Banksy, notorious UK artist, has been an enigmatic force in the ever changing scene of illegal yet exciting street art. His style is recognizable around the world yet very little is known about the mysterious masquerader, who is rarely heard from in public forum. However, that all changed when a little documentary gem appeared out of the blue earlier this year at Sundance and became the closet thing to a surprise hit at the festival. Now, the film is getting a wider release but with a uniquely Bansky twist.
Deadline reports that Producers Distribution Agency will release the film in New York, LA and San Francisco on the April 16 date, then “slowly platform to other cities.” Why is this unusual? Most films that make distribution deals do so based in large part on a significant ad and promotion commitment. This setup will rely more on low-key media promotion and word of mouth, which is much more in keeping with Banksy’s work. Source /Film
Word of mouth promotion seems oddly appropriate, as it mimics the way that people spread the word about street art popping up in random places. It’s good to see that Banksy is executing some control over how his film is marketed and is careful to keep it true to the source material. If the UK premiere is any indication of the distinctive tactics Banksy is using in regards to promoting the film, I think it’s safe to assume Exit Through the Gift Shop will have some insane street cred and become an instant cult classic.
Are you interested in seeing Exit Through the Gift Shop?