Outside of the UK there are many distributors of artists’ film and video. These organisations vary, as do their procedures and activity. Most distributors have a national focus specialising in work that originated or is related to their country. But various ones operate on a more international basis, and have work from a wider range of artists. Similarly, most distributors manage a range of work both contemporary and historic. In the listings below are details of the many distributors, the work that they represent and contact information for them. As a general rule of thumb most distributors will require 1–2 months' advance notice and may require payment in advance of the shipment of the work.

There have been various attempts to consolidate the many online databases of artists' work. The most successful and useful attempt is the website Cineovid. This database collates details from various international distributors and includes notes, biographical information, technical details as well links to active distributors for each work listed. Visit the website at: www.cinovid.org/

International distributors of artists' film and video

• 235 Media GmbH
  Cologne, Germany
  www.235media.com
  Since 1982, 235 Media has operated as a distribution agency and media art gallery. As well as their own space they are actively involved in organising exhibitions with other venues. They distribute single screen video work and also handle computer-based works and installations.

• Argos
  Belgium
  www.argosarts.org
  Belgian video art and experimental film distributor created in 1989 with main focus on contemporary and historical Belgian work. They have their own impressive gallery space in Brussels, have an active preservation programme and screenings throughout the year.

• Arsenal Experimental
  Berlin, Germany
  www.fdk-berlin.de/en/arsenal-experimental
  Arsenal Experimental is part of the Berlin-based umbrella organisation Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek (FDK), which runs the Forum of New Cinema at the Berlinale, the Arsenal cinema, as well as acting as a distributor for many titles featured in the Forum since the 1970s. The recently established distribution arm, Arsenal Experimental, specifically focuses on German and international experimental film.

• AV-arkki
  Helsinki, Finland
  www.av-arkki.fi
  AV-arkki was founded in 1989 by artists to promote and distribute Finnish media art internationally. They have over 130 active members including young and established artists.

• Bureau des Vidéos (BDV)
  Paris, France
  www.bureaudesvideos.com
  BDV (Bureau des Vidéos) is an contemporary video art distribution and production company created in 1994 to handle the video rights of international artists for private and public use.

• Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre
  Toronto, Canada
  www.cfmdc.org
  Canada’s oldest artist-run distribution centre founded in 1967 to promote experimental film and independent animation, drama and documentary. Their large collection dates from the 1950s to the present and includes mainly Canadian but also international work.

• Canyon Cinema
  San Francisco, USA
  www.canyoncinema.com
  Artist-run organisation founded in 1967 to support, promote, distribute and preserve the motion picture film as an art form. Their collection of more that 3500 films ranges from the 1930s to the present.

• Cinédoc Paris Films Coop
  Paris, France
  www.cinedoc.org
  Cinédoc and Paris Films Coop were created in the 1970s to develop an archive of avant-garde and experimental cinema; reintroduce neglected, forgotten, or lost films; curate film exhibitions and provide advice to film curators. Cinédoc now distributes 675 films and videos from 165 filmmakers and video artists.

• Collectif Jeune Cinema
  Paris, France
  www.cjcinema.org
  Founded in 1971 Collectif Jeune Cinema (CJC) distributes a range of work including international experimental film.

• Electronic Arts Intermix
  New York, USA
  www.eai.org
  US distributor of artists’ video and new media work founded in 1971. As well as distributing a large amount of important US artists’ work, EAI has an active preservation initiative, post-production facilities and organise regular exhibition programmes with the Dia Center for the Arts, where they are housed.

• Filmbank
  Amsterdam, Netherlands
  www.filmbank.nl
  Founded in 2001 to promote contemporary and historic Dutch independent experimental film and video. As well as active distribution they also organise screenings and events and collaborate with the Dutch Film Museum to distribute restored or preserved works.

• Filmform
  Stockholm, Sweden
  www.filmform.com
  Filmform has an archive containing film and video from 1950, when Filmform was founded, up to contemporary works. The distribution collection consists of works by Swedish artists and film-makers

• Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek
  Berlin, Germany
  www.fdk-berlin.de/verleih
  German and international experimental film, see also Arsenal Experimental above.

• Heure Exquiste!
  Lille, France
  www.exquise.org
  Since 1975 Heure Exquise! have been involved in the promotion and distribution of video art. As well as distribution, they run a comprehensive documentation centre and organise screenings and training.

