The Art of the Follow-Up: How Distribution Deals Actually Get Closed From Cold Intros to Cannes Coffees

Share
Share
Distribution Deals

Deals don’t get signed in the first email. Or the second. The real craft of distribution lies in the follow-up—the quiet persist

Distribution Deals e1751692830631

ence that turns soft interest into a signed agreement.

Stage 1: The Cold Intro
Most deals begin with a low-effort email: a deck, maybe a trailer, and a general offer. Most end here too. Why? Because acquisition execs need context, clarity, and commercial logic.

What works:
– Precise subject lines (e.g., “New Female-led Thriller | LatAm Rights Available”)
– Bullet points: genre, runtime, availability, platform fits
– Relevant market comps or recent festival buzz

Stage 2: The Value Add Follow-Up
1 week later. This time, your message includes an updated trailer, new press mentions, and a fresh regional cutdown. You’ve also added viewer personas for streaming targets.

What makes this powerful:
– You’re showing momentum
– You’re saving the exec time in contextualizing your pitch
– You’re positioning your content as “moving with the market”

Stage 3: The Real-World Touchpoint
Now you’re at MIPCOM, Berlinale, or Series Mania. You bump into the exec. You reference the emails. You schedule coffee. The previous digital interactions have now built familiarity.

What works in person:
– Rehearsed 90-second pitch that mirrors your email value prop
– A leave-behind QR code with everything preloaded: screener, deck, data
– Not overselling—letting them connect the dots

Stage 4: The Mutual Follow-Up
They reply. Finally. “Still interested—send the full pilot.” Now your reply must be flawless: all links work, rights are confirmed, and a one-pager reiterates deal terms.

Tips for Nailing It:
– Avoid vague phrases like “let me know what you think”
– Include a short recap of what’s changed since the last exchange
– Anticipate objections: cost, language, edit length

The Don’ts:
– Don’t forward the same email over and over
– Don’t nag weekly—use a 7-14-30 day cadence
– Don’t disappear after a soft yes—ride the momentum

distribution deals 2

Final Word:
Follow-up isn’t about “checking in.” It’s a second pitch, a clearer pitch, and a smarter one. Master this and you’ll close more than content—you’ll open long-term relationships.

Find
Partners

Content Financiers, Vendors, Commissioners, CoPro Studios, Licensing, Streamers, Networks.

Find Partners

Discover the right companies to collaborate, co-produce, license, or pitch to.

  • Search global financiers, vendors, commissioners, and co-pro studios
  • Identify streamers, broadcasters, and network buyers by region and genre
  • Qualify companies based on deals, specializations, and leadership
Frame 1171276524

Discover Unreleased Content

Films, Series, Animation, Documentaries: In- Development, In- Production, In-Post, In- Slate, Formats, Pre-Buys

Discover Unreleased Content

Track every unreleased film, series, and format—globally and daily.

  • Projects in development, production, post, slate, and pre-buy stage
  • Includes scripted, animation, formats, and documentaries
  • Filter by genre, market, partners, or content stage
Frame 1171276524 4

Find
People

Execs, Dealmakers, Experts, Decision-makers. Their Profiles, Recent Projects, Recent Deals and Contact Details.

Get Market Intel

Stay ahead with trend insights, competitive analysis, and strategy briefs.

  • Track content trends by genre, format, and language
  • Spot hot markets, active companies, and new entrants
  • Explore innovations in AI-based workflows and media tech
Frame 1171276524 1

Get Market
Intel

Trending Content, Genres, Languages. Top Countries, Companies. Platform Search & Queries, Reports, Webinars

Find People

Access verified profiles of key executives and decision-makers.

  • Discover dealmakers, buyers, specialists, and experts across 100+ countries
  • View their latest roles, projects, partnerships, and transactions
  • Get updated contact details and outreach-ready insights
Frame 1171276524 4

Related Articles