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Emerging Film Distribution and Exhibition Platforms in the Formal Economy

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Abstract

This chapter investigates the emerging distribution and exhibition platforms in the formal film distribution economy. They are “emerging” because they are relatively new channels that utilise new media technologies. The chapter probes into how technology has made a digital turn in both distribution and exhibition, and how the industry is adapting to these changes and adjusting its business models to thrive in the digital age. It looks into the effect of Internet-distributed content on the traditional windowing system of film distribution and the rise of the “cybermediary” that is rendering the distributor irrelevant. The chapter also challenges Chris Anderson’s long-tail theory and expounds on the role of technology as a driver of film distribution. It also features case studies of selected films based on experiences of independent film producers, directors, distributors, and exhibitors.

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Lim, M.K. (2019). Emerging Film Distribution and Exhibition Platforms in the Formal Economy. In: Philippine Cinema and the Cultural Economy of Distribution. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03608-9_7

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