Kinema for Filmmakers | Substack

Filmmaker Stories

How a Short Film is Building a Movement

"Cow Heavy And Floral," a film by parents, continues to make big impact for Maternal Mental Health and Paid Family & Medical Leave.

Nov 4, 2025 • Ami Vora

Collective Power and the FilmStack Inspiration Challenge (#31)

Six filmmakers share what’s inspiring them.

Sep 17, 2025 • Ami Vora

How "Daruma" Secured $250K in Brand Partnerships and Created Legendary Festival Buzz

Writer-producer-marketer Kelli McNeil Yellen's approach to marketing her independent film "Daruma."

Sep 2, 2025 • Ami Vora

"Saving Jones" Didn't Play the Hollywood Game. It Did Raise $27K for its Charity (and Counting).

How comedian Rebecca Corry built her own distribution success without a publicist, marketing budget, representation, or distribution deal.

Jul 22, 2025 • Ami Vora

How "Ratified" Raised $115K+ From Fundraising Screenings and Built a Movement in the Process

"We are not doing movie shit with this movie. We are doing movement shit with this movie."

Jul 8, 2025 • Ami Vora

Distribution Fundamentals

On Attention, Authenticity, and Building Independent Media Ecosystems | Joe Marchese, Liv Stone, James Del

And an exciting announcement: Kinema and Show&Tell are teaming up!

Dec 16, 2025

Film Festival Strategy | Jeffrey Winter (The Film Collaborative)

"The folly of the film festival circuit is...it is no way a democracy."

Nov 11, 2025

The 6 Most Asked Questions About Kinema | Kayla Kaipolani Carroll (Kinema)

"Can I still 'get distribution' if I put my film online?" and other FAQs.

Oct 7, 2025

How Filmmakers Are Using Kinema Before, During, and After Festivals

Discover new windows for your film's release.

Oct 1, 2025 • Ami Vora

Theatrical Distribution for Independent Filmmakers | Annalisa Shoemaker (Independent Distributor)

A BTS look at the theatrical release for "Good Bad Things," and practical advice on strategy, team, budget, and more!

Jun 10, 2025

Indie Film Marketing

30 Film Marketing Ideas

And 50+ links to examples.

Jan 13 • Ami Vora and Swabreen Bakr

Crowd Investing For Your Film | Marc Iserlis (Republic)

How to turn your film's fans into equity investors.

Dec 23, 2025

Building Non-Dependent Film Careers | Ted Hope (Producer, Hope for Film)

“The film industry is about to undergo a bigger transformation than we saw with global streaming and we are so not prepared for it.”

Dec 9, 2025

Make Your Film Giftable

18 practical things to do.

Dec 4, 2025 • Ami Vora

Build Your Marketing Materials During Production | Ray Kuglar (Photographer)

“More people will see your key image than will your final project.”

Nov 18, 2025

Kinema for Filmmakers

Kinema for Filmmakers

For filmmakers to find new ideas and actionable insights on indie film distribution, from the industry's top minds.

Recommendations

8 Above with Jon Reiss

8 Above with Jon Reiss

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Distribution Advocates

Distribution Advocates

Anthony Kaufman’s Substack

Anthony Kaufman’s Substack

Anthony Kaufman

On the Circuit

Jon Fitzgerald

Dear Producer

Dear Producer

Recent posts

Building Non-Dependent Film Careers | Ted Hope (Producer, Hope for Film)

“The film industry is about to undergo a bigger transformation than we saw with global streaming and we are so not prepared for it.”

Dec 9, 2025

Make Your Film Giftable

18 practical things to do.

Dec 4, 2025 • Ami Vora

Build Your Marketing Materials During Production | Ray Kuglar (Photographer)

“More people will see your key image than will your final project.”

Nov 18, 2025

Film Festival Strategy | Jeffrey Winter (The Film Collaborative)

"The folly of the film festival circuit is...it is no way a democracy."

Nov 11, 2025

How a Short Film is Building a Movement

"Cow Heavy And Floral," a film by parents, continues to make big impact for Maternal Mental Health and Paid Family & Medical Leave.

Nov 4, 2025 • Ami Vora

#FilmTok Explained | Emma Buzgo (Filmmaker)

How Gen Z discovers, engages with, and evangelizes films.

Oct 28, 2025

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