• FDA logo

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

Discover how your favourite films make it to your local cinema or television screen, through the film distribution process.

24,383 enrolled on this course

Audience in a cinema watching a film

Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences

24,383 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Get an introduction to how the UK film business works

With over 800 films a year being released, the choice for cinema goers is massive and ever-changing. How do we, as members of the film audience, find out about films? What methods are available to film distributors to attract our attention to specific films in the digital age? In such a crowded marketplace, how do films find their audiences?

Through this online course, you’ll discover the ways in which films make their way to cinemas and beyond through the film distribution process. You’ll find out how film distributors play a pivotal role in connecting films with audiences.

Skip to 0 minutes and 5 seconds DAVID PUTTNAM: Hello, I’m David Puttnam. I’ve spent many, many years of my life as a filmmaker, a film producer. And I had certain amount success, but I certainly enjoyed those 30 years, as no other point in my life. I’m also, happily, the president of the Film Distributors’ Association of Great Britain. And that gives me a fantastic insight into what’s happening in film distribution. I had it, as it were, as a collaborator, participant, for 30 years. For the last 10 years, I’ve had this wonderful, wonderful bird’s-eye view of what’s happening in distribution as distribution has moved from an analogue to a digital age. It’s been very, very enjoyable. I’ve learned a lot.

Skip to 0 minutes and 44 seconds And part of what I learned is, I hope, going be contained in the series of lessons– the series of weeks that you’re going to spend learning all about the exciting world of film distribution.

What topics will you cover?

  • Who the target audience(s) for a film will be. The many considerations include comparison with recent films of a similar genre. Defining the target audience will affect the ‘when’ and ‘how’ of the marketing campaign.
  • How distributors will advertise and promote the film and how much to spend on these activities.
  • When the film will open in cinemas – the distributor will carefully track the competitors’ release schedules, as well as all sorts of wider public/media events, aiming to ensure that they do not go head to head with similar types of film or major distractions for the target audience.
  • What sets this film apart from all the other films on release at around the same time? Distributors look for a film’s ‘selling points’ – its stars, director, genre, awards/nominations, based on a bestselling book or game, and more.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply your own experiences of film consumption to the methods of film distribution.
  • Identify the key decisions made in the distribution business process, and gain a greater understanding of how the UK film business operates.
  • Compare the ways in which different types of films are distributed in the UK.
  • Discuss the apparent effectiveness of different types of film campaigns.
  • Reflect on the various ways in which audiences consume films and investigate the effects that the experience of consumption have on the mode of consumption.
  • Explore the different ways in which films are brought to the attention of potential audiences – the differences between advertising and promotion.

Who is the course for?

This course is aimed at anyone interested in the world of film and film distribution, but may be of particular interest to students and teachers of media and film studies.

Who will you learn with?

Ian is a teacher, author, producer, screenwriter and director and has worked on a number of European projects, including the Framework for Film Education. He has won 2 BAFTA's.

Who developed the course?

Film Distributors' Association

Film Distributors’ Association Ltd. (FDA) is the trade body for theatrical film distributors in the UK - the companies that release films for UK cinema audiences.

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$134/one-off payment

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLFilmDistribution to talk about this course on social media.