On the Circuit
Jon Fitzgerald, Courtney RomanoA newsletter focusing on the evolving film festival circuit, new trends in distribution and keys to maximizing success. Create the ideal strategy for your film, and advance your career.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Twice weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 158 | Founded | 3 years ago | Last Issue | 2 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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onthefestcircuit.substack.comLatest Issues
The Current: Holding the Line
This week a recurring theme emerged across several corners of the indie film world: the growing tension between artistic ambition and the realities of getting films financed, discovered, and sustained. From Cannes buyers searching for clear...
The Long Road Ahead
Last week three pieces caught my attention for the way they each approach independent filmmaking as an ongoing process of adaptation. One reflects on the practical and emotional work of crossing the many “bridges” required to move a film fo...
The Current: The Creative Experiment
This week three pieces caught my attention for how clearly they point to a shift in independent film: the challenge isn’t just making the work, it’s designing how that work reaches an audience. One examines the growing disconnect between fi...
An Independent Path is Opening — 4 Weeks Out
A quick update as we get closer to the first cohort of the Cause Pictures Lab.
After sending the last note, I heard from a number of filmmakers, and one thing became clear.
On the Circuit is a reader-supported publication. To receive new...
The Current: Creative in Motion
This week three pieces caught my attention for how clearly they move the conversation from theory into practice. Each one looks at independent film distribution not as an abstract system, but as something filmmakers are actively navigating,...
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| Subscribers | Engagement | 77 | Monthly Web Visits | ||
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Slamdance co-founder Jon Fitzgerald is the author of Filmmaking for Change: Make Films That Transform the World. And Founder of Cause Cinema & Cause Pictures.
Writing, directing, & producing NonDē films. Organizing the NonDē 50 Films Project, contributing to FilmStack Daily Digest, and making my feature directorial debut in 2026.
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