Independent Distribution Success: A Case Study on Audience-Driven Impact

​Are you exploring independent distribution for a feature documentary? Need strategies to maximize revenue while staying true to your impact goals? 

​This webinar is a deep dive into the distribution of The Philadelphia Eleven, a documentary about the women who defied tradition and patriarchy in Christianity to become priests. Director and producer Margo Guernsey will share how her team built an audience-driven rollout that was both mission-aligned and financially sustainable—leading to 470+ hosted screenings, a 14-city theatrical run, 2,700 online ticket sales, and multiple festival wins.  Moderated by Courtney B. Cook, they will cover the realities of independent distribution, from impact-driven audience building to windowing, virtual screenings, and working with an educational distributor. She’ll share hard-won lessons, including what worked, what didn’t, and how the team navigated the road to public television. Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at a case study that proves independent distribution can work—ethically, strategically, and successfully.