September Film

Overview

September Film is an Amsterdam-based independent film distribution company serving the Benelux territory (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg). The company was formerly known as Wild Bunch Benelux, the Dutch branch of the French film distribution and sales group Wild Bunch. Following Wild Bunch's corporate restructuring, the Benelux operation was rebranded as September Film and now operates independently from its office at Willemsstraat 24 B in Amsterdam.

The company distributes 10 to 15 films per year in the Benelux market, focusing on international arthouse cinema, quality world cinema, and selected Dutch productions. September Film acquires films at major European festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto, as well as through sales agents at the European Film Market (EFM) and the American Film Market (AFM).

Distribution Model

September Film distributes theatrically across the Benelux territory, working with independent cinemas in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp, and other cities with active arthouse audiences. The company handles Netherlands and Belgium as a combined territory, which is standard practice for Benelux distributors due to the shared Dutch-language market in the Netherlands and Flanders.

The company also manages VOD and home entertainment rights for its acquisitions across the Benelux. Theatrical releases typically follow a platform release model, opening in 5 to 15 cinemas initially before expanding based on audience response. For higher-profile acquisitions, September Film can scale to wider releases across the Dutch and Belgian cinema networks.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Acquisition Behavior

September Film acquires Benelux rights for international arthouse films, typically as part of multi-territory deals negotiated by sales agents at major festivals. The company is a regular buyer at Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto. It works with major European sales agents including Wild Bunch International, MK2 Films, Match Factory, Films Distribution, and Protagonist Pictures.

For international filmmakers seeking Benelux distribution, September Film is a realistic contact for arthouse and quality cinema projects. The Benelux is typically acquired as a single territory in international rights deals, sometimes grouped with Luxembourg. Filmmakers with films premiering at major European festivals should ensure their sales agent is actively selling Benelux rights, as September Film is one of the primary buyers in this territory alongside Cinemien, Paradiso Films, and ABC Distribution.

Deal Structure

Deal structures at September Film typically involve a minimum guarantee (MG) for Benelux rights against a revenue share. MGs in the Benelux arthouse market are modest compared to larger European territories like France or Germany, typically ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 depending on the film's profile, director track record, and festival reception. The company also commits to P&A spend for theatrical releases, generally supporting platform releases in key Benelux arthouse markets.

Recent and Upcoming Releases

Recent releases:

• La Chimera (2023) - Alice Rohrwacher's film starring Josh O'Connor
• Alpha (2024) - Jan-Willem van Ewijk's film
• The Garden of Earthly Delights (2024)
• Heldin (2025) - Petra Volpe's film

Past notable releases:

• By the Grace of God (2019) - Francois Ozon
• The Wild Pear Tree (2018) - Nuri Bilge Ceylan
• Love (2024) - Venice Film Festival competition title, acquired for Benelux
• Gabriel and the Mountain (2017)
• Beyond the Mountains and Hills (2016)

Upcoming 2026 releases:

• Hanna van Hendrik
• Spinoza
• Onder de Paramariboom
• All of a Sudden
• Joe Speedboot
• Frank & Louis
• Streetart Frankey
• Zejtune

Dutch and Benelux Film Market

The Netherlands has approximately 8 million annual cinema admissions, with a market share for arthouse and international films of around 15 to 20%. The Dutch film fund (Nederlands Filmfonds) supports both production and distribution of quality cinema, and September Film operates within this funding ecosystem. The company can access distribution support for films that qualify under the fund's criteria.

The Benelux arthouse audience is concentrated in major cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague in the Netherlands; Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent in Belgium. Key arthouse venues include Eye Filmmuseum (Amsterdam), Cinecenter (Amsterdam), LantarenVenster (Rotterdam), and Kinepolis arthouse screens across Belgium.

Submission and Contact

September Film can be contacted through its website at septemberfilm.nl or by email at info@septemberfilm.nl. The company acquires films through sales agents at festivals and markets; it does not typically accept unsolicited submissions directly from filmmakers. For filmmakers with representation, their sales agent should contact September Film regarding Benelux rights for arthouse and quality international cinema.

See Also

For how Benelux distribution fits into a European territory strategy, see Distribution Deals Explained. For other European arthouse distributors in this directory, see the broader Film Distributors Directory. For information on the Dutch film funding system, visit the Nederlands Filmfonds.