The Film Collaborative^™

Helping filmmakers with all aspects of distribution, without taking rights.

how we work.

Click here to learn how TFC can help your film.

The Film Collaborative^™

Helping filmmakers with all aspects of distribution, without taking rights.

how we work.

Click here to learn how TFC can help your film.

sign up for our newsletter.

submit your film.

Click here to fill out our submission form.

A-Z site links.

Something you can’t find? Check out our a-z links page.

questions?

Feel free to contact us.

THE FILM COLLABORATIVE, INC.
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Desire Lines

TFC is proud to be handling for Festival Distribution Jules Rosskam’s 2024 Sundance NEXT hybrid documentary, which expores the complexities of transmasculine desire.

Common Ground

TFC is honored handling Festivals for COMMON GROUND, which examines the dark web of money, power, and politics behind our broken food system.

Black Barbie

TFC is thrilled to have handled Festivals for Laguera Davis’s BLACK BARBIE, which, through intimate access to a Mattel insider, delves into how merchandise and representation have affected generations of Black women as they strive to elevate their own voices and stories.

Beyond the Agressives 25 Years Later

TFC is proud to offer for Festivals BEYOND THE AGGRESSIVES: 25 YEARS LATER, a film that revisits four of the original subjects from Daniel Peddle’s groundbreaking 2005 film The Agressives and discusses how much has evolved — including the language, culture and visibility of the transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming community — in the nearly 20 years since.

Deep Rising

Premiering at Sundance, DEEP RISING exposes the destructive machinations of a secretive organization empowered to extract massive amounts of metals from the deep seafloor. Narrated by Jason Momoa, this environmental doc features some of the most breathtaking images of deep-sea eco-systems you’ll ever see on screen.

All That Breathes

TFC is handing festivals for this Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Cannes L’Oeil D’or Prize-winning documentary about two New Dehli brothers who devote their lives to protecting one casualty of the turbulent times: the bird known as the black kite.

Oscar^® Nominee for Best Doc

Queendom

From the producers behind Welcome to Chechnya comes the haunting, high-stakes tale of Gena, a uniquely provocative queer artist from a small town in Russia prior to and during the Ukrainian invasion. This TFC Festival Distribution and Fiscal Sponsorship client recently won the NEXT:WAVE Award at CPH:DOX.

The Eternal Memory (La memoria infinita)

TFC is thrilled to be handling U.S. Festivals for MTV Documentary Films’ THE ETERNAL MEMORY, by Maite Alberdi (The Mole Agent), which won the World Cinema Jury Prize: Documentary at Sundance.

What Your Wish For

Orly Ravid co-handled North American sales for Nick Tomnay’s mystery/thriller starring Nick Stahl.

Mama Bears

Exploring the lives of three diverse mothers as they ferociously support and protect and their LGBTQ+ offspring, MAMA BEARS has clawed its way into over 125 festivals around the world! Directed by Daresha Kyi (Chavela) and will be broadcast in the U.S. on PBS’ “Independent Lens” this June.

Gumbo Coalition

TFC is honored to be handling festivals for GUMBO COALITION, directed by two-time Academy Award™-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple and follows two visionary Civil Rights leaders, Marc Morial and Janet Murguía, as they work to empower African American and Latino American communities through three turbulent years in America. Recently premiered at DOC NYC and IDFA.

Lilly

The Film Collaborative is proud to be the fiscal sponsor of LILLY, a dramatic feature film starring Patricia Clarkson based on the remarkable life of fair pay icon, Lilly Ledbetter. The film is currently in post-production.

Only in Theaters

TFC is handling the theatrical engagement for ONLY IN THEATERS, a new doc told through the lens of the beloved and historic Laemmle Theatre chain in Los Angeles as it confronts a changing landscape for theatrical exhibition.

Now Playing (only) in Theaters

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

Executive Produceed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and directed by Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro, MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES explores the life and musical career of the legendary drummer and activist, from the Jim Crow era to the Civil Rights years, from heady days of post-war jazz, clear to Hip Hop and beyond.

1946: The Mistranslation That Shaped Culture

TFC is handling Festivals for 1946, which highlights the erroneous translation of the term homosexual in the Bible that has been weaponized against the LGBTQIA+ community ever since.

recent news.

Join us on May 2 & 3 for TFC Distribution Days, a two-day virtual event with 8 sessions to help you demystify distribution. Presented in collaboration with Sundance Institute and Film Independent. Sponsored by the Golden Globe Foundation. Register for free here.

New Blog Post! Pat Murphy has written a terrific article on the downfall of what used to be one of TFC’s go-to distributors, Passion River, and what it portends for indie filmmakers.

Distribution Advocates Podcast Episodes 1 and 6 are now LIVE!!

Episode 1 features TFC Founder and Co-ED Orly Ravid, where she, and others, demystify the role of sales agents, and explore one filmmaker’s journey in finding distribution without one! Listen below or click here for more info and the full transcript. Episode 6 also features Orly Ravid, where she, and others, examine current system of distribution, and what can happen to filmmakers when a distribution company fails. Listen below or click here for more info and the full transcript.