• Hong Kong Arts Centre
  Hong Kong
  www.hkac.org.hk
  The Hong Kong Arts Centre runs a year round cultural programme in their galleries, cinemas and theatres as well as housing a wide range of cultural organizations. They distribute film and video works by artists based in Hong Kong and China.

• Image Forum
  Toyko, Japan
  www.imageforum.co.jp
  Long standing distributor of Japanese experimental film and video.

• Independent Exposure
  www.microcinema.com
  Founded in 1996, International Exposure is series of international touring programmes organised by Microcinema.

• The Kitchen
  www.thekitchen.org
  The Kitchen was founded in 1971 as a centre for interdisciplinary practice incorporating video, music and dance. They distribute a wide range of US video art.

• Lightcone
  Paris, France
  www.lightcone.org
  Founded in 1982, Light Cone has an important collection of international experimental film and video. As well as organising events and exhibitions they also have a study centre for experimental film.

• Museum of Modern Art Circulating Film and Video Library
  New York, USA
  www.moma.org/docs/collection/filmvideo/studycenters
  The film archive at MOMA was founded in 1935 and has managed a circulating library of film since its inception. The Circulating Film and Video programme makes available more than 1,200 16mm prints covering the history of film from the beginning of cinema to the present, as well as art films from the American Federation of the Arts and 35mm films from The Library of Congress. The collection also incorporates US and international work and video art.

• Netherlands Media Art Institute: Montevideo/Time Based Arts
  Amsterdam, Netherlands
  www.montevideo.nl
  Founded in 1978, the Netherlands Media Art Institute occupy an impressive facility in central Amsterdam. As well as an active distribution and preservation programme, they offer post-production facilities, organise exhibitions and events in and outside of their building. As well as single screen work they also distributes installations.

• New York Film-Makers’ Cooperative
  New York, USA
  www.film-makerscoop.com
  The world’s largest distributor of independent and avant-garde film and video. Founded in 1962, the Film-Makers Cooperative is the original artist-run distribution centre. Their historic collection is still open to anyone to join by depositing a film.

• Sixpackfilm
  Vienna, Austria
  www.sixpackfilm.com
  Founded in 1990 to promote Austrian film and video at home and abroad. Their collection includes a wide range of contemporary and historic Austrian work.

• V Tape
  Canada
  www.vtape.org
  Founded in 1976 V Tape is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive distributor of media work. As well as video art, V Tape distributes a diverse range of independent video productions exploring the artistic, social and political issues of contemporary culture.

• Videobrasil
  São Paulo, Brazil
  videobrasil.org.br
  Established in 1991 Associação Cultural Videobrasil is an umbrella organization that runs a wide range of activities to support the international exhibition of electronic artists in South American.

• Video Data Bank
  Chicago, USA
  www.vdb.org
  US distributor founded in 1976 to promote works by and about contemporary artists. As well as important historical and contemporary video art VDB distributes documentaries made by artists and taped interviews with visual artists, photographers and critics.

• Video Out
  Canada
  www.video-in.com
  Founded in 1980 to promote a wide range of independent video work from documentaries to video art, Video Out is part of Video In Studios, an artist-run access centre that includes public exhibition and production facilities.

• Videographe
  Canada
  www.videographe.qc.ca
  Created in 1971 Videographe exists to promote the production and dissemination of independent video, as well as distribution they have a gallery space and also facilitate productions. Videogaphe distribute independent documentary and fiction as well as more experimental work.

• Video Pool Inc.
  Winnipeg, Canada
  www.videopool.mb.ca
  Founded in 1983 Video Pool is an artist-run organisation for the promotion of media arts. As well as a distribution operation, they organise exhibitions and offer production facilities for independent producers.

• Videotage
  Hong Kong
  www.videotage.org.hk
  Founded in 1985/6 to support and facilitate artists working in time based media. Since then they have expanded to provide support for exhibitions, screenings and education and also distribute work made in Hong Kong.

• Women Make Movies
  USA
  www.wmm.com
  Women Make Movies was established in 1972 to address the under representation and misrepresentation of women in the media industry. Women Make Movies facilitates the development of feminist media through an international distribution service and a production assistance programme.

• WRO
  Poland
  http://wrocenter.pl
  Polish media art organisation founded in 1988 with a year round programme to support Polish Media and Video Art.