pitchingsalestemplates

Pitch Template: Selling Your Horror Script to International Buyers (Lessons from HanWay’s Legacy Deal)

UUnknown

2026-02-26

9 min read

Ready-to-use pitch and one-sheet templates to sell your horror feature to international buyers, informed by HanWay Films’ 2026 market playbook.

Hook: Stop sending cold PDFs — give international buyers what they really buy

If your horror script keeps getting polite replies or no replies at all, the problem isn’t the scares — it’s the pitch. International buyers at EFM and other film markets aren’t buying lone scripts; they’re buying packaged, market-savvy stories with clear revenue logic. HanWay Films’ recent boarding of David Slade’s Legacy (Variety, Jan 2026) is a textbook example: a strong director, recognizable cast, and exclusive footage presented at the European Film Market turned a script into a saleable international package. This guide hands you a tested pitch template and a ready-to-use one-sheet tailored to horror features — crafted for distributors, SVOD buyers, and genre specialists who operate across territories.

Quick takeaways — what to do first

Lead with package, not plot: Attach director/actors and show footage when possible.
Use a buyer-first one-sheet: Include territories, comps, budget band, and key dates.
Customize messaging: Distinct pitch lines for theatrical distributors, streamer buyers, and festival agents.
Be market-ready: Have firm production schedule, insurance, and festival strategy for market meetings like EFM.

Why HanWay Films’ Legacy deal matters for your sales strategy

In January 2026 HanWay boarded David Slade’s horror feature Legacy, attaching international sales muscle to a project with a high-profile director and cast. The lessons are practical and repeatable for emerging creators selling horror internationally:

Credibility scales deals: A known director and recognizable cast reduce buyer risk — that’s why HanWay prioritized those attachments.
Exclusive footage is a market weapon: HanWay planned exclusive footage for EFM — nothing convinces buyers faster than seeing tone, production value, and star chemistry.
Festival/Market timing: Positioning the project ahead of key markets (EFM in Berlin, Cannes March market, AFM in November) creates urgency and competitive bidding.

Use these elements in your pitch template: attach talent, highlight footage, and make the business case for each territory you want to target.

Buyer-first pitch template (ready to copy and paste)

Use this email structure when reaching out to an international buyer, festival acquisitions exec, or sales agent. Keep it short, scannable, and focused on buyer ROI.

Subject line (pick one)

Pitch: “Horror Feature — TITLE — Director attached (Sample Footage, EFM availability)”
“Commercial Horror: TITLE — Lucy Hale-type lead, David Slade-style director”
“Potential EFM Acquisition: TITLE — Footage & Package Available”

Email body (template)

Hi [Buyer Name],

I’m reaching about TITLE, a market-ready horror feature (90–100 min) written by [Writer Name] and directed by [Director Name] — currently packaged with [Lead Talent], and exclusive footage available for screening at EFM. We believe this project fits your slate for [territory/streamer], because [1-line buyer-specific reason].

Quick highlights:

Logline: [1-line logline — see logline template below]
Comparable titles: [Comps — e.g., The Babadook + It Follows]
Budget band: $X–$YM (completed financing plan)
Package: Director attached, cast optioned, footage available
Territories available: Worldwide excl. [list if pre-sold]
Market availability: Footage & sizzle available at EFM — private screenings possible

Attached: one-sheet, script, director reel link, budget summary. Would you be available for a 10–15 minute meeting at EFM or a private screening next week? If you’d like to see exclusive footage first, I can send a secure screener link.

Thanks for your time —

[Your name, producer contact, sales agent if any]

Logline and synopsis templates — horror-specific

Buyers read dozens of horror loglines. Use a tight, market-focused formula that cues tone, stakes, and audience.

Logline formula (fill-in)

[Protagonist], a [age/role], must [goal] when [inciting supernatural/psychological force] threatens [personal stake]. As [obstacle] escalates, [protagonist] must choose between [difficult choice], or lose [what they value most].

Example (fictional): “After her mother disappears into a coastal fog, a forensic linguist must decode a cursed dialect before the whole town is erased — but every translation brings her father’s memory closer to death.”

Short synopsis (50–75 words)

Focus on hook, midpoint twist, and end-game stakes. Remember: comps and tone descriptors are your friend.

One-sheet template for horror sales (copyable sections)

A one-sheet is the most commonly requested doc in market inboxes. Make every field buyer-focused.

Top section (visual + headline)

Title / International title
Studio / Production company
Key art (jpeg) — must be poster-ready
Tagline (one punchy line)

Middle section (essentials — scannable)

Logline (one line)
Genre / Tone: e.g., Supernatural Psychological Horror
Runtime & language
Director: Name — notable credits
Cast (attached / in negotiation): names + known markets
Budget band: $X–$YM
Production status: Pre-pro / In production / Post / Delivery Q3 2026

Business section (what buyers care about)

Rights available: List by territory and window
Pre-sales / interest: Any confirmed buyers
Comparables & performance: Two comps + why they fit
Estimated box office / SVOD traction: Realistic upside by territory
Festival plan: Target festivals and premiere strategy

Bottom section (call to action)

Secure screener link (expiry and password)
Availability at markets (EFM, Cannes, AFM)
Contact details and company VAT/registration info

Example one-sheet entry (fictionalized, buyer-ready)

Title: NIGHTBLOOM (International title: Nightbloom)

Tagline: Some flowers only open after dark.

