Hi everyone,

Believe it or not one of my favorite regional Film Markets is

in full swing right now. It's the Hong Kong Filmart, and it

has come a long way since it's humble beginnings 6 or 7 years

ago. The exhibitors hall is now packed with Sales Companies

from all over the world (not just Asia) and buyers are snapping

up Asian movies for distribution in the U.S and Europe. Just

yesterday, in the biggest deal of the market so far, Harvey

Weinstein signed an output deal with Hong Kong's Sundream

Motion Pictures. So be on the look-out for Asian cinema coming

to a theater near you!

Seriously, I'm happy to see global film trading on such a grand

scale. When I was at Filmart a few years ago, I didn't do as

much 'business' (ie: selling films) as I did schmoozing with

my Asian buyers (had some amazing Cantonese dinners by the way!).

Film Distribution in Asia is truly built on relationships (perhaps

more than in any other region of the world in my opinion). For

example, the distributors I did business with early on in my

career, have become friends at this point, and continue to buy

from me again and again, almost REGARDLESS of what I'm selling.

It's pretty incredible!

So yes, distribution is a relationship business, and particularly

in other parts of the world (outside of the U.S). When looking

for distribution for your films in Asia, it is often best to

work through a Sales Agent since they have spent their careers

building relationships with these buyers (just like I did).

Therefore, you can either leverage their expertise and relationships

in this region, OR you can wing it on your own. If you've already

been down the road of working with a Sales Agent, and it wasn't

successful, or you just feel like side-stepping the middle man,

I have put together my top picks from the Hong Kong Filmart

Buyers List, along with some Guidelines on reaching out to

foreign buyers directly, to get you going. (links below)

In the future, I would love to see filmmakers exhibit at Filmart.

I think for filmmakers with the right type of product, it could

be a great place to START building relationships with these

buyers. The reason why is because they are a little more relaxed

on their 'home turf' and the market in general is much more

low key than AFM or Cannes. So if Asia is in your strategic

plan for Distribution, consider heading over there next year.

Oh, and did I mention that the costs to exhibit at Regional

markets like this are a fraction of what it is at AFM or Cannes?

Much easier to get a return on investment.

And while we're on the subject of Film Markets, as many of

you know MIPTV is in just a few weeks away (located in Cannes) .

To celebrate global Broadcast distribution, I'm offering another

Bonus Seminar for Premium Members, this time on the topic of

DISTRIBUTING YOUR DOCUMENTARY OR FACTUAL PROGRAM IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE. If you want to know how to turn your Documentary

into a more saleable product with higher profit potential, then

you definitely want to register for this seminar. Even if you've

already tried getting distribution for your Doc, and haven't

had much success, attend this seminar as it might inject new

life into your efforts.

Here's what else I'll be covering in the Seminar:

* What typical international broadcast deals look like

* Which territories buy and what types of films and programs they buy

* How to turn a single documentary into a true 'profit center'

* My personal accounts of selling and pre-selling Documentaries and Factual Programs to worldwide broadcast markets, and what worked for me (and why!)

To attend this seminar you must upgrade from Newsletter Subscriber,

to Film Specific Premium Member by March 31 (If you're already

a Premium Member you're automatically registered, and if you're

a Standard Member, you can upgrade too).

This seminar will take place via the phone, on April 1 at 6pm PST.

If you can't make the seminar live, don't worry - I'll be recording

it for you.

But remember, you have to register for Premium Membership

by March 31. Here's where you can get more info on the

seminar and sign up:

http://www.filmspecific.com/public/574.cfm

And for existing Film Specific members -- to check out my top

picks from the 2008 HONG KONG FILMART BUYERS LIST, you can go

right here. Just be sure to report back your success with

contacting these buyers directly (and hopefully making some deals!):

http://www.filmspecific.com/members/573.cfm

And for some guidelines on reaching out to Foreign Buyers

directly: http://www.filmspecific.com/members/572.cfm

Oh, and one small announcement. We are moving Film Specific

to new and bigger servers on Friday night, so there will be

a little down time on the site then. Just a head's up in case

anyone needed to access anything at that time, but everything

should be running smoothly again by Saturday morning.

Fingers crossed of course! Thanks for bearing with us as we

keep growing Film Specific out of house and home!

Have a great day everyone!

Dedicated to your success,

Stacey*