🍿 What does 'distribution' even mean right now?
We're asking a lot of questions (and we want to hear from you) as we prepare for 2026's list and sharing a bunch of updates from 2024 & 2025 TPL films who continue their journeys!
Note: It’s been a few weeks since we published…and now as the year winds down, and we took a quick break, we’re back at it. NGL, committing to a weekly post is hard, so major KUDOS to all of you who do it on the daily. What are your best tips and tricks for this regularity?
Over here at TPL, we’re mining through the data from the inaugural Pop Up Series - there’s a lot of POV’s to consider: filmmakers (with in-person screenings), filmmakers (with virtual screenings), audience feedback, exhibitor feedback, partner feedback; budgets, box office reports, marketing & social analytics, anecdotal feedback…and figuring out how to parse it into an engaging and accessible report. We’ll definitely have this case study out in the world before the holiday break - wrapped in the prettiest Canva bow possible.
🍿 As we look towards 2026’s TPL, which launches in January, we have to ask, in THIS moment, “what does it mean to have distribution?” and “what does it mean not to have distribution?” And which option is actually better? We’re thinking about things like: Do you retain all of your rights? Are you the one steering the ship for your films’ release strategy and making every decision? Are you the one paying for marketing? What IS the best case scenario for indie films looking for wide release right now? We’d love to hear what you’re thinking! Drop a comment, please!
Anecdotally, a couple of different film teams we’ve spoken to over the last month have said basically the EXACT same thing to us: “it was easier making the film than it has been getting it out into the world.” And we all know how damn hard it is to make a movie. But it seems we’re getting wiser to the systems at play, we’re seeing creative solutions pop up everywhere; and while we may not have to reinvent the wheel every time, we also need to keep in mind that every film’s strategy WILL be different - so we must remain persistent and passionate. And if seeking alternate pathways for your film is not something you LOVE doing, find someone who can help, who does love it. There are lots of people doing this work right now.
Simultaneously, we’re keeping tabs on 2024 & 2025 TPL Films - see below for film news - their journeys are interesting tells. Some are hitting VOD, some of the 2024 films are doing awards-qualifying runs, some are still playing festivals, which just reminds us once again that no matter how you look at it (and believe us, we’re looking at distribution much differently than we were in Spring 2024), indie/NonDē distribution remains a marathon. (As noted below - in the “Film Journey” for each film.)
🍿 TPL Alumni News
Art for Everybody, Directed by Miranda Yousef
Art for Everybody has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best First Documentary Feature. The doc also made RogerEbert.com’s list of Best Docs of 2025. Congratulations to the team!
LA-based folks, you can catch a screening tonight in Culver City, with a Q&A moderated by John Ridley.
Film Journey: The film premiered at the SXSW 2023, and was recommended to TPL 2024 by Rachel Morgan (formerly of Sidewalk Film.
Micro Budget, Directed by Morgan Evans
Catch the indie comedy Micro Budget this weekend at the St. Louis Film Festival - November 9th & November 15th, with writer/director Morgan Evans.
Film Journey: The film premiered at the 2024 Calgary International Film Festival, and was recommended to TPL 2025 by Tom Hall of Montclair Film.
New Wave, Directed by Elizabeth Ai
New Wave continues to impress its incredible tour with so many up-coming screenings we can hardly keep track! You can find the full list here. And stay tuned for news about a virtual screening coming our way soon.
Film Journey: The film premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, and was recommended to TPL 2025 by Sky Sitney of DC/DOX.
The Beldham, Directed by Angela Gulner
TPL Genre Recommendation The Beldham lands on VOD tomorrow, November 7th! It’s also available now in the UK and Ireland (under the alt title THE HOUSE AT HALLOW END.) Check out the official trailer above!
Film Journey: The film premiered at the 2024 Stiges Film Festival, and was recommended to TPL 2025 Genre List by Jonathan Martin of Film Quest.
Caterpillar, Directed by Liza Mandelup
Caterpillar is a NY Times Critic Pick and opens tomorrow, 11/7 at the DCTV Firehouse in NYC!
Film Journey: The film premiered at the SXSW 2023, and was recommended to TPL 2024 by Julia Kipness of Nashville Film Festival.
UnBroken, Directed by Beth Lane
Director Beth Lane participated in the The Ankler x Pure Non Fictions’ Documentary Spotlight. As the film launches its awards campaign, you can see it now on Netflix or tonight, November 6th, at the The Picture House in Pelham, NY with Beth in attendance.
Film Journey: The film premiered at the 2023 Heartland International Film Festival, and was recommended to TPL 2024 by Greg Sorvig of Heartland.
🍿 Catching Our Attention
Here are a few things we’ve been reading/listening to over the last couple of weeks, you might enjoy, and or find absolutely maddening in some cases!
This is an amazing case study for short filmmakers who are thinking about distribution and the many options to get your film in front of audiences.
We know theatrical is a downstream revenue generator for films. This look at the potential journey for One Battle After Another is an interesting read.
On this episode of The Town, the decidedly NON-NonDē Matt Belloni talks to Teddy Schwarzman of Black Bear about “indie” film releasing - in particular around the upcoming Christie. While Teddy sounds like a pretty cool guy, who is committed to a theatrical-first model, if this is what the industry at large is considering “self-distributing indie films,” we REALLY need to be screaming from the roof tops!
As always, thank you to our 2025 industry partners Ted Hope , Facets, Eventive, Product of Culture, Simple DCP and The Film Collaborative.
🍿 The Popcorn List is a discovery and visibility project that amplifies independent films that deserve to be seen more widely; highlights the discovery nature of film festivals and the craft of film curation; and respects audience’s desire for story-driven movies.
TPL provides an opportunity for Films & Filmmakers, Distributors & Sales Agents, Film Festivals & Independent Exhibitors & Audiences. Through our various initiatives - including the Annual Lists and The Pop Up Series, we’re out to disrupt the outdated model, establish a new set of best practices and create a regenerative professional network within the independent film ecosystem. Learn more >
Follow us on instagram here!
 | A guest post by
|