Find movies that match your resources. If you have few contacts, it is best to start small, trying to discover small movies. Attend film festivals and private screenings.
Secure a distribution deal with the movie producer or studio. Some studios have their own distributors, but some sell distribution rights to a movie for various reasons. The deal can involve a fraction of the profits or it can be a flat rate. Either can be beneficial, depending on the film's success.
Try to acquire the ancillary rights. These rights are for television, video, and DVD distribution and can be just as profitable as the theater distribution. In fact, many movies only break even after the DVD release.
Craft a distribution strategy. A movie can "open wide," reaching thousands of movie theaters across the country, or "open small," reaching a few hundred carefully selected theaters in mostly urban areas. The reasons for choosing a small release might be a lack of stars, a small target audience, and the time of the release. During the summer, "indie movies" are often crowded out by blockbuster-style movies.
Order prints of the movie. Each print costs between $1,500 and $2,000, so choosing a wise distribution strategy can immediately save costs.
Work out deals with movie chains. It is imperative for film distributors to maintain good working relationships with movie theaters. Some small theaters will pay more to have "exclusive" rights within a city or a metropolitan area. If the movie has a small audience, you should not frustrate theaters by over-saturating the market by allowing the movie to play at five or six theaters at a time.