Also, I reckon this movie has a chance of being the next Transamerica (I know their plot lines are nothing alike but they both starred Kevin Zegers and were both independant movies).
it doesn't HAVE to go to ANY film festival.. thats up to the producer. it may simply be released. chances are the rights have already been purchased as they typically are before a film is produced.
Since it's an independent film, by definition it hasn't got a distribution deal yet. Independent films are produced outside the studio system and therefore do not have a distributor guaranteed. It will follow the usual course of going to film festivals, getting purchased by a distributor and then being released.
The release date will partly depend on which film festivals it appears in and at which one it will be purchased. For instance, if it plays at Sundance in January, it could be purchased early in the year and see an earlier release date. However if it plays at the Tribeca FF in April, or the Hamptons FF in October, it could see a later release date.
not entirely true. the production company may already have a distributor lined up. It has been done before with other "independent" films. being an independent film does not under any circumstances mean it has to or will go to any film festival.
Correct. Just because a film is an indie doesn't necessarily mean it is produced or screened at festivals without a distributor on board. The film can have a distribution deal in place even before shooting starts. It is more common, however, for the production company to screen the film at festivals in hopes of having the film get picked up for distribution, and most indies are acquired in that fashion. Most likely this film will follow that course.
----------------------------- The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.