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Indie Distributors Adapt to Streaming Shifts and Seek New Paths Forward

Q: What challenges are indie film distributors facing in 2025?

Indie film distributors are facing challenges as streamers scale back third-party content acquisitions, disrupting the traditional "pay-one" window that had long served as a safety net for specialty releases.

12 Nov

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Summary

Indie films like "Christy" and "Die My Love" struggle at the box office
Streamers scaling back third-party buys, disrupting traditional distribution
Newcomers like Row K Entertainment and Black Bear aim to fill the void

Indie Distributors Adapt to Streaming Shifts and Seek New Paths Forward

The indie film distribution landscape has undergone a significant shift in 2025, as streamers scale back their third-party content acquisitions, disrupting the traditional "pay-one" window that had long served as a safety net for specialty releases.

This pullback has left many festival titles struggling to find homes, with industry veterans like David Garrett of Mister Smith Entertainment noting "there's a lot out there looking for a home." The recent box office performances of films like "Christy" and "Die My Love" underscore the challenges facing indie distributors, as they grapple with a market that has become increasingly difficult to navigate.