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Film Distribution: Navigating the American Film Market®
Rating: 3.9 out of 5(30 ratings)
1,902 students

Film Distribution: Navigating the American Film Market®

Learn how to navigate the halls of AFM® (American Film Market®) & Sell Your Film! Filmmaking and Film School.
Last updated 5/2020
English

What you'll learn

  • You'll have a better understanding on how to navigate not only the American Film Market but Film Markets in general
  • Basics of Film Distribution Deals
  • Networking techniques
  • How to Get a meeting with a distributor

Course content

2 sections29 lectures3h 2m total length
  • What is a Producer's Rep?2:29

    Learn how a producer's rep acts as a liaison between filmmakers and distributors in the American Film Market, connects creators with distributors, negotiates better deals, and avoids bad distributors.

  • What is a Distributor?0:36

    A distributor handles North American distribution for an independent feature film or television piece and sells it across platforms such as hotels, airlines, and television. They also handle international sales.

  • What is a Sales Agent?1:10
  • What is a Buyer?0:55
  • Understanding the American Film Market2:44

    The American Film Market, held in Santa Monica each year, brings together sales agents, distributors, international buyers, and filmmakers to forge relationships with traditional distributors and explore pre-sales opportunities.

  • Why do Buyers go to AFM?2:27
  • Why do Sales Agents go to AFM?1:01
  • Why Should Film Producers go to AFM?4:16

    Network with distributors and sales agents at AFM to build your client base and promote films with distributors, leveraging relationships for potential financing.

  • Why Directors, Actors and Filmmakers go to AFM?1:04
  • What Badge should you purchase?9:58
  • Networking Tricks2:36
  • How to pitch your film at AFM2:43

    Craft a concise AFM pitch in about 10 seconds, covering genre, a one-sentence synopsis, notable talent, production stage, and a three-sentence storyline expansion, with budget ranges and presentation tips.

  • What is Alpha Posing?2:49
  • Mirroring and how you can use it5:51

    Learn how mirroring can build trust and rapport in conversations, calibrate tone, and guide discussions with flexibility and empathy during film market negotiations.

  • How to approach a distributor5:24
  • Researching Sales Agents and Distributors2:48
  • How to follow up?2:20
  • More on following up4:03
  • Due Diligence2:00
  • Things to look for in a distribution contract5:26
  • More things to look for in a distribution contract5:11

    Learn key distribution contract elements like presales and minimum guarantees, banks, and protections such as a testing director and a nonperformance clause, with rights revert on bankruptcy.

  • Pre-Sales2:40
  • Managing Expectations9:18
  • Wrap Up Questions9:16

    Learn how filmmakers negotiate with distributors and sales agents at the American Film Market, including contract terms, commissions up to 50%, and the pre-sales process.

Requirements

  • Filmmakers
  • Filmmakers with finished feature films
  • Filmmakers and Screenwriter who want to learn how a film market works

Description

Join over 25,000 students learning from our courses!

Got a completed film?  Have no idea how to sell it? How do I get my film to distributors?  If you’re looking for a standard Hollywood distribution deal, and are based in America, then the best place for you to go is The American Film Market®.  But the market has it’s own culture that can be overwhelming and difficult to understand.  Luckily, Producer’s Rep Ben Yennie and Author of the First ever book on film markets has your back.    

Ben’s Book, "The Guerrilla Rep: American Film Market® Distribution Success on No Budget" is used as a textbook at more than 10 film schools, and is available at bookstores everywhere.  But more than that, he’s repped films ranging from $100,000 dollars to $1 million dollars and he understands what to look for in a deal.  

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What people are saying about our courses: 

"By far, the best director and cinematography course on the Internet." - Nate Carroll

"I really enjoyed taking this class. It wasn't just that the subject was interesting to me, but the teacher also made the class intriguing. I would gladly recommend this class to anyone who would be interested." - Leah Ames

Very helpful. Adds depth to your understanding and intuitive insights which you surely had if you happened to play with video shooting and editing without doing any learning beforehand. It's enriching. The movie samples are great as the clarify the points. Love it! - Yosi Tsitsu

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No matter how you plan to distribute your film, the relationships you foster are key to finding success. If you're self-distributing, those relationships are the ones you foster through social media and your local communities. If like many filmmakers, you're looking for more traditional distribution then you'll need relationships with distributors and sales agents. If you're an American or International Filmmaker, the best place to foster those relationships is at The American Film Market®.

But AFM® (American Film Market®) is somewhat Mercurial and hard to understand without a veteran guiding you. That's why is happy to bring you a workshop on how to use AFM® to establish relationships with distributors. 

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So what are you waiting for? Whether you are fresh out of film school, a screenwriter who wants to create his/her own content, or just someone who wants to make a feature film this course is for you. Join over 25,000 students that have already taken Indie Film Hustle filmmaking and screenwriting courses. 

If you've got the dream.

If you've got the drive.

If you've got the passion - but you're missing the knowledge and experience...this course will help you sell your feature film at AFM® (American Film Market®).

Enroll NOW and learn how to sell a low budget feature film at AFM®! Let's get started!

American Film Market® and AFM® are registered trademarks of the Independent Film and Television Alliance®. This course, its presenter or any other parties associated with this material are not directly affiliated with nor endorsed by the Independent Film and Television Alliance.


Who this course is for:

  • Filmmakers
  • Screenwriters
  • Film Directors
  • Film Producers