From Festival to Market: Navigating Film Distribution Pathways

This panel explores the realities of film distribution and how filmmakers can successfully move their projects beyond festivals and into wider markets. Industry experts will discuss traditional and digital distribution models, sales strategies, and key considerations when working with distributors and platforms. The conversation will also address common challenges faced by independent and underrepresented filmmakers, offering practical guidance on packaging, pitching, and positioning films for national and international audiences.

MODERATOR:

SPEAKER:

Richard Pierre is an award-winning multiracial Black filmmaker whose work has aired on television and screened at festivals worldwide. He specializes in horror and thriller films that explore race through a thought-provoking, genre-driven lens. Alongside his work as a filmmaker, Richard is a film programmer committed to inclusive storytelling. He has contributed to the Canadian Film Fest, Toronto Black Film Festival, and Reelworld Film Festival, and served as the Warner Bros. Discovery Curatorial Programming Fellow at the Toronto International Film Festival. His work centres on building a more inclusive cinema landscape where underrepresented voices can thrive.

Emmanuel Kabongo began producing in 2014 with the web series Teenagers. He has produced the short films A Man’s Story, Figaro-Figaro, and Agape, as well as the thriller features Sway and Welcome. Kabongo is a three-time Canadian Screen Award nominee, won best Canadian film at 2025 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (Sway), Best Film at North Carolina Film Awards (Sway), and Best Short at 2016 Reelworld Film Festival (A Man’s Story). Emmanuel is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre's Actors' Conservatory (2014) and Producers' Lab (2025). He is also the founder of the TIFF Celebrity Charity Basketball Game, raising funds to fight cancer.

With over 25 years of industry experience in production finance and management, including more than 15 years as a Producer in Canadian Television, Teresa M. Ho is an Emmy and Canadian Screen Award-nominated Producer who continues to broaden her impact across all markets and platforms. Recently, she is embarking on the first ever scripted feature treaty co-production between Canada and Singapore called KUNGFULAND, set for production in 2026. Prior to that, she launched a nine-episode Rom-Com Short-form Series, HELLO (AGAIN) on CBC Gem and distributed Internationally by Flourishing Films, created by global superstar Simu Liu (SHANG-CHI) & CSA winner Nathalie Younglai (CORONER), with the support of CBC, Bell Fund, CMF, and Ontario Creates. She also Co-Executive Produced Season One of NORTH OF NORTH, the first large scale scripted series in the Arctic broadcast by CBC, APTN,and Netflix. Previous TV credits as Producer include the Paramount+/Lionsgate series GRAY, directed by Ruba Nadda and starring Patricia Clarkson and Rupert Everett, four seasons of CBC’s FRANKIE DRAKE MYSTERIES and two seasons of Corus and Peacock’s DEPARTURE starring Archie Punjabi and the late Christopher Plummer.