Power to the Pixel: The Digital Distribution Forum for Independents was a ground-breaking one-day forum that took place on 26th October 2007, at the BFI Southbank in association with the London Film Festival.

It connected the film community with key innovators of the digital revolution who are pioneering new ways of distributing, marketing and financing independent films.

Leading filmmakers, entrepreneurs, networks and companies creating cutting-edge distribution strategies shared their expertise on the latest digital tools and practices that are transforming the film business.

A big thanks to all the speakers for such inspiring and insightful presentations, to WiseGuy Pictures for filming the conference and to all our partners.

Here’s the programme with links to videos of all the sessions.

9.15 – 10.00
REGISTRATION, TEA & COFFEE

10.00 – 10.15
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Sandra Hebron – Artistic Director, London Film Festival
Liz Rosenthal – Director, Power to the Pixel
WATCH VIDEO

10.15 – 10.45
IS THEATRICAL DEAD?
Opening Statement
Veteran indie distributor and producer Ira Deutchman discusses the need for theatrical release and its potential relevance (or lack thereof) in the digital age.
Ira Deutchman – President, Emerging Pictures
WATCH VIDEO

10.45 – 11.15
AUDIENCE AND DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION
Presentation
What do they want and what are the challenges facing the film industry?
Peter Buckingham – Head of Distribution and Exhibition, UK Film Council
WATCH VIDEO

11.15 – 11.30
BREAK

11.30 – 13.00
THE NEW DISTRIBUTORS
Presentations and Roundtable discussion
Leading innovators discuss a range of new opportunities and services available to filmmakers and rights holders.
WATCH VIDEO OF COMPLETE SESSION
Moderator: Michael Gubbins – Editor, Screen International & Screendaily.com
David Straus & Joe Neulight – Co-founders, Withoutabox – WATCH VIDEO
Paula le Dieu – Managing Director, Magic Lantern – WATCH VIDEO
Sara Pollack – Film and Animation Manager, YouTube – WATCH VIDEO
Kelly De Vine – Content Consultant, The Reframe Project -WATCH VIDEO

13.00 – 14.00
LUNCH BREAK

14.00 – 14.20
ROBERT GREENWALD & BRAVE NEW FILMS & IRAQ FOR SALE
Virtual Speaker: Robert Greenwald, Filmmaker
Introduced by Liz Rosenthal, Director, Power to the Pixel
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and activist Robert Greenwald describes how he and his team at Brave New Films finance and distribute their films to an audience of millions, independent of mainstream media.
WATCH VIDEO

14.20 – 14.55
DISTRIBUTION CASE STUDY: FOUR EYED MONSTERS
Presentation
The filmmakers behind the award-winning cult film and podcast series Four Eyed Monsters describe the self distribution route they created.
Arin Crumley & Susan Buice, Filmmakers
WATCH VIDEO

14.55 – 15.30
DISTRIBUTION CASE STUDY: HEAD TRAUMA
Presentation
Hear how director Lance Weiler planned the promotion and distribution of his second feature Head Trauma using no cost online tools to create a huge buzz around the DIY digital theatrical tour and DVD release.
Lance Weiler, Filmmaker
WATCH VIDEO

15.30 – 15.40
BREAK

15.40 – 16.00
DV8: A NEW PRODUCTION MODEL FROM AFRICA
Presentation
Jeremy Nathan, digital production pioneer and CEO of DV8, talks about the opportunities and challenges of digital distribution from an African perspective.
Jeremy Nathan, Producer
WATCH VIDEO

16.00 – 16.20
CINEMA 2.0 CASE STUDY: A SWARM OF ANGELS
Presentation
A Swarm Of Angels is an open source film project, whose aim is to make the world’s first Internet-funded, crewed and distributed feature film.
Matt Hanson, Filmmaker
WATCH VIDEO

16.20 – 17.00
ADVENTURES IN SELF-DISTRIBUTION
Five trail-blazing filmmakers discuss the opportunities for, and future potential of self distribution.
Liz Rosenthal, Arin Crumley & Susan Buice, Lance Weiler, Jeremy Nathan, Matt Hanson
WATCH VIDEO

17.00 – 20.00
POWER TO THE PIXEL DRINKS PARTY
Riverside Rooms, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1