mini majors

Hi Ace,
unfortunately a lot of the big studios are scaling back on these kind of programs - mentoring indie-style filmmakers and such. They keep saying too many movies, not enough screens...but there's a multiplex in every town in this country...oh well.
You might want to check out companies that specialize in distributing Asian, or specifically Indian, films for USA and Europe audiences. Like Tai Seng for Chinese films, likewise Indian films must have a distrib network.
Check out mandy.com as they have a comprehensive distributor list and they are free to use.
Don't know what to tell ya regarding getting a Big 6 studio to watch your film - we are all on that very long line. But at least if you can get a screening of a movie of yours in LA you can eMail or call agents and prodco people to attend. Go for it!

Universal's Focus Features used to do all Ang Lee's movies.

You can also search the Internet and see what kind of companies distributed well-known Indian movies like Lagaan and Devdas in the States.

The independent wings at the studios are hardly independent. The majority of movies they finance are still in the $10-30 million budget range. Most of these independent wings are seriously scaling back and some are being cut altogether (Warner Independent recently folded back into Warner Bros. if I'm not mistaken). But honestly, you're not going to be able to get anyone at Fox Searchlight to watch your movie. They're plenty busy developing their own projects and acquiring films at major festivals. You're not going to find a single American studio with an open submissions policy. It's not any different than screenplays. There are tons of films out there that will never have a chance at finding major distribution, just as there are thousands of scripts that will never see the light of day.

1. They're indie the way 'Sideways' is indie - major players, major backing, with an indie label stamped on it.

2. Aquisitions tend to come from in house - someone with a proven track record wanting to make something a little off the wall, or through film markets. though some markets are also festivals, not every festival is a market.

3. You need to either have a strong track record(Eternal Sunshine director) or a large positive body of work(Ang Lee) in your own country first.

Marketing Marketing Marketing
Im tired of hearing people continually repeat their own resignation to the 'fact' that no ones going to pick up new movies, no one has the time of day for new projects, or this or that.
Thats exactly what major companies ARE looking for, thats what agents live for -- that diamond in the ruff that no ones discovered yet.

If you have another B movie thats a dime a dozen, then Ill agree and pass on my own patronizing, 'good luck with that getting any attention'
BUT, if you really have something truly unique
then get it out there, and you'll find the cream always rises to the top.
With so many avenues for marketing now a days, Im so surprised that people who are trying to make a living on writing creative works, fail to use that creativity in getting attention for their finished products.

Just because the boat past many a writers by, doesnt mean Hollywood's not looking for new stuff. All it means is that perhaps Hollywood wasnt interested in what those that repeat the chants have to offer.

Google. This is basic information, I found it in under ten seconds. If you don't care enough about your work to do ten seconds of research...

Just gimme the names. How rotten are them manners, Jethro? Greedy and lazy it smacks of.

I think this one's run its course.