Continuing our industry survey of sage advice on documentary distribution, we begin this week with Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment. Braun has been an active player behind the scenes at TIFF over the years, helping to broker the distribution deals for Spellbound, Gunner Palace, Three of Hearts and many more. This year his slate includes the doc Obscene  about the legendary publisher Barny Rosset (pictured). Not to mention that Braun played a role as executive producer shepherding the comic book A History of Violence to the screen for David Cronenberg's 2005 adaptation.

Q: What changes do you see in the documentary marketplace?

BRAUN: More theatrical failures in the marketplace create the perception that documentaries don't "work" theatrically. Just when one failure too many tips the scales to complete jaded conviction that it's "over", one film "works" and then another. Then the hunger starts and it burns a little. A lot of money is made by somebody and then someone else and a thin layer of excitement and anticipation peeks through the hardened outer layer. The cycle repeats. Nothing changes while everything is completely new and just when the new is old, things change and then the cycle repeats.

Q: What advice can you give doc makers on navigating distribution?

BRAUN: Don't expect anything and you'll be pleasantly surprised. It will all be good in the end and if it's not good...it's not the end.

Q: What do you hope to get out of Real to Reel this year?

BRAUN: A new level of excitement in bringing truly outstanding works of art to the festival.

Tune in tomorrow morning to hear from Ryan Harrington of A&E Indie Films.