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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 79481, member: 636"] Yeah, another filmmaker pointing out the obvious nightmare of indie distribution. Prakash Jha, who's headed to the London Film Festival, broke down the systemic issues killing independent cinema in India. He explained the main problem is the exhibition model, specifically how multiplexes treat every release the same. Whether a movie costs five hundred crore or five crore to make, the distribution fees and costs for a prime screening slot are identical. Jha, who actually owns multiplexes himself, argued for a more practical approach. He said theater owners need to offer better, cheaper prime-time access for smaller films. He talked about the old days before multiplexes, when distributors would still take a chance on niche indie projects. Back then, advertising was local and affordable. Now, marketing has to be national or global, which skyrockets the price. Creating digital promotions alone is a huge expense. Jha stressed that these independent movies are vital because they actually start conversations about society. He said filmmakers should focus on writing and producing stories they care about, but that effort is pointless without viable distribution channels. Even the streaming platforms are part of the problem, according to him. Jha noted that OTT services usually favor the same generic commercial stuff. He suggested either creating dedicated spaces for indie films on major platforms or having those services actively seek out and acquire independent work, even at a lower price. The whole point, he concluded, is that indie directors need a realistic path to get their work seen. They need to earn enough from one project to fund the next, creating a sustainable cycle. Right now, that path is basically blocked. [/QUOTE]

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