Distributors Shopping For Movies At Fall Festivals Must Agree To New SAG-AFTRA Contract Terms

Any movie that has received a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement will need a buyer willing to adhere to new deal points.

Movie distributors attending fall film festivals such as Venice, Telluride, and Toronto will need to accept new contract terms from SAG-AFTRA if they want to buy certain star-studded indie films. SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is adamant about it: SAG-AFTRA’s interim agreements allow indie movies and TV content to be filmed and participate in promotional events. However, if a film has secured a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, any potential buyer must agree to the new deal proposed by the union.

“The contract contains assumption provisions which require any party that acquires rights under that collective bargaining agreement to assume the obligation to pay the residuals that are required by the contract,” the executive said.

Parties on all sides of the labor strike fear this will deter buyers from acquiring these movies.

Variety points out that Michael Mann’s film Ferrari has been granted a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, allowing its stars Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz to attend the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in late August. While the film already has distribution, major companies like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple would need to sign a contract with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), which they are currently unlikely to do.

Source: Variety