Research on Film Distribution & Preservation

I'm researching something I've been thinking about for a while:

What actually happens to independent films after they're finished?

Not just distribution—but long-term accessibility, portfolios, preservation, and whether audiences can still legally watch them years later.

If you've made, produced, or worked on films, I'd love to hear about your experience.

I've created a short survey (around 5–8 minutes) to better understand how filmmakers currently handle these challenges.

https://tally.so/r/LZx7a1

I'm genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives—even if you think everything already works perfectly.

Thanks in advance.