Distribution : Selling to AFM by Paul Bestolarides

There are many different paths. First, to clarify, AFM is a film market, so it doesn't buy anything. There are many different companies doing business there, many with booths or rooms rented out in the hotels as offices where they conduct business. Most of the business that goes down is between small distributors (who have films to sell) and international buyers (who need films for their territories). It is also a big trade show with people hawking services and locations touting their virtues. In addition there are lots of screenings as sellers try to show their films to potential buyers. It is a tough place for an independent filmmaker to sell a film. It is however a good place to make connections with people buying and selling films that can lead to selling your film, or even finding international buyers to sell to piecemeal. No buyers will try to "match your expenses." They will try to low ball you as low as they can. The only way to get around that is to make the film for less than it looks like it took. If your hundred thousand dollar horror thriller has one good name in it and looks like it cost a million bucks, you can probably do okay. If you spent a million bucks and have no name cast, you're screwed.

If you have a finished film, it's worth going to AFM. But you need to start calling distributors in advance to set up meetings. Select the best scene or two from the film with the biggest name actor you have and put them on Vimeo, on DVDs and on your laptop to carry with you. You can cut a trailer, but that's not what they generally want to see - anybody can cut a trailer of clips, they want to see what the tone of the real movie is. In your meeting this is your biggest sales tool after the name cast in the movie. Do not give them the whole movie at this meeting. Do a lot of meetings. If it starts to generate heat, you'll get calls. If it doesn't, you'll hear crickets. Move on and do more meetings.

Also it's not just about making this sale. It's about starting to build relationships. Maybe this movie wasn't for them, or maybe it sucked. But maybe they'll be willing to look at your next one. Relationships are the long term goals.

If you just have a script don't go to AFM. Really. Don't. You're just another fish in a sea of desperation.

Just my two cents.

AFM is the "carmax of movies." One price fits all.

Very few studio players (They usually show up on Day 1 and they're out). It's worth buying a one-day pass and walk the experience.

Hey Dan -- One price fits all? Does this mean that they are indeed paying Advances but only like a meager sum (ie Netflix $2,500.) ??

What is an ideal way to distribute a movie? Has anyone had experience in selling their movie?

HI Paul. Please see this 32 post for an example of someone I helped to sell their film: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/promotion/I-put-a-film-in-front-of-1-Million-people-and-got-the-filmmaker-a-Distribution-deal

I have been able to sell my six features throughout the year. If this is your first feature made you may want to consider having a sales agent or distributor representing you at film markets. Or you can go experience it yourself but make sure to follow what said above. Attending AFM not only need pre-plan plus the $ to attend so it can maximiza your money spent.

Where can I find representation? Does it depend on the genre of the film?

Years ago I found a International Sales Agent, called Cine-Sales, Inc. They had a large catalog of films similar to mine, so I thought it would pay off. In the end, it didn't cost me anything...but I didn't make any $ either - largely because the market had dropped off and digital films had over-saturated the foreign markets etc etc.

So I (could) maybe suggest doing what I did -- I first searched for a boutique film distributor who sold me type of film, and I then asked them for a reference, and they turned me on to Cine Sales.

I work with a Producer’s Rep and on the premise that ALL my clients sell their films.