The panel Follow the Money: Navigating Global Film Financing and Packaging, held today at MIA | Mercato Internazionale dell’Audiovisivo, explored the complexities and strategies required to take a film from development through to international distribution.
Industry experts shared concrete experiences and practical advice on structuring effective financing, tackling the challenges of equity financing, tax credits, pre-sales, and co-productions, providing a comprehensive overview of the current global film financing landscape.
Rodrigo Teixeira, Founder and Producer of RT Features, highlighted the importance of thinking about a film’s success beyond production: “A24’s financial figures don’t reflect its actual valuation of four billion dollars. Sometimes producers focus only on making money during production and not after the film’s release, and this mentality is killing the industry.”
Alex Brunner, Sales Agent for UTA, reminded the audience that festivals remain crucial platforms for international cinema: “Every festival has its own way of selecting films, and they remain vital platforms for the industry.”
Dominique Malet, Managing Director of Cofiloisirs, emphasized the importance of local partners in European projects: “When producing in Europe, you need local partners, since the projects are considered local content.”
Céline Dornier, Content Executive at IPR.VC, underlined the value of strategic partnerships for equity financing: “The fund is ten years old, and we have worked on more than sixty projects. Europe is the best place to make films, and now even American producers have realized it.”
Alexandra Lebret, Partner at Axio Capital and Together Fund, stressed the importance of the business plan as a key tool in project financing: “A business plan is not just an addition to the financing plan; it is an essential element, and producers should fully recognize its importance.”
Moderated by Tim Dams, European Editor at Screen International, the session offered an in-depth and candid look at the mechanisms of global film financing, revealing how collaboration, strategic planning, and market knowledge are crucial for a film’s success on the international stage.
