When a producer cobbles together the budget for an independent film modestly budgeted at, say, $25 million, selling the distribution rights in foreign territories is crucial to cover the film’s budget and, hopefully, bring in revenue. Independent filmmakers can actually make money if they have a great foreign sales agent who can sell their film in key overseas markets.
Oftentimes, producers will make their “wish list” when casting their film, and the list will typically be full of well-known names that “travel” overseas. If you have Tom Cruise or Jennifer Lawrence as your star, you’re much more likely to sell the rights to China and France. This isn’t a guarantee that your film will make millions (or billions) but it's about as safe a bet as you can get in this business.
