1.2 How does distribution finance work?

As a producer, a pre-sale to a distributor is one of the most important potential sources of film finance. It brings money into the production pot and it ensures that the film will be presented to audiences.

But of course, distributors look at it somewhat differently. They are interested in securing a great product for their distribution system at the lowest cost and the lowest risk. Here’s how Alex at eOne approaches film finance.

What do you think about the way a distributor thinks about investment in film? From his point of view it’s an odds game. But from the point of view of the producer, it’s more like life or death. Either the film gets financed or it doesn’t. And this is a good example of the creativity vs. commerce conundrum with film. For some players, it’s an ‘act of love’, for others it’s a commercial enterprise.