Enter Early or Enter Late? Sales Agents and the Life of a Film

When should a sales agent come on board: at script stage, at rough cut or after the festival premiere? Leading international sales agents unpack what each entry point offers and what it costs, from financing leverage and market positioning to commission, recoupment and the rights involved. An early partnership can open doors to financing and bring market insight into a project while it is still taking shape. A later one lets producers present a finished film and keep their options open for longer. The discussion also looks at how producers and agents work together along the way: how an agent's knowledge of buyers, festivals and audiences can inform creative and strategic choices, and how decisions on festival strategy and release windows are shared. When does that insight make the greatest difference?
A practical session for producers weighing when, and on what terms, to sign with a sales agent.