FilmNation, 101 Studios strike international sales pact

EXCLUSIVE: Glen Basner’s FilmNation has struck an exclusive long-term deal to handle international sales on the 101 Studios distribution pipeline that David Glasser is assembling for a 2026 launch.

101 Studios CEO Glasser, the industry veteran and business partner of prolific Yellowstone universe creator Taylor Sheridan, has completed a first round of fundraising and is hiring executives for the new arm of his entertainment company.

The executive plans six to eight US theatrical releases each year, split between in-house productions and acquisitions in the $5m-$50m budget range. Screen understands the roster will be commercially appealing and upscale. 

The first titles are expected to be announced shortly and will be made available to international buyers either at EFM or Cannes next year.

Glasser is also in advanced talks with home video and pay TV partners. It remains to be seen if 101 Studios will partner with a re-energised Paramount+ under the new David Ellison leadership at Paramount, given Glasser and Sheridan’s succession of hits at the streamer, or elsewhere. Sheridan’s big-money deal at NBCUniversal could put Peacock in pole position to strike a pay TV partnership.

The arrangement between 101 Studios and FilmNation will be welcome news to independent international buyers looking to stock up their pipelines with quality fare.

Additionally, the imminent arrival of a new US buyer will be heartening for filmmakers and the domestic distribution space as a whole, which has faced challenges in recent years.

A growing line of companies have felt emboldened to venture into US distribution. New player Row K was the story of Toronto International Film Festival and acquired three festival films and a package, while Teddy Schwarzman’s Black Bear has branched into US distribution and just released Sydney Sweeney starrer Christy.

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