Hire an advertising and publicity staff. For a low-budget picture this might not be an option, but it is one of the best ways to get your movie seen. These people often have inside connections that will help determine if your movie gets into the right hands and if it has an opportunity to see the light of day -- or, in this case, the dark of a movie theater.
Campaign to get your movie shown at a film festival. These are often hard to get into, but inclusion in such an event will dramatically impact your ability to get distribution. Start small at local festivals and work your way up. This will help create a "buzz" in an industry where independent productions can often be overlooked. Successful festival films often go on to become critically acclaimed, which can help the movie to be shown at more theaters or boost DVD sales.
Create Internet buzz. News travels very quickly online, and this might be your opportunity to get widespread distribution. Make a website dedicated to the film complete with release dates, a trailer, some background information and even a few stills from production. Use social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about the film's website to grab people's attention.
Network at industry meetup opportunities. Networking is the name of the game when it comes to making it in show business. As a filmmaker or promoter, you will want to join a national or regional union, attend conventions and premieres, intern at local production companies -- anything you can do to get your foot in the door. This will increase your chances of getting your movie to a wider audience.