Let's Talk About... Five Changes to the Internet in 2026: How it Affects Marketing for Your Indie Film & Why PR Matters. Plus: The secondary buyers market for Indie Film I predicted is on its way.
Several big online changes in 2025-2026 have made discovery way more challenging. Marketers, here's what to do. And check out indie film The Solution & an update on the January FilmStack challenge!
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The Secondary Indie Film Market is Already Taking Shape
I’ve been going on for a few months now about the need for a secondary market for independent films and have been alluding to the fact that one is going to spring up organically, just due to the nature of how things work. See my piece below:
And surprise… it’s here and it’s big brands getting behind it. Brands are doing things like adding “Chief Entertainment Officers” to their C-suites, like Gap did below:
And the link to the IG reel I tagged above is promoting Yahoo!’s acquisition of short-form sports documentaries. There is a NEED for content and films and brands are stepping in to create that market.
This allows them to build their brand through entertainment infrastructure and the guise of PR, which has a 5 - 6 X value over traditional advertising. Additionally, this lets brands build cultural relevance, have a voice in the conversation, and build long-term assets and IP for themselves.
This creates multiple revenue streams ala events, merch, sales, etc. and goes beyond traditional marketing efforts by allowing brands to tap directly into creators’ audiences. Watch this space. There’s going to be a LOT happening.
An Update on January’s FilmStack Challenge: Watch, Review & Share Other Indie Film People’s Work
More than two dozen films have been added to the spreadsheet and more are coming in. Thank you to everyone who has listed their films and to those who have watched! Tagging the FilmStack Daily Digest for a boost! If you’ve reviewed or written about an indie film on the list please DM it so Amanda Sweikow can include in the roundup.
For more information on how to participate in January’s FilmStack challenge, click here. I’ll be handing the reins over to a new person in February to set the challenge, so stay tuned!
Check Out Indie Film “The Solution”
From director, writer, producer, and actor Andrew Bullard, The Solution follows Allen as he returns home to help his father, Oscar, recover from a stroke. As they navigate the long road to healing, father and son are forced to confront years of emotional distance while attempting to revive the family dry-cleaning business. What begins as an act of duty becomes a tender journey toward reconciliation, forgiveness, and renewed connection.
Inspired by Bullard’s real-life relationship with his own father, The Solution carries an authentic emotional weight that sets it apart. Made on a micro-budget, the film has already garnered significant acclaim, including Best Faith Based Movie at the 20th SoCal Film Awards 2025 and Best Feature at the Top Indie Film Awards 2025. Audiences can watch The Solution on Prime Video, Apple TV, Tubi, Roku, YouTube Movies & TV, and Plex.
Submit Your Feature Length Film to Be Featured in This Substack, Dedicated to Indie Films!
If you have a feature length indie film you’d like me to promote, click here to submit your materials. I do not promote crowdfunding campaigns but I also never charge to plug your film! This support matters and I hope you’ll spread the love around.
It doesn’t cost you anything to promote here and who doesn’t need the boost right now? Plus, some really amazing filmmakers read this newsletter! Thank you all for subscribing! Please note, this feature is not available for short films.
The Headlines That Caught My Eye Recently:
Every week I do a round-up of headlines that are pertinent to our business and list them here in my newsletter. I do my best to provide non-paywalled articles when possible! Here’s this week’s fresh catch:
Some Questions, Then a Selfie: Mayor Mamdani Meets the (Creator) Press
On ‘The Rip,’ Netflix Makes an Exception for Ben Affleck and Matt Damon
Washington’s New Lobbyists: Paid Online Influencers With Few Rules
How Many Votes Does It Take to Get an Oscar Nomination in 2026?
BBC Close To Agreeing Landmark Deal To Produce Shows For YouTube
And now let’s talk about…
Five Changes to the Internet: How it Affects the Marketing for Your Indie Film
The Internet continues to undergo an evolution and these new changes are going to affect how you do your film’s marketing and gets into why PR matters more than ever in this day and age.
Content below is for subscribers, so please consider upgrading your subscription! As a reminder I do four in-depth posts per month and a subscription could save you time and money!
Marketing & PR for Indie Films is a reader supported publication: if you’d like to upgrade your subscription for $5/mo or $50 a year, or to learn more about marketing and PR for your #IndieFilm and work with me, click here.
Want to work with me? Shoot me a DM! I love working with filmmakers and would love to discuss the marketing, PR and distribution needs for your specific film. Message me to schedule a 15 minute intro meeting!
