Distribute with New Day

Members screen all submitted films and select films based on the subject matter and the quality of filmmaking. Selected films must be social issue films.

We actively seek a diversity of voices among our members as well as in our film collection. Short and long-format documentary, fiction and  experimental works are welcome.

Because of recent phenomenal growth and interest, we are in the exciting position of re-examining our business model and growth capacity.  We want to keep what is best about our intimate, committed business, yet grow our model to expand opportunities for more filmmakers, distribute more social issue films to teachers and students, and work toward influencing more change in the world.
 
To take the time to consider where these goals will lead us and how best to implement them, we are not accepting new applications at this time. Please check back on this page for updates. If you are interested in applying to New Day in the future, please fill out our Request for Application form at the bottom of this page. You will receive an email confirmation.

If your film is accepted into the collection and you choose to join, you must sign New Day’s exclusive non-theatrical contract, and pay a $200 initiation fee. You will then receive a New Members booklet, which details New Day marketing and distribution best practices. You will also be assigned two buddies, one whose film is in a similar subject area to yours to assist you with finding your market, and a second to assist you with New Day’s processes and the nuts and bolts of direct marketing.

All new members are required to attend the annual meeting their first two years in New Day. New members who join between June and December are also required to attend a mid-year steering committee meeting (usually in January). The costs for attending these meetings are shared equally among all active members of New Day.
Potential member checklist:

• Your film must address a social issue.
• Your film should not be a "how-to" instructional tape or a corporate video.
• Your film must be completed when you submit it. We can't accept rough cuts.
• You must have secured releases and rights to all music, archival footage and stills used in your film for educational distribution.
• You must have agreements in place with all copyright owners of the film authorizing you to distribute the film to the educational market.
• You understand that New Day is a collective and that you will be required to contribute volunteer hours on behalf of New Day in addition to your own self-distribution efforts.
• You understand that New Day makes decisions by consensus and that the organization's culture embraces participatory democracy.
• You understand that unless granted special permission, you will not be able to make your film available to a home-video distributor for at least three years after joining New Day. (Although at screenings, you can sell copies for individual use.)
• You must have your own funds to pay for initial promotional efforts (e.g. designing, printing, and mailing a brochure). There are many ways to do this, but we suggest that $2000 - $5000 is probably the very least you can start with.
• Before you submit an application, you must have an in-depth conversation with at least one New Day member about what membership benefits and responsibilities. (See the contact information, below if you don't know anyone else in New Day already.)
• With rare exceptions, new members of New Day must live in the United States or Canada and be planning on marketing their films to the U.S. educational market.
• While each member of New Day is allowed to set the price for his or her own film, pricing must be comparable to other New Day titles of similar lengths. We have a floor below which prices to the community and university markets can't fall.

To request an application form or for more informatio , please fill out this Request for Application and someone will contact you.

 

• How New Day Works
• Application Form
• Why New Day