Marketing and promotion strategies for producers
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The CMPA STAR Producer Program is pleased to launch its upcoming training module focused on marketing and promotion in film and television. This training will empower producers with the insights and tactics needed to effectively connect with audiences and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Webinar
Audience Development & the Engagement Gap
Audience engagement shouldn’t begin when your film is finished, but rather when the idea forms. A well-planned audience strategy should shape creative decisions, help strengthen financing packages and influence distribution pathways, and ultimately, increase the likelihood of a project’s success.
On Monday, November 24, 2025, join audience development strategist Annelise Larson in conversation with Christie Marchese (Kinema), Sonya Yokota William (NICE), and Nathan Fleet (Filmmaker, Educator & Festival Director). Together, they will explore how producers can meaningfully identify, grow, and connect with their audiences throughout the lifecycle of a project. They will discuss crucial considerations during the early development phase, including understanding audience identity and behaviours, tailoring outreach and partnerships, and building momentum before cameras roll.
If you are a CMPA member and would like to register, click here to login.
Annelise Larson is a filmmaker turned audience development specialist and digital strategist, and a passionate advocate for media storytellers, especially those with traditionally underrepresented voices. She was one of the first in Canada to recognize the power of audience in the digital context and what this could mean for creatives. She continues to champion and work with storytellers to develop a strategic audience-led approach to their work, one that helps turn them into storypreneurs. She has worked with hundreds of creatives to get financing, generate revenue and impact, and build sustainable businesses. Her podcast STORY+AUDIENCE with screenwriter Jill Golick can be found on all major podcasting platforms. She has also created a digital marketing online course for media in conjunction with the National Screen Institute – Canada, and released two studies with Telefilm Canada entitled Thanks COVID! 15 Lessons for Film Distribution from the First Wave and Futureproofing Canadian Film: Working Towards a Sustainable Feature Film Ecosystem.
Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema. Kinema is a global film distribution and exhibition platform that leverages the power of community and social interaction to screen and stream films. She was previously the founder of the impact entertainment agency Picture Motion, which was acquired by Publicis Media/PMCI Entertainment in 2024 and where she also concurrently serves as EVP, Entertainment Partnerships. Prior to Picture Motion, she ran impact for Righteous Pictures, led digital strategy for the social action group at Participant Media, and handled program coordination and social media management at Norman Lear’s nonprofit Declare Yourself.
Christie is also the co-author of The Distribution Playbook and has won several industry recognitions, including being named one of Fortune’s Rising Female Founders in 2023 and Fast Company’s Most Creative People in 2021. She’s currently on the board of Subject Matter and The Reinvent Stockton Foundation, and on the Capacity Council for Brown Girls Doc Mafia.
Nathan Fleet is a writer, director, composer, and lifelong Hamiltonian committed to cultivating the city’s creative culture. Leading Blue Pick Media, he produces original film and music projects, including Air Knob, Songs From the Hammer, Wild Child, East End, and the new micro-musical series Phone.
As Executive Director of the Hamilton Film Festival and the Hamilton School of Media Arts, he oversees year-round education programs—from youth camps to industry development—and now the HFFd distribution initiative to expand local content into Canadian theatres.
A graduate of the Mohawk College music program and a musician since the late 1980s, Fleet continues to write, perform, and compose—with a well-known fondness for loud guitars and a reluctance for formal attire or dancing.
Sonya Yokota William, as founder and director of the Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors (NICE), champions independent cinemas across the country. In September 2025, NICE launched the Canadian Movie Marketplace, the first-ever catalogue of Canadian films available for theatrical booking. With over 15 years of experience in independent film exhibition across Canada and the UK, Sonya brings strategic marketing expertise and a commitment to building sustainable audiences.
Webinar
Social media strategies that cut through the noise
Whether you’re championing a Canadian indie feature, new series or an international co-production, using social media is a critical tool for connecting with audiences. With countless platforms, trends, and metrics to consider, it can be tough to know where to focus your efforts.
CMPA members joined us on Monday, September 29, 2025, for Social media strategies that cut through the noise, a webinar discussion that covered content creation, current trends, and smart ways to stretch your social media budget. We shared insights on adapting campaigns for different platforms, keeping buzz alive after launch, and understanding which metrics truly matter.
The webinar, featuring digital marketing experts Dani Gagnon and Brittany Tiplady, will provide a practical overview of effective strategies and common pitfalls in the fast-moving world of social media promotion for film and TV. The CMPA’s Andrew Addison will moderate the session.
Dani Gagnon is a keynote speaker with the National Speakers Bureau, and has been working on digital marketing strategies and campaigns with brands using innovative ideas and methods for the last 15 years. She has spoken to groups like the Government of Canada, and helped create strategies for the Property Brothers and TV shows on Netflix, Prime, Hulu, CBC, and more. A disruptor in the Canadian marketing world and an edgy influencer on social, Dani brings the heat to every digital campaign she works on. Read more→
Brittany Tiplady is the co-founder and director of Loose Lips Media, a Vancouver-based, female-founded marketing agency working with clients like TELUS STORYHIVE, the Vancouver International Film Festival, and Lark Productions’ Allegiance and Family Law. A former actor and journalist, she now supports creators, organizations, and production companies with creative strategy and brand awareness campaigns. She also writes We Must Discuss, a Substack exploring film, television, beauty, and culture. Read more→