FilmNation Entertainment
Leading international sales, financing, and production company behind Arrival, The King's Speech, Room, and scores of acclaimed independent films. One of the top sales agents in the global market.
Overview
FilmNation Entertainment is one of the most prominent international sales, financing, and production companies in the independent film industry. Founded in 2008 by Glen Basner, the company operates across three interconnected businesses: international sales (representing films to buyers in over 100 territories), production financing (co-financing and equity investing in projects), and production (developing and producing its own slate). FilmNation's dual New York and London presence positions it at the intersection of American independent and international cinema.
The company has represented some of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed independent films of the past 15 years, earning a reputation for identifying projects with both artistic ambition and global commercial appeal.
History
Glen Basner founded FilmNation in 2008 after a career in international sales and distribution, including senior positions at Lionsgate and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. The company launched during the global financial crisis, a challenging moment for independent film financing that also created opportunities for a new entrant willing to take calculated risks on quality material.
FilmNation's sales catalog includes The King's Speech (2010), The Help (2011), Arrival (2016), Room (2015), The Big Sick (2017), On the Basis of Sex (2018), Pain and Glory (2019), Promising Young Woman (2020), Spencer (2021), and She Said (2022). The company's production arm has expanded significantly, with FilmNation increasingly originating projects rather than solely acquiring completed films.
Business Model
FilmNation operates three revenue streams that reinforce each other:
- International sales -- representing films to distributors in individual territories worldwide. FilmNation typically pre-sells international rights to finance production, then delivers the finished film to buyers.
- Production financing -- investing equity in projects alongside other financiers, giving FilmNation a financial stake beyond sales commissions
- Production -- developing and producing films from script stage, controlling the creative process from inception
This integrated model allows FilmNation to offer filmmakers a comprehensive package: development support, production financing, and global distribution through pre-sales and territory-by-territory deals.
What Filmmakers Should Know
FilmNation acquires international sales rights for projects in development, production, and post-production. The company evaluates films based on director and cast attachment, script quality, genre appeal, and international market potential. FilmNation's sales team operates primarily at the major film markets (Cannes Marche du Film, European Film Market in Berlin, American Film Market in Santa Monica, and Toronto) where they present projects to buyers from dozens of countries.
For independent producers seeking international financing, FilmNation's pre-sales model can provide a significant portion of a film's budget before production begins. Engagement typically routes through producers, agents, and entertainment lawyers who have relationships with the FilmNation team.
See Also
For understanding how international sales and pre-sales financing work, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across international territories, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.
