Learn directly from a senior acquisitions executive who has helped hundreds of independent films secure distribution!

You will get an exclusive downloadable checklist for first-time filmmakers to confidently navigate your first project from start to finish!

Discover exactly what sales reps and buyers look for and how to position your film to get noticed and picked up!

Breaking into the film marketplace is exciting and full of opportunity, especially now as streaming platforms and buyers are looking for fresh voices. While major festival deals and acquisitions make headlines, many strong films still go unnoticed. The key to getting your film picked up is not just creating something great. It is understanding how the industry works today. In this exclusive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn why strategy matters as much as craft and how positioning your project the right way can open doors to representation and deals.

You might believe that if your film is well made, it should sell, but many filmmakers learn the hard way that quality alone is not enough. Without aligning your project to audience demand, buyer expectations, and market realities, even excellent films can struggle to find a home. This session breaks down what buyers really look for, including genre marketability, budget tier, casting value, production design, technical delivery requirements, and festival strategy. You will also explore the practical elements that often get overlooked, such as why unit photography matters, how music clearances affect sales, and what materials actually help you stand out.

Your Stage 32 educator, Tony Piantedosi, brings more than a decade of acquisitions experience and has helped hundreds of independent films secure distribution. As Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Vertical, he has been directly involved in acquiring a wide range of notable titles across genres and budget levels. Because he evaluates projects every day from a buyer’s perspective, you will gain insight straight from someone who knows exactly why films get picked up or passed over and what separates market-ready projects from the rest.

In this interactive Stage 32 webinar, you will learn how to package and position your film, select the right concept for today’s market, make smart production and post decisions, navigate sales strategy, and confidently pitch to reps and buyers. You will also receive a practical checklist handout to guide your process. By the end, you will walk away with a clear roadmap for aligning your creative vision with real-world sales opportunities so you can move forward with confidence, clarity, and purpose!

PLUS! You will receive this handout to help you:

• Checklist for First-Time Filmmakers

Tony on Teaching for Stage 32:

“The Stage 32 community is a talented and diverse group of artists and storytellers, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to connect and share insights with you!”

Packaging & Positioning Your Film for the Marketplace

• Choosing the Right Film for Today’s Market
• Understanding Genre Marketability
• Budget Tier and Its Impact on Sales
• Creating the Right Look and World
• Casting for Value
• Production & Post Elements That Influence Buyers
• Why Unit Photography Matters
  
  

Critical Technical & Creative Decisions

• Shooting Considerations (Including Exterior Strategy)
• The Power of Production Design & Set Decoration
• Music Clearances Explained
• M&E Tracks and Delivery Requirements
• Textless Versions & International Needs
• Why Your Title Matters
  
  

Finishing, Selling & Strategy

• Once the Film Is Done - What Comes Next?
• Festival Strategy: Is It Right for You?
• Temp Art, Trailers, Loglines & Publicity Materials
• Who Represents Your Sale?
• Key Negotiation Points to Understand
• Worldwide vs. Split Territory Sales
• The Most Common Negotiation Mistakes
  
  

Pitching to Sales Reps & Buyers

• Cold Outreach: What Works and What Doesn’t (emails and calls)
• In-Person Pitch Dos and Don’ts
• Buyer Red Flags to Avoid
  
  

Live Q&A with Tony

• Independent filmmakers preparing to sell or distribute a completed or upcoming film

• Producers who want to better understand what buyers and sales reps look for before greenlighting a project

• Writer-directors seeking to align their creative vision with current marketplace demand

• First-time filmmakers who want to avoid common mistakes that prevent films from getting picked up

• Filmmakers planning a festival run and wanting a smart sales strategy beforehand

• Creators developing projects who want to choose concepts, genres, and budgets with real commercial potential in mind

• Anyone looking to confidently pitch their film to sales agents, distributors, or buyers

Tony on Teaching for Stage 32:

“The Stage 32 community is a talented and diverse group of artists and storytellers, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to connect and share insights with you!”