Last week we hosted filmmaker Sandi DuBowski for a deep dive into the theatrical release of his extraordinary new documentary Sabbath Queen (note - 8 Above were the theatrical distributors for the film). The conversation peeled back the curtain on a 20-year filmmaking journey and a release strategy that’s been nothing short of groundbreaking.
This wasn’t just a discussion about numbers or dates. It was a meditation on patience, community, and the possibility of building a theatrical release on your own terms—one that continues to evolve nearly a year after the world premiere.
A Long-Tail Release that Defied Convention
Unlike an all too common short theatrical window or even the traditional/resurgent 90 day theatrical window, Sabbath Queen has been steadily rolling out for nearly a year since November 2024—and is still going strong. As DuBowski explained, the goal was never to hit fast and fade out:
“I wanted to really create a very face-to-face, people-powered movement of the movie, from community to community.”
That vision has powered an extended theatrical run that has already generated over $110,000 at the box office. More importantly, it’s created a steady rhythm of screenings that continue to deepen the film’s resonance and expand its reach.
Partnerships & Eventized Screenings
What sets this release apart is the way DuBowski and his team eventized nearly every screening—transforming the act of going to the movies into something much bigger.
“It was like a package experience. Oh, the Sabbath Queen Cruise is coming to town—you see the film, then you have a ritual feast, then a deeper discussion. It really increased partnerships.”
Partnerships ranged from houses of worship offering space to restaurants hosting Shabbat dinners, to what came to be called “Soul Spa” events—Saturday daytime rituals with contemplative music and reflection.
“As much as I could get [the subject of the film Rabbi Amichai] on the road was great, but eventually he wanted to do something deeper than just a Q&A. So we created rituals—Friday night feasts, soul spas, communal gatherings—that infused the screenings with meaning.”
This approach made each stop feel like a cultural happening rather than a transactional screening, and it kept audiences coming back.
Festivals + Theatrical, Side by Side
Sabbath Queen premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2024 and has played in over ____ festivals since. This caused the festival run to overlap with the theatrical rollout. This created both opportunities and significant challenges.
“Pretty early into the festival release, we knew this was really going to be a long theatrical release… I didn’t know exactly how that would unfold, but it became clear this was the path.”
Festivals helped amplify buzz and gave the film credibility, but they also complicated booking and logistics. The key takeaway: with intention and careful coordination, a film can harness the energy of both festivals and theatrical to feed each other, rather than compete.
As more filmmakers realize that it is important to capitalize on the awareness generated from festivals - we are finding more and more films wanting to overlap the festival release and theatrical (and now some even start community/educational early). This is a challenge for a two main reasons - and is not for the faint of heart or an inexperienced team:
Scheduling Conflicts Part 1: Festivals generally want premieres in their cities - so if a festival is pending in a location - booking theatrical needs to wait - just as community/educational needs to wait till after theatrical. This creates a lot of finessing with theaters that want to generally book closer to the launch of the release when press tends to be heightened.
Scheduling Conflicts Part 2 - Filmmakers want to be at the festivals and theatrical events - and they can’t be in two places at once of course. This creates crazy filmmaker travel calendars.
Control Over Your Distribution
Throughout the conversation, DuBowski kept returning to values—why he made these choices and what he wanted them to accomplish.
“I wanted power and control over my own films’ distribution. I wanted to transform hearts and minds, and generate revenue in the process.”
That balance of impact + independence has been central. DuBowski was clear that if he had simply turned the film over to a traditional distributor, the release would have looked very different—faster, narrower, and far less personal. The long dinners, the rituals, the “Soul Spas,” the deep conversations with audiences—none of that would have been possible.
Sandi was able to raise philanthropic money for education and impact which helped fund the impact driven release.
By keeping control, he was able to shape every screening into an encounter with the community, not just a box-office transaction. The result is not only a financially successful release, but one that has grown a loyal audience connected to the film’s message and spirit.
And importantly, the release is still ongoing. DuBowski has no plans to rush the film to digital. When asked about streaming, his answer was simple:
“Maybe 2026, maybe 2027.”
By intentionally holding back digital, he’s allowed the theatrical and community screenings to fully breathe—proving that a film can have a long and meaningful life in cinemas and communal spaces before ever going online.
The Takeaway for Filmmakers
What Sabbath Queen illustrates is that distribution doesn’t have to follow a prescribed path. You can:
Slow down the rollout rather than race through it.
Embrace Why You Made The Film - Sandi wanted to have intense experiences with audiences over a long period of time - before considering letting the film live online - in large part disconnecting him from his audience.
Collect Audience Data - Sandi was diligent in collecting emails from audiences to stay connected and add to his burgeoning email list, doing it old school passing out clipboards with sign up sheets. This is about maintaining a life long relationship with audiences which Sandi has been doing since he released Trembling Before G-d in 2001. I am continually surprised at how many filmmakers still do not do this. Pro Tip: in your email collection form - use a box for each letter or symbol of the email part of the form. This encourages people to write legibly.
Eventize screenings with rituals, food, music, and community gatherings.
Lean into partnerships with organizations, houses of worship, and cultural spaces.
Raise Money for Distribution - Don’t assume that a company else will come in to handle all the marketing and distribution for your film - certainly not in the way that you feel is best.
If you have an experienced team - consider overlapping festivals and theatrical in a way that amplifies momentum.
Preserve power by holding off on digital until the time is right.
The value of this model isn’t just the dollars—it’s the relationships and impact cultivated along the way.
Why This Matters
This case study is a must-watch for filmmakers, exhibitors, and community organizers who want to rethink what a release can look like. From “Soul Spa” events to sustained partnerships, Sandi DuBowski shows how to transform distribution into a living, breathing movement.
The Librarians Opens Today in NY - And is a NYT Critic’s Pick!
The Librarians opens at the Film Forum today before moving onto more than 70 cities across the US and Canada - and the press has been tremendous.
From the New York Times Critic’s Pick
At stake are First Amendment rights, and the librarians are shown as the vanguard of efforts to protect them.… Several of the women featured in “The Librarians” were fired for refusing to remove books from shelves — or sometimes for merely asking questions about the directive to do so. The sense of emergency makes the profiles in courage all the more heartening. From its superb opening-credits sequence paying tribute to card catalogs of yore to its sharp selection of vintage clips and intimate reportage, “The Librarians” is as well-crafted as it is profoundly alarming.
From The Guardian
“Incredibly principled and brave, the librarians talk about their vocation and standing up for the young people for whom libraries are a safe space where they can discover their identity in the pages of books.” - The Guardian
CNN featured The Librarians on The Lead, noting it as part of the urgent national debate over book bans in schools.
“This isn’t just a local library fight — it’s a front line in America’s cultural and educational battles.” - CNN
New York, NY – Film Forum (Oct 3–16) Tickets
Los Angeles, CA – Laemmle Royal, NoHo, Claremont, Town Center, Glendale (from Oct 9) Tickets
San Francisco, CA – Roxie Theater Tickets
Boston/Brookline, MA – Coolidge Corner Theatre Tickets
Chicago, IL – Gene Siskel Film Center
Portland, OR – Cinema 21
Houston, TX – MFAH - SOLD OUT
Dallas, TX – Texas Theatre
Cleveland, OH – Cedar Lee Theatre
Check out the official website’s screenings page to find a theater near you
