Celluloid Dreams
Paris-based international sales company specializing in arthouse and auteur cinema, representing films by major festival directors including Amos Gitai, Bertrand Bonello, and dozens of international filmmakers.
Overview
Celluloid Dreams is a Paris-based international sales company specializing in arthouse and auteur cinema. Founded in 1994 by Hengameh Panahi, the company has operated for three decades as one of the most respected international sales agents for independent and festival-oriented films. Celluloid Dreams represents films at all major markets and festivals, selling world rights to distributors across Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond.
The company's catalog is defined by a consistent commitment to directors with strong personal visions, including long-term relationships with filmmakers whose work appears regularly at Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.
History
Hengameh Panahi founded Celluloid Dreams in Paris in 1994, establishing the company at the heart of the European arthouse distribution market. Panahi's background in international film and her connections across European and global cinema gave the company an immediate credibility with both filmmakers and buyers.
Celluloid Dreams has represented films by Amos Gitai, Bertrand Bonello, Guy Maddin, Abel Ferrara, Neil Jordan, Gavin Hood, Christophe Honoré, and dozens of other directors. The company consistently brings films to major festival competitions at Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, and sells those films to distributors in territories worldwide.
The company has also been involved in production, co-producing select projects alongside its sales activities. This dual role allows Celluloid Dreams to engage with filmmakers at earlier stages and contribute to the development of projects it will subsequently represent internationally.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Celluloid Dreams evaluates projects for international sales representation based on directorial reputation, festival potential, and appeal to the international arthouse market. The company's Paris base gives it direct access to the French market and to the network of European co-production partners and funding bodies. For established auteur directors with international profiles, Celluloid Dreams offers experienced sales representation focused exclusively on quality independent cinema.
See Also
For understanding how international sales work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across international territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
