American Film Market (AFM)
Major film industry market where independent films are bought and sold by distributors worldwide.
Definition
The American Film Market (AFM) is the premier film industry market for independent film sales and acquisition. Held annually in Santa Monica, AFM brings together producers, sales agents, distributors, and financiers to transact business on completed films and projects in development.
AFM includes market screenings, conference programming, and extensive networking. The event serves as a barometer for independent film market health and trends in international acquisition.
Why It Matters
AFM enables sales that independent films require for viability. Without market access, producers struggle to find distribution even for quality projects.
The market's concentration of buyers enables efficient pitching impossible through individual outreach. A few days at AFM can accomplish what months of calls cannot.
Examples in Practice
An AFM sales agent closes deals for a thriller across 40 territories, generating revenue that covers production budget before theatrical release.
Producer meetings at AFM secure pre-sales commitments that enable financing for a project that couldn't close without territory guarantees.
Market screenings at AFM attract distributor interest in a festival acquisition that hadn't generated offers through standard submissions.