Grassroots Outreach and Distribution for Independent Film With Caitlin Boyle

A presentation of Artspire, the Fiscal Sponsorship program of New York Foundation for the Arts
June 23, 2011

Movie theaters aren’t the only venues that exhibit films. Universities, museums, churches, restaurants, farms, and vacant lots are all hubs of an emerging market for independent films: community screenings. Over the past several years, community activism, grassroots screening tours, and crowd-generated publicity have emerged as dynamic and engaging distribution tools for filmmakers looking to create social impact through their films, while also building viewership and putting money back in the bank. What's needed to launch a successful grassroots-driven distribution campaign? How can filmmakers leverage the energy and enthusiasm of local activists, leaders, and student groups to draw audiences to their films? How can digital tools, electronic media, and bottom-up publicity create buzz around film projects even before the mainstream press catches on? Caitlin Boyle of New York-based grassroots distribution outfit Film Sprout discusses the strategy and tactics behind grassroots distribution.

SPEAKER:
Caitlin Boyle is founder and president of Film Sprout and a leading champion for grassroots and community distribution for independent documentaries. The architect of the national screening tours for the award-winning films King Corn, Pray the Devil Back to Hell and End of the Line, among others, Caitlin was previously on the news staff of NPR affiliates WFIU and WFUV, and on the production staff of the Emmy-winning PBS series WIDE ANGLE, where she first got excited about bringing great stories to audiences beyond urban America. Caitlin is a graduate of Columbia University and Indiana University Graduate School of Journalism. Her workshops and presentations on grassroots film distribution have rallied enterprising filmmakers at SXSW, Hot Docs, IFP, Sheffield Docs/Fest, and the Los Angeles Film Festival. She lives and works in New York City, where she enjoys serving on the board of Brooklyn’s UnionDocs micro-cinema and growing edibles on her fire escape.