I wanted to cover a few tips for contacting sales agents leading up to Cannes.

Cannes Film Market is exactly 4 weeks away and I know many of you are trying to secure a Foreign Sales Agent for your film in order to be represented there. The good news is that it's not too late! It seems that some sales agents are still filling up their slates for Cannes, but you probably only have a one week window to get in with them. I know that some Foreign Sales Agencies are even considering 'almost' completed films to add to their slates. So here's what you need to do to capitalize on this opportunity:

1. First and foremost, research the sales agents who you are going to approach. Check out their websites and their slates of films and make sure yours fits in. For example, if it looks like a certain sales agency specializes in high-end films with big stars attached, and you don't have any stars in your film, chances are you're film isn't a fit for their slate.

2. Send an email to the Acquisition Executive at the Sales Agency with a link to your trailer, and let them know you would like to be considered for representation. It's ok to introduce yourself and tell a little about your film, but don't make the introductory email too long or it might not get read.

3. If they reply and ask to see a screener, I would FEDEX them one at this point (remember, there's a very short window left to be considered for Cannes Market slates).

4. If you don't hear back in a couple of days, follow up with another email or pick up the phone and call them. It's totally customary to do so.

I heard from one of our members this week that he is off to the races with finding a foreign sales agent for his film. He wrote in to tell me that he used our new Film Specific Sales Agency database, was able to sort by genre, and thus weed out all the agencies which weren't right for his film (he has a drama). He then emailed some of the ones that came up, and within a couple of days has already heard back from 4 of them and they all requested screeners. Not bad!

I'd love to hear more success stories like this one, and of course, to be able to walk through the Palais at Cannes and see your poster up in a Sales Agent's booth! If you want to capitalize on this window of opportunity, jump on to our Sales Agency Database right now and start sending out emails today! Here's the link to get started: http://www.filmspecific.com/members/601.cfm

To your success, Stacey* PS: If you're in LA, I'll be speaking at an Alliance For Women Director's event on Tuesday. Details here if you'd like to join us: http://www.filmspecific.com/public/610.cfm