Logline: A climate scientist returns to her hometown to investigate a series of nocturnal deaths and discovers a plant that feeds on memory — and only she can remember the cure.

Genre / Tone: Eco-supernatural horror — slow-burn tension, arthouse visuals, commercial scares.

Runtime / Language: 98 min / English (dubs & subs planned)

Director: [Known Genre Director] (previous: international horror festival favorite)

Cast: Lead attached (strong fanbase in North America & UK); supporting lead in negotiation (France/Germany interest)

Budget band: $4–6M

Production status: Pre-production — principal photography Q2 2026

Rights available: Worldwide excl. UK (pre-sold)

Comps: The Babadook (art-house/critical traction) x A Quiet Place (commercial stakes)

Festival plan: Berlin/EFM private buyer screenings; festival circuit to follow with sales push at Cannes March market.

Call to action: Secure screener link available. Meetings at EFM upon request. Contact: [Producer email] | [+phone]

Buyer personas & messaging — tailor your pitch

Different buyers want different assurances. Below are short messaging lines you can swap into your pitch.

Theatrical distributor (territory-specific): “Nightbloom targets adults 18–45 with strong post-pandemic festival buzz and built-in genre demographics — we project $X–$Yk opening in [territory] with targeted social campaigns.”
Streaming Acquisitions (SVOD): “High retention genre title with episodic rewatch potential — excellent for horror shelf and algorithmic boosting during Halloween window.”
Television / FreeTV: “Linear-friendly runtime and clear edit points for broadcast; dubbing-friendly dialogue simplifies local-language rollouts.”
Genre boutique distributors: “Art-house sensibilities make this ideal for late-night specialty runs; merchandising opportunities via collectable art books and vinyl score.”

EFM and film-market playbook (2026 updates)

For 2026 markets, the playbook has shifted. Here’s what works now:

Footage first: Buyers expect 60–90 second tone footage — as HanWay did with Legacy — more persuasive than synopsis alone.
Hybrid meetings: Both in-person and virtual screenings remain standard; have both secured content and bandwidth ready.
Data-led comps: Use 2023–2025 platform viewership data for horror comps to justify pricing and territory projections.
Localized packaging: Prepare pre-translated one-sheets for top territories (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin) — AI-assisted localization is acceptable but proofread by native speakers.
Sustainability and insurability: Buyers ask about ESG and completion bond readiness — have short statements ready.

Negotiation basics & rights strategy

Be clear and pragmatic about what you’re selling.

Start with territory slices: Offer theatrical + home entertainment + VOD as modular bundles, not an all-or-nothing approach.
Minimum Guarantee (MG) realism: Price MG based on similar 2024–25 horror deals in target territories. Inflated MGs stall talks.
Keep ancillaries: Hold merchandising and format rights where possible to boost long-term value.
Delivery & escrow: Define delivery items early (DCP, subtitles, music clearances) so buyers can evaluate true cost-to-market.

Practical checklist before you pitch

One-sheet (PDF + localized JPEG)
Logline and 50-word synopsis
Script (PDF) and short script note
Director reel & sizzle footage (60–90 sec)
Budget summary and finance plan
Production timeline & completion bond status
Talent agreements or option letters
Target territories and comps data
Secure screener link + password

Advanced strategies for 2026+ (future-proof your horror sales)

Looking ahead, buyers in 2026 are blending data, brand, and speed. Use these advanced moves:

Short-form proof-of-concept: A 3–5 minute mood piece can unlock festival programmers and buyers faster than a logline.
Bundling with TV/IP: If your horror world has series potential, package an episodic bible for streamers.
AI-assisted localization: Use AI for subtitle drafts and transcreation, but always finalize with human cultural review.
Data room for buyers: Maintain a secure data room with box-office comps, demo analytics, and marketing budgets for serious buyers.
Festival-to-market flow: Aim for a festival premiere that aligns with market windows — a strong festival award increases MG leverage (see Salaud Morisset’s Broken Voices example in 2025 sales activity).

Follow-up cadence and etiquette

After initial outreach:

Day 3: Short, polite reminder with one new asset (a still or new line on production)
Week 2: Offer a specific meeting time during market week
Week 4+: If silence, shift to a quarterly update plan — buyers are busy and appreciate concise progress reports

Actionable next steps — implement this week

Draft your email pitch using the template above and select 10 buyer targets for EFM or your next market.
Create a 60–90 second tone reel. If you can’t shoot new footage, edit together rehearsal footage, mood clips, and temp sound design.
Assemble your one-sheet and translate it into your top two non-English markets.

“Buyers buy certainty. Shift the conversation from ‘Is this scary?’ to ‘How will this perform in my territory?’”

Final thoughts — sell the business as much as the scares

HanWay’s Legacy illustrates a simple truth for 2026: international buyers want stories packaged with commercial logic — director and cast attachments, footage, and a clear territory plan. Use the pitch template and one-sheet framework here to reframe your horror script as a market-ready product. Make it easy for the buyer to say yes.

Call to action

Ready to convert your script into a market-ready package? Download our editable one-sheet and pitch-email .docx, or book a 30-minute market prep session with our senior sales strategist to tailor messaging for EFM, Cannes, or AFM. Click here to get started — and bring a screener. Buyers will thank you.

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