One of the great benefits of being AFI alumni is that Shorts International represents the entire AFI short film library, for both the Conservatory and DWW, in all media worldwide. Susan Petersen is the AFI sales representative at Shorts International and you are welcome to contact her directly. Click here to send her an e-mail, or for general questions, it might be better to contact AFI's liaison to Shorts International, Anna Lawton.

There are a few things you should know about having a distributor for the film you made at AFI.

What do I do if a licensor asks to see my film?
As always, you as alumni are free to send screeners and/or otherwise try to attract potential licensors for any form of exhibition for the films you made at AFI, but you are not able to negotiate or agree to any terms. You simply need to forward the contact information of the interested party to Susan and she will negotiate on AFI's behalf regarding your title.

When does distribution start for my film?
Remember that AFI titles are not delivered to Shorts International until 18 months after their completion date, protecting the filmmaker's ability to fully enjoy the festival circuit before beginning distribution. Film festival submissions during this 18-month window are entirely up to the filmmakers. Any costs for submission fees are borne by you and, likewise, you may keep any prize money that comes with winning a festival award. Be careful of festival submission forms that assume agreement to other exhibition terms, especially with respect to prizes! Please know that Internet exhibition falls under the same rules as any other form of exhibition and, should you have a company or festival wanting to show your film online (or otherwise), they must contact Susan Petersen to negotiate any airing.

If you want to start distribution early, you simply need to send a letter stating this to AFI's Executive Vice Dean Joe Petricca. The letter must be signed by your full creative team (or, for DWW, by the director) after which your title can be delivered.

What are the details of the distribution deal with Shorts International?
AFI retains copyright of all films made at the Conservatory and DWW; however, you as the filmmaker are a profit participant. For every dollar received by AFI on behalf of any given title (i.e., after Shorts International deducts their distributor fee and expenses from the gross of that period's license deals), AFI pays out 50% to your SAG deferrals and 25% to the point person from the creative team as per your Fellows Agreement (or, for DWW, to the director). The remaining 25% stays with AFI. If the actors are 100% paid, the filmmaker share is increased to 50%.

Is there anything else I should know?
Contractually, Shorts International sends bi-annual reports to AFI along with any funds due for that period. However, these reports and funds regarding license deals often arrive long after a deal has been made, most likely after the film has aired. It is a good idea, then, to check in periodically with Susan to see if there has been any "action" on your title. If you don't actively ask about your movie's progress, you may not find out about any activity until it is too late for you to promote your film. Susan is happy to pass along any information she has, so please send her an e-mail, introduce yourself and tell her which film you made at AFI. Also, if you have any information that might help your film in the marketplace (significant awards or festival screenings, your actors having gone on to star in a big upcoming release, etc.), please e-mail that to Susan as well.

Lastly, if you previously received a Hypnotic report telling you of outstanding funds due on your title from license deals made in years past, the Shorts International team is actively working to collect those funds. As they are recovered they will be included in the bi-annual reports AFI will be receiving, and the share due to the filmmakers and to SAG actors will then be disbursed.