Your film is in the can…now what? If you're thinking about distribution for your film, there are a few options you have at this point. Here's a systematic approach: 1. Apply to the top tier festivals: The top tier festivals I recommend applying to are: Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and Los Angeles. Why do I recommend these instead of the hundreds of other others? Because if your goal is to get distribution for your film, than you want to be where the distributors are, right? These are the festivals that the acquisitions execs will normally attend. Not to say they won't attend others here and there, but the bulk of the distributors will be at these festivals mentioned.

2. Start working with a Producers Rep or Foreign Sales Agency:

Either before you start submitting to festivals, or while you're waiting to hear back from festivals, you can start talking to Producers Reps and Foreign Sales Agencies about what they can do with your film. I would recommend definitely utilizing internet message boards to get some word-of-mouth recommendations on different companies/people to approach and then begin submitting your film to them. Do not sign anything with anyone without first checking filmmaker references! If a Producers Rep or Foreign Sales Agent shows interest in your movie, make sure you discuss the deal they have in mind and then ask for filmmaker references. You want to call up these filmmakers and ask things like have they ever received a producers report? Or have they ever been paid a royalty check? And what kinds of sales have been made on their film? You also want to take a look at the films these companies are currently selling, and see how yours fits in with their catalogue. If they have a large catalogue of horror films, and you have a comedy, it may not be a good fit for example.

3. Get U.S distribution on your own

While you're waiting to hear back from festivals (anxiously!), and talking to sales agencies and producers reps, you can also start submitting your film to U.S distributors on your own. When I was listening to a panel at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, all the U.S DVD distributors, theatrical distributors, and even broadcasters told the filmmakers to submit their films themselves and not to wait around for a middle-man to do it for them. I thought this is very refreshing news!

The thing to do here is be realistic and clear on what type of film you have and only submit to appropriate places. For example, if you have a teen comedy film, do your research to find out which companies are distributing those types of movies. Your local Blockbuster will turn up all kinds of results! When you narrow down your target list of distributors you wish to submit to, go to their websites and find out who their acquisitions contacts are. EMAIL this person (not call), introducing yourself and giving them the link to your trailer on your website. If you don't have a website of your film with the trailer online, build this first before submitting to distributors. If they like the look of your film, they will ask you to submit a screener copy. Then go from there.

4. Get Foreign distribution on your own

Finding foreign distribution for your independent film is an entirely different beast than finding domestic distribution. While it's true that foreign distribution used to be responsible for 70% of the sales that were made on a film, unfortunately the same is not true today. Once upon a time you could rely on good ol' foreign sales for paying your investors back. Today, you'd be lying to your investors if you told them you will pay them back with the foreign sales revenue on your project. If you do not find any Foreign Sales Agencies that you want to do business with (or that do not want to do business with you), all hope is not lost. You can try to get some foreign distribution deals on your own. One way is to get the contacts details of some reputable foreign buyers and approach them yourself. WARNING: if you manage to get a foreign buyer interested in your movie, make sure you hire an independent sales rep or attorney to negotiate your deal. It's well worth the commission you'll pay them -- first of all because they'll be able to negotiate a higher licensing fee than you could yourself. Most foreign buyers will accept submissions directly from filmmakers, but many will not. So be careful here. Be polite when contacting them by email and ask if they accept submissions or not. I would recommend definitely contacting by email rather than phone, as it is less intrusive and many of the foreign buyers feel more comfortable communicating via email rather than phone.

5. Self Distribute!

If all else fails, you can always self-distribute. Today more than ever this has become a viable option. Services like Custom Flix which allow you to self-distribute your DVD to the masses (www.customflx.com). I know of several filmmakers making real money this way -- and guess what, are paying their investors back. Better than waiting around for that golden distribution deal to come around that may never materialize. Also there is internet distribution of course, services like Cinema Now (www.cinemanow.com) and iTunes which charge users per download. They will send you a quarterly royalty check, although admittedly these internet download revenues are not as significant as DVD distribution revenues -- yet. Lastly you can go for the do-it-yourself platform theatrical release. I know of several filmmakers who worked out deals directly with theater owners on putting their films in for a weekend, seeing if it catches, and then slowly platforming it out into other markets. Yet another way to make a few bucks to start paying your investors back!

Whatever avenue to distribution you choose, or if you choose to use several, just remember to keep your expectations in check. Don't presume that you will recover your entire budget through one specific avenue like foreign sales, but think of each avenue as a way to recover some of your budget, while promoting your film (and you as a filmmaker). Chances are if a distributor picks up your film, and it does well for them, they will be eager to pick up your next film. So you are paving the way for a future of distribution deals, and possibly even pre-sales on your upcoming projects. And most importantly, remember that distribution is a way to make some money and pay your investors back. Investors getting paid back are happy investors, which means they will be more likely to invest in your next project. Stacey Parks is the author of "Insiders Guide to Film Distribution", a comprehensive educational program for filmmakers and producers dedicated to film distribution and the marketplace. Stacey has worked in independent film for over 10 years, and is currently a sales executive at the BBC Worldwide in Los Angeles. She was previously a foreign sales agent for many years. You can purchase her educational program at http:// www.film-distribution-secrets.com and www.selfdistributeyourfilm.com.