Getting Back to Normal
Getting ready for Sundance, upcoming events, Kinema's new channel and defending women's rights in Iran.
We are not evacuated anymore, and our power is back on but with red flag warnings resuming, I’m in Northern California - trying to acclimate our cat into staying at my mom’s house (so far it spends18 hours a day hiding in a closet) and bringing our dog to my son on my way to Sundance. Even with all of the loss over the past weeks, two large losses in film still resonate. Earlier this month, long time independent film champion Josh Welsh left us way too soon. Then last week David Lynch followed. Lynch was an incredible inspiration to me ever since my mind was cracked open watching Eraserhead at the legendary Strand Theater in San Francisco. Not surprisingly, months later I am selling popcorn at the Strand seeing everything from El Topo to Salo to 8 1/2 at one of the world’s premiere rep houses as I began my nascent career. Back then San Francisco had a plethora of rep houses in addition to neighborhood theaters playing a wide variety of films and genres. The Clay would only screen film noir for months and months and months. We would map out a schedule so that we could drive madly from theater to theater seeing four to five films in a day.
Starting this Thursday week I’ll again be running theater to theater (with some gatherings/events in between) getting re-inspired by cinema and re-connecting with community in Park City.
Below, find the sign up for our first webinar of 2025 with Alan d’Escragnolle from Film Hub revealing how much money filmmakers are making on YouTube AVOD and what strategies are working; Kinema’s new podcast on successful distribution, Portrait’s Sundance Guide, Dear Producer’s Sundance Roundtable. But first and most important:
Free Reza Khandan
At the tail end of the pandemic, we supervised the release of filmmakers' Jeff Kaufman and Marcia Ross’ documentary Nasrin about imprisoned Iranian human and woman’s rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh. Now the Iranian government has arrested and imprisoned her husband, Reza Khandan, also for supporting women’s rights in Iran. He is now serving an over 3-year sentence in the notorious Evin Prison. Reza is a friend and a incredible individual who steadfastly supported his wife’s courageous work. PLEASE sign and share the FREE REZA petition! (Related - if you haven’t seen Seed of the Sacred Fig by exiled Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof, I highly recommend it - its one of the best films of the year).
Talking to Kinema about Distribution Goals
Kinema just launched: Have You Seen My Film? a series of conversations on successful film distribution. I’m excited to be talking about distribution goals - again! (not to mention Christie and I are super charming) Besides me - Barbara Twist talks Windowing, Pulkit Datta and Peter Broderick talk Hybrid Distribution with more on the way. Christie does so much for our community - and she is a great interviewer - check it out!
Earning Revenue on Youtube AVOD with Filmhub’s Alan d’Escragnolle
Join us on February 6th at 1pm PT/4pm ET to see how YouTube Movies and TV has emerged as a dominant revenue stream for filmmakers. Alan will outline Filmhub’s best practices and open the hood to reveal transparent numbers. I’ve had a number of chats with Alan about this topic - and I’m excited about its potential and how this can affect filmmakers’ bottom line. Hope to see you there.
Portrait at Sundance
Our friends at Portrait Creative Network have launched a Park City Guide for members attending Sundance. (BTW - we are co-hosting Portrait’s Sundance Party) They've curated a special site of panels, parties and lounges that Portrait members get special access to. Portrait had so many partners who wanted to share exclusive entry to their events, they decided to bring it together in one place. Request access HERE. (and if you haven’t joined Portrait yet - what are you waiting for?)
Producers Roundtable at Sundance 2025
Huge fan of Dear Producer - which you should all be subscribing to. Dear Producer is hosting a virtual webinar to bring together producers who have films premiering at the 2025 festival to discuss their experience at this year’s event and to collectively analyze the current acquisitions climate and the role festivals play in the life of a film.
Moderated by Rebecca Green, join Colleen Cassingham (LIFE AFTER, U.S. Documentary Competition), Chester Algernal Gordon (MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE, Premieres), Roger Mancusi (BUNNYLOVR, U.S. Dramatic Competition), and Alisa Payne (THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR, U.S. Documentary Competition), for this in-depth conversation.
Until next time.