribution UK
Part of the Icon Group - an international film production, sales, marketing and distribution company started by Mel Gibson in the 90s. Specialises in slightly off-centre indie pics.
Titles include: Apocalypto, I Heart Huckabees
UK titles include: Starter For Ten, It's A Boy/Girl Thing
www.iconmovies.co.uk

Lionsgate UK
Lionsgate is a California-based independent producer and distributor. In 2005 it acquired UK-based distributor Redbus Films, renaming the company Lionsgate UK. The company is strong on horror, documentaries and foreign language pics. The old Redbus Films also had a UK production arm, enjoying worldwide success with Bend It Like Beckham.
Titles include: Requiem For A Dream, Monster's Ball, Crash
UK titles include: The Descent, Pierrepoint
www.lionsgatefilms.co.uk

Metrodome Group
A leading independent theatrical film and DVD distributor, particularly strong on indie overseas titles.
Titles include: Donnie Darko, Lilya 4 Ever, Echo Park LA
UK titles include: Last Orders, Shooting Dogs
www.metrodomegroup.com

Momentum Pictures
Momentum started in 2000 and now releases around 20 titles a year, theatrically as well as a number of DVD titles.
Titles include: Lost In Translation, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, The Lives Of Others
UK titles include: Vera Drake, Inside I'm Dancing, Control
www.momentumpictures.co.uk

The Movies Club
TheMoviesClub was setup early 2008 as a microfinance initiative. It is a co-operative that lets movie fans buy independent movie rights, and manage the release at cinemas and on DVD. The club is owned, funded and managed online entirely by its members.
www.themoviesclub.com

Optimum Releasing
Bought by French media giant Canal Plus in 2005, Optimum is known for releasing independent and foreign language films, including the contract to release all Studio Ghibli films in the UK. It also has a distribution deal in place with new low-budget Brit label Warp X.
Titles include: Inland Empire, Elephant, Spirited Away
UK titles include: Lawless Heart, This Is England
www.optimumreleasing.com

Palisades Tartan
Hamish McAlpine established Tartan, the arthouse and world cinema specialist, in the 80s and it became one of the UK's most successful independent distributors. The company has since gone into administration and is now owned by the Palisades Media Group.
Titles include: The Idiots, Battle Royale, Silent Light
UK titles include: Brothers Of The Head, Ghosts
www.tartanvideo.com

Paramount
When UIP decided to break up its worldwide distribution operation in 2006, Paramount and Universal went their separate ways. Fed by its illustrious US studio, Paramount deals almost exclusively with mainstream Hollywood fare.
Titles include: An Inconvenient Truth, Babel, Transformers
UK titles include: Flushed Away
www.paramountpictures.co.uk

Pathe Distribution
Arguably the biggest producer of movies within the UK (despite its French roots), Pathe is a long-established distributor. As well as the expected French titles, the company has also produced hits such as Mrs Henderson Presents and Severance.
Titles include: Volver, Transamerica, Perfume
UK titles include: Enduring Love, The Queen, Outlaw
www.pathe.co.uk

Revolver Entertainment
Upcoming distributor which handles indie/world cinema films and documentaries for theatrical distribution. Their DVD catalogue is more varied and includes comedy, extreme sport, fitness and special interest titles.
Titles include: Grizzly Man, Jindabyne
UK titles include: Kidulthood, Tideland, Taking Liberties
www.revolvergroup.com

Shooting People Films
The filmmaking community Shooting People set up a new distribution label in December 2005. The label is aimed at distributing films by first time feature directors. As well as features they also launched a short film DVD series called Best v Best.
Titles include: Unknown White Male, KZ
www.shootingpeoplefilms.com

Slingshot
New kid on the distribution block, producing and distributing its own low-budget British movies, all shot digitally.
UK titles include: Sugarhouse, French Film
www.slingshot-studios.com

Soda Pictures
UK-based film distributor that specialises in indie and world cinema pics, with occasional low-budget Brit releases.
Titles include: After The Wedding, Frostbite
UK titles include: Song Of Songs, everything
www.sodapictures.com

Sony Pictures International
Distribution arm of media giant, which deals almost exclusively with films produced in-house.
Titles include: Spider-Man, Hostel, The Da Vinci Code
UK titles include: Casino Royale
www.sonypictures.co.uk

Twentieth Century Fox
Part of the News Corporation media empire, and home to a host of movies produced by the legendary Hollywood studio. Fox Searchlight provides some indie cred.
Titles include: Star Wars, Die Hard, The Simpsons Movie
UK titles include: Confetti, The Last King Of Scotland, Notes On A Scandal
www.fox.co.uk

Universal
Although it's the UK distribution arm of the venerable Hollywood studio, Universal also releases all of Working Title's films - making it the most successful distributor of UK movies.
Titles include: The Holiday, The Good Shepherd
UK titles include: Children Of Men, Hot Fuzz, Magicians
www.universalpictures.co.uk

Vertigo Films
Production and distribution company, founded in July 2002 to make - and later distribute - low budget and genre-driven pics. Director Nick Love (The Football Factory) is one of the company's lynchpins.
UK titles include: London To Brighton, Outlaw, Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten
www.vertigofilms.com

Verve Pictures
Independent UK specialist film distributor, with particular emphasis on British and independent films. Off-shoot Drakes Avenue distributes indie films on DVD, with a special interest in contemporary arthouse and foreign films.
UK titles include: Bullet Boy, Red Road, The Flying Scotsman
www.vervepics.com

Warner Bros
The UK distribution arm of the Hollywood giant is best known these days for bringing the seven Harry Potter movies to cinemas. It also releases a mixture of mainstream and indie fare, the latter through its Warner Independent Pictures label.
Titles include: Superman Returns, Blood Diamond, 300
UK titles include: Harry Potter, Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution
www.warnerbros.co.uk

The Works UK Distribution
Although primarily a worldwide sales agent, The Works has recently launched its own distribution arm.
Titles include: Ten Canoes
UK titles include: The Killing Of John Lennon
www.warnerbros.co.uk

An average of 3.7 million tickets were sold every week in the UK in 2006. Exhibitors in the UK are split between the dominant multiplexes and specialist (aka arthouse) cinemas. The main players in the UK are Cineworld, Odeon Cinemas, Showcase, and Vue Entertainment. Although the multiplexes specialise in Hollywood fodder, many an indie filmmaker has successfully approached their local exhibitor in a bid to get their movie screened.

AMC Cinemas
www.amccinemas.co.uk

Apollo Cinemas
www.apollocinemas.co.uk

Cineworld
www.cineworld.co.uk

Caledonian Cinemas
www.caledoniancinemas.co.uk

Independent Cinema Office
www.independentcinemaoffice.org.uk

Odeon
www.odeon.co.uk

Picturehouse Cinemas
www.picturehouses.co.uk

Screen Cinemas
www.screencinemas.co.uk

Showcase Cinemas
www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

Vue
www.myvue.com

See also our main related links section

For tips on moving into feature filmmaking, see our filmmaking guide: moving into features

For case studies with UK filmmakers and crew on their routes into the industry, see our filmmaking guide: case studies

If you spot (or work for) an organisation that is not listed in any of the related links sections of the guide and that you feel should be, please email us a link and information. NB - As space is limited, unfortunately we do have to be fairly selective and can’t guarantee to include every suggestion that we receive.

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