SapphicIFF founder Naomi Bennett will be heading to San Francisco this June for Frameline, one of the world's longest-running and most established LGBTQ+ film festivals, where she will be speaking on a panel exploring alternative approaches to independent film distribution.
The visit forms part of SapphicIFF's wider work to help sapphic and LGBTQ+ filmmakers better understand the business of independent film, particularly what happens after a film is finished and begins its journey through festivals, distribution and audience building.
Unconventional Distribution at Frameline
Naomi will join the Unconventional Distribution panel, bringing her experience from building Lesflicks and working directly with hundreds of independent films and filmmakers.
The discussion will look beyond the traditional distribution model and explore some of the different ways filmmakers are getting their work in front of audiences.
Naomi's contribution will draw on the practical knowledge gained through Lesflicks, including acquiring and licensing films, working with filmmakers and distributors, understanding different rights and revenue models, and seeing first-hand what happens when films enter the distribution ecosystem.
For sapphic filmmakers in particular, distribution can be difficult to navigate. There is an audience for these stories, but reaching that audience is not always straightforward. Smaller films can struggle for visibility on mainstream platforms, while traditional distribution agreements do not necessarily guarantee either meaningful promotion or meaningful revenue.
Understanding the options available, and the implications of the decisions made along the way, can therefore make a significant difference.
Meeting Filmmakers at Frameline
Alongside the panel, Naomi will be meeting filmmakers throughout Frameline to talk about their projects, festival journeys and distribution plans.
These conversations are an important part of SapphicIFF's work. Every film is different, and there is rarely one distribution route that works for everyone. A filmmaker considering a sales agent may have very different questions from someone exploring direct distribution, niche platforms, community screenings or a combination of different release windows.
Naomi will be sharing some of the knowledge gained from working within sapphic film distribution, while also learning more about the challenges filmmakers are experiencing as they bring new work into the market.
The aim is not to tell filmmakers there is one "right" way to distribute a film. It is to make the industry more transparent so that filmmakers can ask better questions, recognise potential opportunities and risks, and make more informed decisions about their work.
Taking SapphicIFF Knowledge Into the Festival
Frameline also provides an opportunity to connect SapphicIFF's educational work directly with filmmakers while they are actively navigating the festival circuit.
SapphicIFF was created to demystify areas of the independent film industry that can often feel unnecessarily complicated or inaccessible. Through practical insight into distribution, festivals, marketing, monetisation and financing, we want filmmakers to have a clearer understanding of how these different parts of the industry connect.
Naomi's time at Frameline will also provide an opportunity to continue building that knowledge. Conversations with filmmakers, distributors and other industry professionals help SapphicIFF understand what is changing, where filmmakers are encountering barriers and which approaches are proving effective.
That knowledge can then be shared more widely with the sapphic filmmaking community.
If you are attending Frameline and would like to meet Naomi to talk about your film, distribution plans or the work of SapphicIFF, please get in touch.
