Film Market
Trade event where films are bought and sold internationally.
Definition
A Film Market is a trade event where distributors, sales agents, and buyers negotiate deals to acquire distribution rights for films. Major markets include the Cannes Market (Marché du Film), American Film Market (AFM), and European Film Market (EFM).
Markets differ from festivals by focusing on business transactions rather than artistic exhibition. Many markets run alongside festivals, with buyers screening films and negotiating purchases during festival events.
Why It Matters
Markets provide essential venues for independent films to secure international distribution. A single market can generate distribution deals across dozens of territories, creating revenue streams necessary for recoupment and profit.
For producers, market presence signals that films are available and ready for acquisition. Sales agents use markets to meet with territorial buyers and negotiate the multi-territory deals that finance international releases.
Examples in Practice
At AFM, a sales agent might screen a completed thriller for international buyers, securing distribution deals for UK, Germany, Japan, and 20 other territories in one week, generating millions in sales.
Pre-sales at markets can finance production. A sales agent presells rights to multiple territories based on script, cast, and director, using guaranteed minimum guarantees (MGs) to secure production financing.