Sales Agents Shift Away From Drama Films Amid Market Challenges

The global appetite for drama films has significantly diminished, according to a panel of international sales agents at the BFI London Film Festival.

Sophie Green, head of acquisitions and development at Bankside Films, summed up the current market sentiment by saying: “The big sort of takeaway at the moment from the market is anything but drama. That really is kind of like double underlined everywhere that we go.”

The panel, which included Sata Cissokho, head of acquisitions at Memento International; Virginie Devesa, founder of Alpha Violet; and Madeleine Tangney, director of sales at Visit Films, discussed the evolving landscape of international film sales and acquisition.

Cissokho said that while drama remains a core element of independent cinema, it has become increasingly challenging to finance and sell. “It has led us to kind of diversify our slate,” she said, noting a shift toward genre films and comedies to meet market demands.

The panelists agreed that for dramas to succeed, they often need strong festival premieres, critical acclaim and awards buzz. Tangney highlighted the importance of securing broadcaster and VOD platform interest early to help persuade all-rights distributors to take risks on dramatic films.

Despite the challenges, the speakers pointed to some positive developments. Devesa mentioned the success of “Totem,” a Mexican drama that secured deals following its Berlin Film Festival premiere. Tangney cited “40 Acres,” a Black-led dystopian thriller that has performed well in the U.S. market.

The discussion also touched on the unique challenges and opportunities for British films in the global marketplace. Green noted that while English-language content has broader appeal, films still need to balance local specificity with universal themes to succeed internationally.

The panelists stressed the importance of getting involved early in projects, often taking on executive producer roles to help shape financing and production strategies. They also noted a trend toward more traditional windowing strategies, even among streaming platforms, as the industry continues to adapt to changing audience preferences and distribution models.