• A total of 297 documentaries were part of a study conducted by the Katalejo Research Center (Centro de Estudios Katalejo) in collaboration with the Chilean Documentary Corporation (CCDoc). The research identified the distribution paths of 151 Chilean feature films and 146 short films that premiered between 2011 and 2022.
• The study aimed to analyze and characterize the distribution circuits of Chilean documentaries, considering the different strategies implemented, the stakeholders involved, and their expectations for development.
• The results revealed promising data for the documentary industry: a higher participation of women in distribution (61%) and a local circuit that is becoming increasingly decentralized and expansive.
Presentation Study on Distribution Circuits of Chilean Documentaries
Distribution Circuits of Chilean Documentaries: Strategies, Stakeholders, and Expectations (Circuitos de distribución del documental chileno: estrategias, agentes y expectativas) was developed by Katalejo and CCDoc between April 2023 and February 2024 in response to the prolific national production of documentaries in recent years. While some have received international awards and been showcased across multiple platforms, these achievements contrast with the scarcity of research on the distribution routes available for Chilean documentaries.
After the study, it became evident that the presence of women in distribution created a positive differentiation compared to documentaries in which they did not participate. Some key findings include: 32.5% received national public funding for distribution; there was a higher frequency of collaboration with distributors and sales agents, reaching 37.4% and 13.7%, respectively; more than half were distributed internationally (55%); a greater number of commercial premieres took place in independent theaters (35.1%); and they achieved broader distribution across most exhibition platforms, among other aspects.
“It represents the result of a long and steady journey, one that has been driven more forcefully in recent years by the audiovisual sector and has also been recognized by the State, which has created incentives for women to take on not only distribution roles but also technical positions that, ten years ago, were widely considered male-dominated,” says Flor Rubina, Executive Director of the Chilean Documentary Corporation (CCDoc).
In addition to this research, the Katalejo Study Center, in collaboration with the sector brand Chiledoc, conducted a survey that gathered valuable information on the internationalization and commercialization of Chilean documentaries and non-fiction series in 2022 and 2023. More information.
internacional@chiledoc.cl
@copyright Corporación Chilena del Documental CCDoc
