SALES & DISTRIBUTION AN INSIDE VIEW

SALES & DISTRIBUTION

AN INSIDE VIEW

OVERVIEW

• WORKING WITH SALES COMPANIES

• FROM SCRIPT TO MARKETPLACE

WORKING WITH SALES CO.• THE ROLE OF THE SALES COMPANY

• HOW THE SALES COMPANY CAN HELP

• CHOOSING THE RIGHT SALES COMPANY

THE ROLE OF THE SALES COSALES STRATEGY:

• Prioritizing territories• Targeting buyers• Negotiation• Timing

MARKETING STRATEGY:

• Festivals• Press campaign• Advertising campaign• Poster/brochure design•Timing

MARKETING

• Selected for Cannes• Worked with Press Before

and During Cannes• Advertised Market

Screenings with Press Quotes

• Distinct Artwork Effective• Ensured Smooth Timing

Throughout

SALES

• Targeted Key Buyers Prior to Festival

• USA Important Priority• Sold to Strand Releasing• Announced sale before LUFF

screening• Negotiated Release Plans to

enable Oscar eligibility (Timing!)

• France and Germany followed on with more in pipeline

FESTIVALSA LIST:Sundance (January)Berlin (February)Cannes (May)Venice (August/Sept)Toronto (Sept)

OTHER NOTABLE:Rotterdam (Jan/Feb)Tribeca (May)Edinburgh (June)Karlovy Vary (July)Locarno (July)San Sebastian (September)Tokyo (October)London (October)Rome (October)Dubai (December)

SPECIALIST FESTIVAL EXAMPLESKIDS’ FESTIVALS:SPROCKETS, CANADA (APRIL)GIFFONI, ITALY (JUNE)CHICAGO CHILDREN’S (SEPT)

HORROR/FANTASY:DEAD BY DAWN, UK (APRIL)BRUSSELS FANTASTIC FF (APRIL)PIFAN, KOREA (JUNE)FRIGHTFEST, UK (AUGUST)AUSTIN FANTASTIC FF, USA (SEPTSITGES, SPAIN (OCTOBER)

WOMEN’S FESTIVALS:BIRDS’ EYE VIEW, UK (MARCH)THE FLYING BROOM, TURKEY (MAY)AICHI WOMEN’S IFF, JAPAN (JUNE)FEMINALE, GERMANY (OCTOBER)

BRITISH:DINARD FESTIVAL DU FILMS BRITANNIQUE , FRANCE (OCTOBER)

WHAT THE SALES COMPANY CAN BRING TO YOUR FILM

• CREATIVE INPUT• COMMERCIAL INPUT• FINANCIAL INPUT• PRODUCER ADVICE/INPUT

CREATIVE INPUTSCRIPT FEEDBACK• Overall story• Cultural considerations

WORLD MARKETING• Poster/brochure design• Advertising

COMMERCIAL INPUT

• ADVICE ON CAST• ADVICE ON DIRECTOR

FINANCIAL INPUT

• SALES FIGURES• SALES GUARANTEES• PRE-SALES• ADVANCES

PRODUCER ADVICE

• CO-PRODUCTION

FINDING YOUR WAY

WHICH SALES COMPANY?

• SUPERMARKET• SPECIALIST• BOUTIQUE

CHOOSING THE BEST COMPANY

• REFERENCES FROM PRODUCERS• CHECK CATALOGUE• UNDERSTAND THE FILM?• TRANSPARENCY

CONTRACT ESSENTIALS• TERM• TERRITORIES• CLEAR ACCOUNTING SCHEDULE• CLEAR TERMS OF COMMISSION• GET-OUT CLAUSE• DELIVERY SCHEDULE

SENDING INFORMATIONSOME BASIC RULES

DO:• Be brief!• Research company• Explain rights • Clarify attachments• Clarify your needs

DON’T:• Information overload• Send unsolicited script• Exaggerate

CHECKLIST • BUDGET• REALISTIC (IDEA OF) FINANCE PLAN• REALISTIC (IDEA OF) SCHEDULE• (PROPOSED) DIRECTOR • (PROPOSED) CAST• SYNOPSIS • SCRIPT (AFTER ABOVE APPROVAL)