At Cannes and AFM, deals revolve around carving the globe into territories - North America, Germany/Austria, Japan, and beyond. Romano Law’s The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution: Navigating Deals, Rights and Releases notes that distribution agreements spell out covered territories and payment models such as fixed upfront fees or revenue sharing for exclusive exploitation across specified media.
Territorial pre-sales remain indie-financing bedrock: A German upfront payment can be collateralized to close a film’s budget pre-shoot, letting sales agents diversify risk across regions.
Digital convergence complicates exclusivity. A global Netflix buyout offers instant reach but may underpay versus piecemeal territory deals. Distributors weigh lump-sum security against regional upside.
Windowing overlays geography. Korea insists on a six-month theatrical window before SVOD, whereas LATAM favors fast streaming to curb piracy. Audience demand heat maps guide whether to withhold or release rights.
Savvy contracts include reversion clauses - if a buyer under-exploits, rights revert for resale. Availability analytics supply proof of unmet demand, enabling profitable re-licensing.
Why It Matters:
Selling territorial rights finances production and defines exploitation footprints. The TV & Movie Availabilities dashboard highlights open territories with the highest unmet audience demand.