…and the awards go to…

TFC congratulates our clients with projects that are contenders for top awards this year!

Oscars® Shortlist

(Nominations Jan. 23, 2024; Ceremony Mar. 10, 2024)

MTV Documentary Films’ THE ETERNAL MEMORY — Documentary Feature Film

MTV Documentary Films’ LAST SONG FROM KABUL — Documentary Short Film

MTV Documentary Films’ THE ABCs OF BOOK BANNING — Documentary Short Film

RED, WHITE AND BLUE — Live Action Short Film

Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations

(Ceremony Feb. 25, 2024)

THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY — John Cassavetes Award

JOONAM — director Sierra Urich, Truer Than Fiction Award

DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40 List, Class of 2023

Rachael Dyer • Director & Producer, MTV Documentary Films’ PAY OR DIE
Yoni Golijov • Producer, UNTITLED SURA MALLOUH PROJECT; Producer, WHO MOVES AMERICA
Camilla Hall • Co-Director, Writer, and Producer, SUBJECT; Executive Producer, BLACK BARBIE
Evan Mascagni • Director & Producer, BUILDING A BRIDGE
Hasan Oswald • Director & Producer, MEDIHA
Alex Schmider • Producer, CHANGING THE GAME; Associate Producer, DISCLOSURE, FRAMING AGNES, Producer, CHASING CHASING AMY
Sierra Urich • Director & Producer, JOONAM

Emmy News & Documentary Awards

(Ceremony took place on Sept. 28, 2023)

BARBARA KOPPLE — WINNER! — Lifetime Achievement Honors

HOW TO SURVIVE A PANDEMIC — WINNER! — Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary

(Also Nominated: WUHAN WUHAN • LET THE LITTLE LIGHT SHINE • NOT GOING QUIETLY • BODY PARTS)

Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations

(Ceremony took place on Nov. 12, 2023)

MTV Documentary Films’ THE ETERNAL MEMORY — Best Documentary Feature

MTV Documentary Films’ THE ABCs OF BOOK BANNING — Best Short Documentary

MTV Documentary Films’ LAST SONG FROM KABUL — Best Short Documentary

Gotham Awards

(Ceremony took place on Nov. 27, 2023)

THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY — WINNER! — Outstanding Lead Performance (Lily Gladstone)

IDA Documentary Awards

(Ceremony took place on Dec. 12, 2023)

THE ETERNAL MEMORY — WINNER! — Best Editing

MAX ROACH: THE DRUM ALSO WALTZES — WINNER! — Best Music Documentary

(Also Nominated: WHILE WE WATCHED)

Cinema Eye Honors

(Ceremony took place on Jan. 12 2024)

MTV Documentary Films’ THE ETERNAL MEMORY — WINNER! — Outstanding Direction (tie), The Unforgettables Honorees

WHILE WE WATCHED — WINNER! — The Unforgettables Honorees

See the last year’s list of our clients’ awards and nominations.

TFC on location.

Jeffrey Winter and Kathy Susca will be at the Independent Film Exhibition Conference IND/EX in Chicago, Illinois, June 25-28, 2024.
Orly Ravid will attend the Cannes Film Festival May 14-25, 2024.
The whole TFC team will be attending TFC's Distribution Days virtually, May 2-3, 2024.
Lynnette Gryseels will attend Hot Docs in Toronto, Canada, April 25-May 2, 2024.
Kathy Susca served on the Cream City Cinema Jury @ the Milwaukee Film Festival, April 11-25, 2024.
The whole TFC team was at IDA's 2024 Getting Real in Los Angeles, April 15-18, 2024.
Kathy Susca @ the Agora Film Market in Thessaloniki, Greece, March 11-13, 2024.
Jeffrey Winter @ Berlinale/EFM, February 15-25, 2024.
Jeffrey Winter will be on the Main Competition Jury at Watch Docs in Warsaw, Poland, December 1-10, 2023.

See where else we’ve been.

Fest and Furious:
Maximize your Film Festival Strategy

Film Fatales presented an online workshop led by TFC’s very own Jeffrey Winter and Kathy Susca and moderated by TFC client Lagueria Davis (Director/Producer, Black Barbie: A Documentary).

Watch

Reimagining Distribution

Don’t sign that crappy deal! There are other effective ways to make money with your film. TFC’s Orly Ravid, David Averbach and Kathy Susca joined Keith Ochwat of Show&Tell and Jon Reiss of 8 Above to address pitching to partners as a priority, utilizing government agencies for educational sales, selling virtual events and educational toolkits, and other new strategies that are working for filmmakers.

Watch

SXSW 2022

Orly Ravid moderated a panel entitled, “Go Beyond the Big Global Streamers—Funders/Buyers Outside the U.S.” Panelists included Wendy Bernfeld (Rights Stuff), Jaume Ripoll (FilmIN), and Filippa Wallestam (Viaplay).

