Discussion Distribution agent stopped replying – how does this usually end?

[John]

Distribution agent stopped replying – how does this usually end?​

I’ve been going back and forth on whether to post this, because it feels like one of those situations that’s very common but rarely talked about openly. I reached out to a distribution agent regarding an indie film. It wasn’t a completely cold approach – there was some context, and they did reply. They showed interest, asked for the screener, watched it, and even sent a short response afterward that felt genuinely written, not just a generic “thanks.”
We exchanged a couple more emails after that. Nothing concrete, no promises, but it also didn’t feel like the conversation was over. And then… it just stopped. Days passed, then weeks. No rejection, no “we’re busy,” no follow-up questions. Just silence.
This is where I start overthinking things. Do I send a follow-up? If so, after how long does that still feel normal, and when does it start to feel pushy? Or is silence already the answer, just delivered in a softer, unspoken way?
Right now I’m trying to balance not wanting to be annoying with not wanting to just sit around waiting for something that may already be decided. I’m also curious how common this actually is. Have any of you had an agent go quiet for weeks or months and then come back and move things forward? Or in most cases, is this basically a silent no that never gets said out loud?

I’d really appreciate hearing real experiences, whether things eventually worked out or not. How did it play out for you, and looking back, would you have handled it differently?

 

[Samantha]

This is extremely common in film sales & distribution, so first: don’t take the silence personally.

In most cases, when a distribution agent or sales company goes quiet after requesting a screener, it ends up being a soft pass rather than a deal that suddenly reappears. The reality of the indie film market is that agents are flooded with submissions, juggling active titles, markets, and buyer demands. If a project becomes a priority for them, they usually stay engaged. If it doesn’t, communication often just fades out instead of a formal rejection.
A polite follow-up is absolutely normal and expected. A good rule of thumb is:

Send a short, professional nudge after ~2–3 weeks
Keep it friendly and low-pressure
Do not frame it as “why haven’t you replied?”

Something simple works best:

“Hi John, just wanted to briefly follow up regarding the film. I completely understand how busy things get I’d be happy to resend materials or answer any questions if helpful.”

That never comes across as pushy. What does hurt filmmakers is staying silent out of fear of being annoying.

Yes, there are cases where someone resurfaces months later (often around a market like Cannes, AFM, EFM), but statistically speaking, prolonged silence usually means the film didn’t fit their current slate or buyer needs.

The healthiest mindset in film distribution: follow up once or twice, then keep moving forward with other partners. Momentum matters far more than waiting on one contact.
You’re not experiencing anything unusual this is practically a rite of passage in indie film sales.