Most filmmakers call their lawyer only when the contract is already on the table and the signature imminent. It’s a bit like calling the doctor only when you already have severe symptoms: technically it works, but you’ve lost the opportunity to prevent the problem.
In independent cinema, where margins are tight and mistakes are expensive, this “911 approach” to legal counsel can cost valuable opportunities. And this is where the role of the legal agent comes in: not a professional who intervenes only when an emergency has erupted, but a strategic partner who accompanies the project from idea to international distribution.
Beyond Contract Review
When I represent a filmmaker or director, my work begins long before signing an agreement. It means being present in preliminary conversations with potential co-producers, helping to structure the budget considering legal and tax aspects from the beginning, identifying the most strategic international markets for that specific project.
Let’s take a concrete example: a director is contacted by a Romanian producer interested in a co-production. A traditional lawyer would wait for the contract to review. A legal agent, instead, helps you understand beforehand whether that partnership makes sense: what tax credits are available? How is the chain of rights structured? Which festivals might be interested in an Italian-Romanian project? Are there specific grants or funds to target?
The Creative Co-Pilot Method
At DANDI.media we call this approach the “Creative Co-Pilot Method”: not sitting in the driver’s seat (that always belongs to the filmmaker), but being alongside throughout the entire journey. It means knowing not only copyright and contracts, but also the dynamics of international markets, festival logic, and financing mechanisms.
When I represent a filmmaker at a market like the European Film Market at Berlinale, I don’t go just to “protect their legal interests.” I go to open doors, facilitate meetings, translate creative needs into contractual structures that work internationally. I go to build relationships that can last years and generate future opportunities.
Choosing the Right Partner
The difference between a lawyer and a legal agent is all here: strategic continuity versus episodic intervention. The former helps you avoid problems, the latter helps you grow.
If you’re working on a project with international ambitions, ask yourself: do I need someone to protect me from risks or someone to help me seize opportunities? The right answer might be: both, from the same person.
I’ll be at the European Film Market at Berlinale from February 11-16, 2026. If you’re looking for a legal partner for your international projects, write to me to schedule a meeting in Berlin.
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