VIII International Domitor Conference, Utrecht/Amsterdam, June 19-23, 2004

Distribution

Over the last years research in early cinematography has started to explore a number of different areas linked to various aspects of the emergent institution of cinema. One of the fields that have received somewhat less attention from historians is distribution. The 2004 Domitor Conference, hosted conjointly by the Amsterdam Filmmuseum and the University of Utrecht's Department of Media Studies will attempt to stimulate research into this domain by taking a relatively broad approach to this phenomenon. Possible areas of exploration include:

- Local, regional, national and international distribution networks.

- Institutional regulations concerning distribution, including strategies of exclusion (but also strategies to guarantee exclusivity), quota etc.

- Case studies on distributors, distribution campaigns for individual films.

- 'Distribution paratexts': catalogues, advertisements, bulletins.

- Distribution and its influence on film texts: different versions for different national audiences, translation of intertitles etc.

- Dissemination of films through itinerant showmen.

- Distribution of programs

We'd also like to organise a special panel around the distribution of early cinema today, especially with regard to the possibilities offered by digital media.

The conference will consist of different forms of presentations (lectures, panels, film projections with comments etc.) in order to encourage discussions and debates among Domitor members. Full versions of all the papers will appear in the conference publication.

Proposals for presentations should be submitted no later than August 31st, 2003.

Contact:

Frank Kessler
Universiteit Utrecht, Instituut Media en Re/presentatie
Kromme Nieuwegracht 29
NL-3512 HD Utrecht
The Netherlands
e-mail: Frank.E.Kessler@let.uu.nl