Distribution – Film Info Details
Congratulations! We want to add your film to our collection!
Once your film has been accepted into Distribution, please:
1. Read the welcome letter below
2. Complete this form
3. Sign and return the contract we emailed you
4. Upload your film stills, filmmaker photo, film files and clips to our FTP server (WFG’s FTP Login Instructions)
5. Deliver any hard materials to us such as Blu-rays, DVDs or other screening formats
6. Buy or renew your membership
Welcome to the wonderful world of WFG Distribution!
WHO WE ARE
The Distribution Department consists of Monica Lowe, Distribution Director (monica@winnipegfilmgroup.com) and Niki Little, Distribution Coordinator (niki@winnipegfilmgroup.com).
Niki is in charge of most of the submissions but Monica may be in contact with you from time to time. You can use our direct emails or distribution@winnipegfilmgroup.com goes to both of us.
FILMMAKER DISTRIBUTOR RELATIONSHIP
We pride ourselves on offering a professional and personal touch to the artists who place their work with us. Niki will connect with you regarding what kinds of festivals you would like to submit to and keep an ongoing open dialogue around that.
WHAT DOES HAVING THE WFG AS A FILM DISTRIBUTOR MEAN?
The WFG is a non-exclusive distributor of all independent film and video genres. Your film may be submitted to local, national and international film festivals, various broadcasters, galleries, artist-run centres, cinemas, educational institutions and a variety of other presenting organizations. You also ensure that your work gains a permanent catalogue entry in the history of Canadian independent film and video.
We seek out screenings, new opportunities, exposure and artist fees for the filmmakers we represent. We also sell DVDs on our online store to individuals, community groups, schools, universities and public libraries and initiate our own curated programs, packages and a variety of special opportunities for the films in our collection.
ARTIST FEES
Whenever possible we will submit to venues that pay artists fees for the work they screen, although we do occasionally submit to some that do not, especially if we think it will be career building. Our main priority will be festivals and venues that pay however. Any revenue we make on your behalf will be divided up as a 70/30 split in favour of the artist. Any artist fees collected are paid out every 6 months, in Jan/Feb and July/Aug, minus any entry fees that you agree to beforehand.
If you do not want to be submitted anywhere that does not pay artist fees please let us know and we can accommodate that. We usually get IMAA (or sometimes CARFAC) rates but sometimes get less depending on where the venue is. We always ask if venues can pay and try to work out the best deal for our artists.
WHY SHOULD YOU DISTRIBUTE YOUR FILM WITH US?
Researching screening opportunities, filling out online forms and mailing submissions around the world can be time consuming and expensive. We are dedicated to building new audiences for the films we distribute as well as seeking out revenue for you and your film.
We continuously send out and submit our short films to a wide variety of regional, national and international screening venues, and often receive entry fee waivers or discounts on submissions as well as submission requests. We have built a reputation as a well-respected film distributor over the past 30+ years.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
We are constantly looking for alternative projects that your film could be a part of and initiate our own in-house special initiatives that provide exposure and artist fees. For example, in 2014 the Winnipeg Film Group completed a project called “Finding Focus, Framing Canadian Métis and Fist Nations on Film”. “Finding Focus” is a resource guide distributed to high school educators that features 15 chapters, each focusing on a short film dealing with Métis and First Nations issues. The project was extremely successful and we hope that we can continue to further this series in the future.
The Winnipeg Film Group is also engaged in a new, large-scale initiative to build an online distribution platform in coalition with seven other independent media arts distributors across Canada called VUCAVU. The Coalition is comprised of eight renowned independent Canadian media arts distributors who have mobilized together to develop a shared national digital platform to increase visibility of and access to Canadian independent film and video and the artists they represent. Together, the eight groups have over 12,000 titles in our combined catalogues. This initiative is supported in large part through the Canada Council for the Arts – Media Arts Section. The platform, www.VUCAVU.com, will rent and sell a robust cross-section of independent media artworks, making thousands of works available to its targeted audiences. We select films from our catalogue to be a part of this new platform and would love to include yours.
Finally, we do get a number of specific catalogue requests for programming that are highlighted through various festivals, screenings, and projects around the world. We have a great reputation and relationship with programmers and are proud of it.
Well that should cover the big picture of what we will do for you and your film. If you have any additional questions please let us know. We can also set up a phone conversation for next week to discuss further any questions you may have for us.
Chi-miigs!
Niki + Monica