Watch

Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC)

TFC Founder Orly Ravid and Director of Fiscal Sponsorship Lynnette Gryseels joined Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC) for a Q&A as part of WWFC’s virtual workshop series.

Watch

PBS Webinar

This special webinar by Keith Ochwat of Show&Tell provides an introduction to the PBS system and an actionable outline of how you can reach a large national audience and raise significant funding for your film.

Watch

AFM 2021

TFC Creative Director David Averbach moderated a marketing panel with Heidi Millay (Director of Marketing, Cinedigm), Emma Manfredi (Manager, Content Acquisitions, Giant Pictures), Ryan Davis (Co-Founder, Smarthouse Creative), Jitin Hingorani (Founder and Principle, Jingo Media) and Charles Rice (Social Media Manager | Strategy & Transformation, Rogers & Cowen PMK).

Watch

SXSW 2021

TFC’s Orly Ravid moderated panelists Wendy Bernfeld (Managing Director, Rights Stuff), filmmaker/producer Tracie Holder (who runs consulting company Means of Productions), and filmmaker Yi Chen (First Vote) in a discussion about which international VOD platforms and financial sources filmmakers can avail themselves of to achieve impact-oriented distribution.

Watch

Film Financing Panel

Orly Ravid moderated a panel of producers to discuss foreign tax incentives and credits and other international financing. Panelists included Alexander Nevsky (Hollywood Storm), Lauri Apelian (Ocean Sky Entertainment), Peter Graham (120dB Films and 120dB Advisors), and Jay Lin (Portico Media).

Watch

apply for

fiscal sponsorship.

check out the

digital distribution guide.

read the

tfc blog.

read our

distribution case studies.

check out the

distributor reportcard.

donate to a

fiscally sponored project.

see who we’ve worked with!

visit the tfc alumni page.

distripedia updates

We have recently added Good Deed Entertainment to our Distributor ReportCard™, which collates real experiences from real filmmakers, so that you can make informed decisions about which distributor might be the right fit for your film.

Dozens more planned for later this year—stay tuned!

Read Now

distripedia updates

The Implosion of Distributor Passion River… And What it Means for You

Read Now

distripedia updates

Episode 5 of :20 in ’22 is now available!

Orly Ravid interviews longtime TFC collaborative Wendy Bernfeld of RightsStuff about the latest trends in distribution in the EU and beyond, and some great advice to independent films looking to distribute across the pond.

Watch

distripedia updates

Latest Case Studies:

A Girl From Mogadishu, Team Marco, and That’s Wild.

Read Now

If your film premiered on the festival circuit after January 2020, has an interesting story to tell, and you’d like to help your fellow filmmakers learn from your successes (or failures), please fill out our submission form and check the “be a case study” checkbox.

newsletter.

Read our most recent monthly newsletters. You can sign up to receive them by clicking here.

January 2024
TFC On Location, Awards & Nominations, New ReportCard, Contribute to ResourcePlace, New Fiscal Projects, Grant Opportunities, and, of course, Tidbits!
December 2023
TFC On Location, Awards & Nominations, Theatrical and Streaming Releases, New Fiscal Sponsorship Projects, Grant Opportunities, and, of course, Tidbits!
November 2023
TFC On Location, New Blog Post on Passion River, DOC NYC 40 Under 40 List, Distribution Intensive, November Theatrical Releases, New Fiscal Sponsorship Projects, Grant Opportunities, and, of course, Tidbits!
October 2023
TFC On Location, Emmy News & Documentary Awards, October Theatrical Releases, New Fiscal Sponsorship Projects, Grant Opportunities, and, of course, Tidbits!

See all more of our recent newsletters here.

Subnavigation

The Film Collaborative™

how we work.

The Film Collaborative™

how we work.

sign up for our newsletter.

submit your film.

A-Z site links.

questions?

Desire Lines

Common Ground

Black Barbie

Beyond the Agressives 25 Years Later

Deep Rising

All That Breathes

Queendom

The Eternal Memory (La memoria infinita)

What Your Wish For

Mama Bears

Gumbo Coalition

Lilly

Only in Theaters

Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes

1946: The Mistranslation That Shaped Culture

recent news.

…and the awards go to…

Oscars® Shortlist

Film Independent Spirit Award Nominations

Emmy News & Documentary Awards

Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations

Gotham Awards

IDA Documentary Awards

Cinema Eye Honors

TFC on location.

Fest and Furious:Maximize your Film Festival Strategy

Reimagining Distribution

SXSW 2022

Women’s Weekend Film Challenge (WWFC)

PBS Webinar

AFM 2021

SXSW 2021

Film Financing Panel

apply for

fiscal sponsorship.

check out the

digital distribution guide.

read the

tfc blog.

read our

distribution case studies.

check out the

distributor reportcard.

donate to a

fiscally sponored project.

see who we’ve worked with!

visit the tfc alumni page.

distripedia updates

distripedia updates

distripedia updates

distripedia updates

newsletter.

The Film Collaborative^™

The Film Collaborative^™

Fest and Furious:
Maximize your Film Festival Strategy