Marketing Tips to Sell Your Film

The ultimate goal of making a film is to get people to see the film. But how do you do that? You do it through film distribution! While you could try to find ways to distribute your film on your own, you won’t have nearly the reach that you would with a film distributor. There are multiple ways to find a film distributor; however, what it ultimately comes down to is how you market, or sell the idea of your film. When you can convince them that your film is something special, that is when you will be able to make a distribution deal. So how do you best market your film to distributors?

Ways to Sell Your Film to a Distributor:

First, before deciding to sell your film to a distributor, you should consider how to meet distributors or catch their attention

1. Meeting with Film Distributors - The simplest way to make a direct connection with a distributor is to just talk to them. This is, of course, easier said than done. Some distributors take submissions and will have meetings with filmmakers interested in having their films distributed. Others will only take submissions through a sales agent who works solely on trying to sell your film. And getting a meeting with a distributor after that can be tougher. That said, if you do get a meeting with a distributor, you want to go into the meeting fully prepared. This includes knowing what type of distributor you are talking to. Some focus on global distribution, some focus on a certain genre. Make sure that you find a film distributor who is going to understand your target audience and has distributed similar films to yours with success. 

2. Have a Sales Agent - A sales agent is someone who works as an intermediary between producers and distributors, negotiates distribution deals, develops tailored marketing strategies, collects marketing insights, and helps you sell your film. Not every project needs to have a sales agent, however, having a seasoned sales agent can get you in the room with more distributors. That said, make sure you are working with them and collaborating fully because you want to know that they are working with your best interest at heart.  

3. Pre-sale Distribution - When you are able to get a pre-sale distribution deal, you are selling your film before it is completed. This means that you make a deal with a distributor early on in pre-production or during production with the concept of your film. These deals are great because they give your production money upfront to make the movie and then your film gets distributed after it is done. There is a risk, though. If you do not end up finishing the film, you will need to find a way to give the money back.

4. Film Festivals - Film festivals are a great place to network with other filmmakers, show your film to an audience who loves films, win awards, and catch the attention of distributors. There are all different sizes of film festivals, some for smaller projects, some for even the big blockbuster films. Premiering at certain festivals and winning prizes can get your film nominated for film awards and can help you get more attention to catch a film distributor’s eye. Distributors are always keeping an eye out for what is doing well on the festival circuit so if your film is doing well at festivals, you might be able to get the attention of a distributor who you can sell your film. 

5. Film Markets - In conjunction with a lot of film festivals, there are a lot of film markets that happen annually. Film markets are places where you can actually show off your film to distributors. Typically, production companies will have a room or booth at these film markets where they will have materials showcasing the films they have in their repertoire and distributors will go around, learning about films and purchasing films that they want to distribute. Famous markets include Cannes’ Marché du Film, the American Film Market, and the European Film Market. 

Tips to Keep in Mind When Trying to Market and Sell Your Film:

There are many things to keep in mind when selling your film to a film distributor. While marketing and selling is not an exact science, doing everything you can to catch the attention and interest of a distributor is important to get your film sold and distributed. It is important to make sure that before you try to sell your film, you take the time to make a strong plan to give your film its best chance. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating your marketing plan to sell your film. 

1. Know Your Audience - Knowing your audience is so important to how you sell your film. This includes knowing who will want to watch your film as well as who you are trying to sell your film to. The film’s audience is anyone who the film might attract. Depending on your film’s story and genre, you will want to pick a target audience or the particular group of people who are most likely to watch your film. For romantic comedies, this might be women in their 20s and 30s. For sports films, this might be men in their 40s and 50s. Doing film analysis and studying test group data can help you find the right target audience for your film. Knowing who wants to watch your film will help you find the best way to market your film and also who you should sell your film to. That said, knowing your audience also includes knowing who the distributors you are meeting with are. Distributors are always looking for particular stories or films that will resonate with certain audiences. Make sure you know what the strong suits of the distributors you are meeting with, be it if they are better at selling films that are of a certain genre, or reach a certain audience, or a certain country. Know what stories the distributors like and what they don’t. And, most importantly, know how their distribution company works, how they can help you, and why your film is the right one for them to distribute. 

2. Find the Right Channels to Market Your Film - The right channels are the right places and ways for you to get your film seen. Traditionally, this could be through posters, trailers, and media that includes interviews with the creatives, talk shows, and other similar entertainment news outlets. Today, the digital marketing landscape has drastically changed marketing and can be extremely influential in getting your film's attention. Social media has become the leading way to get people’s attention. This includes platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. TikTok has become one of, if not the most, important platforms for advertising today. Working with creators to organically create content and allow your audience to engage with challenges, sounds, and trends can really help bring attention to your film. Through any channel, virality is the best way to get eyes on your project. The same goes for Instagram where more than the short-form content that TikTok champions, people can get a glimpse into the process of making the films. You can have your cast and crew talk about their experience or show behind-the-scenes content to help audiences connect more with your project. Having a strong digital following and buzz around your film will help you catch the attention of potential distributors who can help you reach audiences that you might not otherwise reach, like in different countries. 

3. Use Your Network - Sometimes, regardless of how good your film is, it is difficult to sell your film. But there will always be bad films that get out there and are distributed– how do they do that? They do that by using their network. The industry is very tight-knit, and people know how important every connection can be. If you know someone who is a distributor or knows someone who knows someone, following these links will help give you a foot in the door. From there, you will have to use all the marketing and selling tools you have and be prepared. When you are working to sell your film, make sure you use your connections to give the film its best shot at being sold. While it might seem hard to start networking, there are many tools that can help you make genuine connections in the industry like Auteurnet. 

4. Be Detailed - One of the essential things to remember before going into selling your film is to be detailed. This means knowing everything about your film, about your target audience, and about who you are selling your film to. You don’t want to be asked a question that you cannot answer or be so vague when selling your film that people do not understand why they need to see your film. If distributors do not get all the details of your film, they may not feel a strong connection to it and may pass on your project. So make sure you know everything there is to know about your film. 

Remember that every film is different and you may need to try different techniques to catch a distributor’s attention and sell your film. That said, when you find a distributor and reach your audience, that is when the magic happens. 

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