I’m in Park City, Utah for the next week for Sundance and Slamdance. I’m here working on some new projects I hope will get announced soon, but also to speak on a couple of panels and show my support for some projects I’ve been involved with. I’ll also be continuing to participate in SOPA/PIPA protests, because no, even though the we had a great success on fighting this, the war isn’t over yet.

Anyway, I’ll be speaking on a distribution panel being held by Passion River Films. The event is on all day, January 24th, and due to some scheduling issues (on my end), I’ll be speaking later in the day about how to succeed with your film even when you didn’t get into that big fest (like Sundance):

Panel 3:  Didn’t Get Into Sundance? No Worries.

Learn How to Go Beyond Big Name Festivals to Secure Distribution

4:00pm – 5:30pm

Every year, thousands of films are not accepted into Sundance, yet many still become BIG hits.  Learn from industry experts on how the former “Plan B” of distribution could surprise you as being your NEW “Plan A”!  Panelist include:  Brian Newman, Mat Levy, Josh Levin, Mike Grice, & Michael Tuckman.  Read bios below.

• Why films can still be highly successful without any major festival exposure.
• What other factors do distributors consider beyond being an “official selection”.
• Securing theatrical distribution – Is it worth the expense?
• How can a publicist or social meida campaign help?
• Building a fan base with every festival appearance.
• The pro’s & con’s of DIY self-distribution.  Decision time?

I’ll also be touching on this topic at Slamdance on another distribution panel. This one is titled “Where there’s a will, there’s a way…to find distribution.” The panel description:

In a time long long ago, an indie filmmaker was approached by a suit, they shook hands, the suit walked away with the film, the filmmaker walked away with a fist full of dollars. A week later the film was playing at a theatre near you. Those days may be long gone, but in 2012 there are more options than ever before to get your film in front of your audience. Learn about new distribution possibilities through social media, web & mobile apps, and other DIY methods. Come be a part of this interactive discussion with some of the most formative minds in this movement. Occupy Distribution!

My name isn’t listed in the speakers, but I’m one of ‘em, and I’ll be there. Please join me with Orly Ravid, David Magdael and Tom Thimot.

There are lots of good films at both Sundance and Slamdance, and you don’t need my advice on what to see, but… I am friendly with a couple films there and highly recommend them. First, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, by Alison Klayman. I’m on the board of a nonprofit that helped produce this project, so I’ve given some advice to them, especially back when they did their Kickstarter campaign. It’s a great, and important, film, and I highly recommend it. Second, I’m good friends with Alexandra Berger, the director of Danland, at Slamdance. Danland is about Porno Dan and his work, his attempts at a love life. I’ve seen an earlier cut, can’t wait to see this final version and recommend it as well.

I’ve already met a few of my tiny group of readers here. If I haven’t met you yet, look me up while you’re here.