Sean Baker’s Oscars Speech and the Realities of Indie Film Theatrical Distribution

Photo by Rich Polk

At the 97th Academy Awards, director Sean Baker delivered a powerful acceptance speech that resonated deeply with independent filmmakers and cinephiles alike. After winning Best Director for Anora, Baker used his moment in the spotlight to champion the theatrical experience, emphasizing its communal and emotional power. He reminded audiences that seeing a film in theaters—laughing, crying, and experiencing the story together—is an irreplaceable part of cinema.

Baker also raised a critical issue: the alarming decline of movie theaters, particularly independent screens. The pandemic accelerated closures, and the trend hasn’t slowed down. With nearly 1,000 screens lost in the U.S. in recent years, Baker urged filmmakers and distributors to continue prioritizing theatrical releases to keep cinemas alive. His call to action was clear—parents should introduce their children to the magic of the big screen, and audiences should make an effort to support theaters.

But while Baker’s speech focused on rallying support for theaters, the reality is that theaters themselves aren’t doing enough to support independent films. One of the biggest challenges facing indie films is the lack of advance commitment from theaters. Many cinemas wait until a week or two before release to lock in showtimes, leaving filmmakers and distributors scrambling to execute marketing, advertising, and publicity efforts effectively. Without proper lead time, it's difficult to build anticipation, secure media coverage, or run impactful ad campaigns. This hesitation ultimately leads to lower ticket sales—not because there isn’t an audience for indie films, but because the audience isn’t given enough time to be properly engaged.

Theaters claim they can’t commit early because they need flexibility for bigger studio films, but this short-term thinking is costing them revenue. If they locked in showtimes earlier, indie filmmakers could better promote their films, drive interest, and ultimately bring more moviegoers to theaters. Instead, last-minute scheduling often leads to underwhelming attendance, which only reinforces the misconception that indie films don’t sell tickets.

Baker’s speech was a crucial reminder that theaters are worth saving. But if theaters want to survive, they need to work with independent filmmakers, not against them. Giving indie films the runway they need for proper promotion isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a strategy that benefits everyone involved. Otherwise, theaters may find themselves with fewer and fewer films to screen as indie filmmakers seek out alternative distribution methods.

The solution is simple: theaters must take independent films seriously and commit to programming them with enough lead time to maximize their potential. Until that happens, indie filmmakers will continue facing an uphill battle, and theaters will keep losing out on audiences eager to experience something beyond the latest blockbuster.