Someone who sells the film for you, territory by territory.
A sales agent represents the film to buyers — streamers, broadcasters, international territories — usually for a commission plus recoupable expenses.
Features and high-end docs with festival results, cast, or a strong genre hook.
A bad agreement can lock the film up for years with nothing to show for it. Read the term, the territories, the expense cap, and the reporting schedule.
What an agent actually does
They take the film to markets — AFM, EFM, Cannes Marché, TIFF — and sell rights by territory and by window. In exchange they take a commission, typically 15 to 25 percent, plus capped expenses off the top.
The five terms that matter
Length of term, territories granted, commission percentage, the expense cap, and how often they report and pay. Ask for all five in writing before you sign anything.
Markets have a calendar
Sales cycles are built around markets. Being finished and packaged a couple of months before one is worth more than being finished right after it ends.
Acquisition sometimes comes to you
If a festival premiere generates heat, an acquisitions executive may reach out directly. Have a producer's rep or an entertainment attorney lined up before that call happens.