How Independent Films Can Thrive in a Changing Market featuring Jonathan Sadler
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
Release Date: 10/02/2025
Data-Led Insights into the Oscar Bounce Featuring Stephen Follows
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
What actually happens to cinema screenings when a film receives an Oscar nomination or wins Best Picture? In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz welcomes back leading film industry analyst Stephen Follows to unpack usheru-backed research into the real impact of awards on theatrical exhibition. Drawing on multiple years of Best Picture data, the conversation examines how cinema screenings shift around Oscar nominations and the awards ceremony itself. Stephen explains why nominations tend to spread benefit across multiple films, while winning concentrates attention...
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How to Score in Hollywood: Audience Insight, Data and the Evolution of Movie Marketing featuring Kevin Goetz and Bob Levin
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode, Alex is joined by two industry leaders with unparalleled insight into how films truly reach and resonate with audiences. Kevin Goetz, founder and CEO of Screen Engine ASI, and legendary studio marketer Bob Levin share the thinking, decision processes and real-world experience behind their new book How to Score in Hollywood. Together, they discuss the realities of greenlighting, the role of audience understanding in shaping creative and commercial choices, and how the relationship between marketing, research and storytelling has evolved. From capability testing and concept...
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Building a Sustainable Ecosystem for World Cinema featuring Meret Ruggle
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
How can independent distributors build a sustainable future for world cinema in an era of content saturation and shrinking public support? In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Meret Ruggle, Co-head of Trigon Film, the Swiss foundation and distributor that has spent more than three decades championing outstanding films from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. Meret shares how Trigon has developed a holistic and community-driven model for distribution, combining theatrical releases, educational outreach and its own VoD platform Filmingo to extend the life of its films and...
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How Independent Films Can Thrive in a Changing Market featuring Jonathan Sadler
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
Independent filmmakers face a fast-evolving landscape: rising costs, fragmented audiences, and tougher routes to market. Yet with more platforms and opportunities than ever before, smart strategies can still give films the best chance to succeed. In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jonathan Sadler — veteran marketer and author of Film Marketing and Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide. With over two decades of experience at companies including Universal Pictures, Momentum, Revolver, Warner Music and Arrow Films, Jonathan has worked on everything from Amélie and Lost in...
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From KNEECAP to FLOW: Inside Curzon's Marketing Playbook featuring Susie Bould
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz speaks with Susie Bould, Marketing Director at Curzon, the iconic UK exhibitor, distributor, and streaming platform. Susie shares how Curzon’s unique ecosystem and real-time audience data shape its marketing strategy, enabling bold, authentic campaigns that connect deeply with film lovers. She reveals how Curzon successfully shifted its demographic toward a younger audience, the creative tactics behind indie breakouts like Kneecap and Flow, and how agility and authenticity are driving modern film marketing. Susie also...
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Bringing International Actions Films to the US Market featuring Maxwell Riesberg
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz is joined by Maxwell Riesberg, founder and CEO of Rascal (RSCL) Films – a bold new theatrical-first studio on a mission to bring international action films the big-screen releases they deserve. With a background that includes award-winning campaigns for A Quiet Place and Bumblebee, Maxwell shares how Rascal aims to become the 'A24 of action cinema' by combining cutting-edge AI dubbing technology, premium marketing, and a community-first approach to distribution. He explains how Rascal is building an identity-driven brand...
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Distributors on the Move: Insights from Europa Distribution's Groundbreaking Programme featuring Elin Boijens and Giulia Amadio
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this special episode, Alex Stolz is joined by Elin Boijens (Searchers, Netherlands) and Giulia Amadio (BIM Distribuzione, Italy), two participants in Distributors on the Move, Europa Distribution’s pioneering professional exchange programme. Together, they reflect on the transformative impact of spending time embedded within each other’s companies and exploring the day-to-day realities of film distribution in a different market. Giulia and Elin dive deep into the structural and strategic contrasts between the Italian and Benelux cinema landscapes—from differences in audience...
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Building a New Theatrical Marketplace featuring Jackie Brenneman
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode of The Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz welcomes Jackie Brenneman — a trailblazer in the cinema industry and President & CEO of Attend Theatrical Marketplace, Jackie shares the journey behind ATTEND, the groundbreaking platform she helped launch to empower filmmakers and exhibitors through smarter, more transparent theatrical distribution. A founding partner of The Fithian Group, Jackie brings years of leadership in policy, legal advocacy, and industry innovation. Previously Executive Vice President and General Counsel at the National Association...
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Decentralising Distribution and Building the 'Shopify for Film' featuring Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, host Alex Stolz is joined by Ana Maria Jipa and Malcolm Wood, co-founders of Olyn, a new digital platform aiming to redefine how independent films are released and monetized. Drawing on their backgrounds in technology, entrepreneurship, and film production, Ana and Malcolm discuss how Olyn seeks to provide filmmakers with direct-to-consumer tools — enabling them to maintain ownership, access audience data, and control the viewing experience. The conversation covers core platform functionalities, including custom landing pages,...
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Community is the Audience: A New Approach to Independent Film Success featuring Shawn Dawes
The Marketing & Distribution Podcast
"Community isn’t just the audience—it is the audience. And that shift in thinking is where real change begins." – Shawn Dawes In this episode of the Marketing and Distribution Podcast, Alex Stolz is joined by filmmaker, producer, and platform founder Shawn Dawes, the visionary behind IndieScene—a new SaaS-based platform aiming to transform the independent film ecosystem through transparency, data, and community collaboration. With over 20 years in the creative industries—ranging from directing and development to producing and distribution—Shawn has firsthand experience of...
info_outlineIndependent filmmakers face a fast-evolving landscape: rising costs, fragmented audiences, and tougher routes to market. Yet with more platforms and opportunities than ever before, smart strategies can still give films the best chance to succeed.
In this episode, Alex Stolz speaks with Jonathan Sadler — veteran marketer and author of Film Marketing and Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide. With over two decades of experience at companies including Universal Pictures, Momentum, Revolver, Warner Music and Arrow Films, Jonathan has worked on everything from Amélie and Lost in Translation to Donnie Darko and The Mummy.
Together, they explore:
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Why casting is also a marketing decision
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The importance of product-market fit for indie films
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Practical steps filmmakers can take upstream to maximise audience reach
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How evolving distribution models create new opportunities
This is an essential conversation for anyone who wants to understand how independent films can not just survive, but thrive, in today’s marketplace.
About Jonathan Sadler
Jonathan Sadler has been marketing filmed entertainment content since 1998, first at Universal Pictures before spending over 5 years at Momentum Pictures as home entertainment marketing director. He headed up marketing at Revolver Entertainment, Warner Music International and Arrow Films. Sadler has launched or worked on the re-release of iconic films such as Amelie, American Beauty, The Mummy, Lost in Translation, Cinema Paradiso, Heathers, Anuvahood, Edie, The Hunt, Donnie Darko and Love is All You Need. Film Marketing & Distribution: An Independent Filmmaker’s Guide is his first book.