Swimming Lesson #5Little Fish, Big Pond: Thinking Globally

I was on the jury of the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto, and I attended a panel discussion called “Who Buys What.” The panel comprised 17 buyers from around the world, including some contributors to this book. Each buyer spoke specifically about his or her criteria for selecting shorts, and a couple of things that are important when we discuss international potential emerged.

The primary consideration is that a filmmaker must think globally now. Technology has permitted worldwide access to your film, and distributors, sales agents, and buyers have responded accordingly.

When one buyer was asked what type of deal was offered to filmmakers, he responded, “Worldwide rights, all ...

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