BY LIZA FOREMAN
This year’s European Film Market has been awash in big titles sold by a slew of independent sales companies that are creating momentum going into 2024.
At this week’s EFM, buzz titles like ‘Oh Canada’ from Paul Schrader, Oscar nominee Celine Song’s ‘Materialists’, David Mackenzie’s heist thriller ‘Fuze’, and Festival opener ‘Small Things Like These’, have been making the trade headlines. Not to mention fueling gossip about record sums reportedly being demanded for titles like the Will Smith starrer Sugar Bandits (without there even yet being a director in place).
But who are the actual sales companies getting behind the films? And what is the story this far?
“There has been a tidal wave caused by the streamers that has challenged the studios and created not only opportunities for independent producers and sales companies, but at the same time has made films more expensive and more difficult to package,” says Kirk D’Amico at Myrian Pictures. “But,” he adds, “talent for independent productions has become more elusive and more expensive.”
The Film Verdict puts a spotlight on some of the top US and European sales companies powering the post-strike comeback at EFM.
Arclight Films
Paul Schrader’s novel adaptation Oh, Canada has kept the veteran indie sales outfit Arclight on its toes this go-round. Non-stop negotiations have been reported by the film team. “I haven’t stopped,” said one of the film’s producers.
The drama is based on the best-selling book by Russell Banks, Foregone, and tells the story of a documentary filmmaker who goes to Canada to avoid being drafted into the Vietnam war. It stars Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli and Jacob Elordi.
Founded in 2002 by Gary Hamilton, Arclight has bases in Asia, the U.S. and Europe. As a leading international sales company for theatrical, television and home video, it has sold more than 150 features including the Best Picture Oscar winner Crash. Other titles on the Arclight Berlin slate include Renny Harlin’s survival thriller Deep Water starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley.
Myriad Pictures
This veteran Los Angeles-based indie came to Berlin with Die Alone, starring Carrie Anne Moss, Frank Grillo and Douglas Smith, and had invited screening for Bob Trevino Likes It, which will premiere at SXSW.
Indies like these are jumping on new opportunities created by market change.
Money matters.
“There are a number of independent sales companies which have solid financial backing and are capable of pulling together larger and more commercial productions,” says Producer Kirk D’Amico, who founded Myiad Pictures. . “Companies such as Lionsgate, Studio Canal, FilmNation, and Black Bear are able to couple their resources with elements like tax incentives and presales to get films into production and completed, continued D’Amico.
BlackBear
Santa Monica-based Black Bear is also behind several hot EFM titles, including the Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones starrer Train Dreams. Black Bear is fully financing the picture and introduced the film to buyers in Berlin.
Founded in 2011 by Teddy Schwarzman, Black Bear produces and finances original film and television projects.
Its other Berlin titles for international include Afterburn from director J.J. Perry.
In the film, Dave Bautista will play an ex-soldier Jake who, as a treasure-hunter recovering valuable objects, lands a job to rescue the Mona Lisa.
Other sales companies handling major titles here include veteran sales exec Stuart Ford’s AGC with The Epiphany, The Mother and Sugar Bandits; Tom Quinn and Tim League’s Neon with The Housewife; Euro players StudioCanal with John Patton Ford’s Huntington; and HanWay with Stephen Frears’ Wilder and Me. Glen Basner’s FilmNation has also brought to the market big titles including Roofman. A24 is handling Materialists.
But, former ICM agent turned filmmaker Jim Jermanok says “Not all sales agents are the same. One really needs to research their films to make sure the sales agency is a perfect fit in terms of budget and genre. They are becoming much more specialized.”
Slates need filling.
indie consultant and former Universal exec Jason Resnick adds: “You can look back twenty years and also find indies doing bigger projects. In this instance, this is the first major market since the strike ended, and there is a real need to get some commercial films off the ground. The market is even less predictable post-pandemic,” he said.
“Despite all the market hype around these big titles,” Myriad’s D’Amico says, “the bread and butter of the independent sales companies remains modestly priced films which have recognizable cast, and are mostly thrillers, action films, and stand out genre films including horror. Dramas remain difficult to sell unless they have strong casts and are critically acclaimed.”
Per filmmaker Jermanok: “There’s a contraction in the industry. So there are all of these competing forces also for sales.”
