Case Study – THE ACT OF KILLING.

• The Act of Killing is a 2012 documentary film.• Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, and co-directed by Christine Cynn and an

anonymous Indonesian. It is a Danish-British-Norwegian co-production, presented by Final Cut for Real in Denmark and produced by Signe Byrge Sørensen

• It is a Docwest project of the University of Westminster.• It won the 2013 European Film Award for Best Documentary, the Asia Pacific

Screen Award, and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.

Overview of the film - In this chilling and inventive documentary, executive produced by Werner Herzog, Errol Morris and André Singer, the unrepentant former members of Indonesian death squads are challenged to re-enact some of their many murders in the style of the American movies they love.

Production

• In 2001, while conducting interviews for their 2003 film The Globalisation Tapes, Joshua Oppenheimer and Christine Cynn began delving into the Indonesian killings of 1965–66. After moving up the ranks of those involved with the killings, Oppenheimer's interviews led him to meet Anwar Congo in 2005. The film was shot mostly in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, between 2005 and 2011. After seeing an early preview of The Act of Killing, filmmakers Werner Herzog and Errol Morris signed on as executive producers

Production Companies.

• Final Cut for Real• Piraya Film A/S (co-produced with) • Novaya Zemlya (co-produced with) • Spring Films (in association with) • The film was shot between 2005 and 2011.• It took more than seven years to complete and would never

have been successful without extensive work by dozens of Indonesians.

• The Indonesians involved met with human rights groups, who told them that if they included their names in the credits, they could face intimidation, harassment and possibly a death made to look like an accident.

• Produced by -

• Signe Byrge Sørensen• Executive:• Werner Herzog• Errol Morris• Andre Singer• Joram Ten Brink

• Budget- $1 million • Box office as of Jan 26, 2014 - $469,214• France – release date: 10/4/13- total gross $10,320 • Spain – release date: 30/8/13 – total gross $61,258• United Kingdom- release date: 28/6/13- total gross

$163,777• Only shown in 15 theatres in the opening week and then

down to 6 in August. • Doesn’t need to go down the big distribution channel as it

is targeting a niche market. Although it has been nominated for many awards it has only made $710,457.

• The Indonesian co-director spent eight years working on the film and has also been responsible for its unofficial distribution in Indonesia. The film wasn’t submitted to the government’s censorship board, opting instead to rely on thousands of private and public screenings despite intimidation from paramilitary groups, local police and government officials.

• Two screening organizers received death threats and last year the manager of a local newspaper was beaten for writing an article promoting “The Act of Killing.” At least three people were injured at a social gathering held by victims’ families in Yogyakarta in October. They were attacked by the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI).

• It wasn’t like a normal production, many involved where anonymous and it was dangerous for the producers of the film.

• Because of these issue the film wasn’t promoted widely in Indonesia and therefore didn’t gain a lot of revenue, however because the documentary film was intriguing, dangerous and interesting it attracted a wide audience in other countries

Marketing.

• The main publicity was through social media (Facebook and Twitter). The website is regularly attacked in Indonesia. Anyone in Indonesia “can ask for a free DVD all the have to do is say that they will have a screening with friends or family and give us their shipment address”.

• Anonymous is also in touch with a few bookstores that give out the DVD as a bonus item, as well as two pirate DVD sellers who are marketing the documentary online. He says that after it was announced on September 30 that The Act of Killing was available for free download in Indonesia, the number of DVD requests doubled. "We cannot put billboard advertisement or print an advertisement in media, but every time there's an open screening, organizers print and put posters or stickers everywhere," he says.

• Relies quickly established word of mouth as one of the must see films of the year. Draft house Films secured the American distribution rights to the film last year and is planning a 30-market theatrical release and awards campaign.

Reviews• Reviews• "The most compelling thing you'll ever see" 5 stars – The Guardian • "An utterly fascinating, chilling, but important film" 5 stars –

Independent on Saturday • "Shatteringly powerful" 5 stars– The Sunday Times • "This might be the most important documentary ever." 5 stars – The

Daily Mail • "Simply the best film of the year" 5 stars – The Metro • "Like no movie seen before" 5 stars – The Financial Times • "Unlike anything else out there" 5 stars– Little White Lies • "Staggeringly original" 5 – stars Time Out • "A devastating, surreal must-see" 5 stars – The Evening Standard

Awards

• Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Documentary, European Film Academy Documentary Award - Prix Arte, National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Nonfiction.

Distribution.

Distributors:

• Available for cinemas in the: • UK• USA• CROATIA• FRANCE• NETHERLANDS• CANADA• ICELAND• SPAIN• ITALY• AUSTRALIA

Festivals: 2012 Telluride Film Festival Toronto International Film Festival CPH:DOX 2013 Berlin International Film Festival !F Istanbul Independent Int. Film Festival Zagreb ox SXSW, Austin True/False, Columbia Movies that Matter, Haag One World Int. Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, Prague FICUNAM Int. Film Festival in Mexico The International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH), Geneva Tempo Festival, Stockholm One World Int. Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, RomaniaAND MANY MORE!

Online Distribution.

• VHX

• iTunes- order the full directors cut on ITunes.

• Netflix

• Xbox Live

• Amazon Instant Video

• Google Play

• Draft house Films continues to look for the best way to get this documentary in front of eyeballs not just in the US but around the globe. Says Draft house Films Chief Creative Officer Evan Husney: “Our goal is to reach as many people as possible — to preserve this film as a documentary, and as a testament to what happened in Indonesia. BitTorrent Bundle allows us to address a global audience of more than 170 million: to ensure that awareness of the film’s message reaches beyond the Internet’s censors and firewalls.”

• Draft house films the US distributor has made a deal with BitTorrent to distribute the film on the internet.

Dog woof Distribution UK.Upcoming Screenings:Friday 07 FebruaryMilton Keynes – MK GallerySunday 09 FebruaryLondon – ICA – Director's Cut Friday 14 FebruaryLimerick – Limerick Royal – Director's Cut Sunday 16 FebruaryLondon – ICA – + Director Q&ASunday 02 MarchEdinburgh – Pleasance Theatre – Popup Cinema ScreeningMonday 03 MarchCoventry – Warwick Student CinemaSunday 09 MarchLondon – Prince Charles CinemaWednesday 19 MarchFalmouth – The PolyMonday 07 AprilSaffron Walden – Saffron Screen

In celebration of today’s Oscar® nomination for Best Documentary Feature, we are bringing the film back to the big screen in multiple markets beginning February 7th. Theatrical dates and cities will be posted on the film’s website www.actofkilling.com. The Act Of Killing is also available to watch now on all major Video OnDemand and digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Netflix and available for purchase in a deluxe 2-disc DVD/Blu-ray edition.