Buyer Database · Sales Agent · Updated

Best Friend Forever

Best Friend Forever is a Paris-rooted international sales agent, sister company to Indie Sales, specializing in arthouse and festival-driven cinema with a focus on European and world cinema titles.

Current mandate

Best Friend Forever operates as an international sales agent with a mandate centered on arthouse and festival-oriented cinema. Launched at Cannes in 2019 as a sister company to the Paris-based Indie Sales, the company handles world sales across key international territories including France, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Nepal. Its positioning sits firmly in the auteur and art-cinema space, representing titles with strong festival pedigree and cross-border theatrical potential. Management is handled by Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, and Nicolas Eschbach, giving the company a lean but experienced leadership structure.

Recent representation activity reflects a consistent focus on distinctive, director-driven projects. The company acquired international rights (world sales) to 'Papaya,' with Gebeka Films subsequently securing French distribution rights and a French theatrical release planned. The 2025 fall line-up is headlined by Valentyn Vasyanovych's 'To The Victory!' and 'Egghead Republic,' directed by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, signaling continued investment in European auteur cinema with international festival ambitions. These titles reflect the company's pattern of representing films with a clear artistic identity and a defined path through the international festival and distribution circuit.

Access to Best Friend Forever typically comes through two pathways. Producers with finished or near-finished films that carry festival placement or strong auteur credentials can approach the company directly, ideally with a pre-sale package and a clear territorial strategy. Given the company's Cannes origins and ongoing market presence, the major European film markets, particularly Cannes, represent the most natural points of contact. Outreach through the management team, Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, and Nicolas Eschbach, is the recommended direct route for producers seeking representation consideration.

Signature peaks

  • Cannes 2019 Founded — Launched at the world's premier film market
  • Indie Sales Sister Company — Paris-based international sales infrastructure
  • 3 Decision Makers Management Team — Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, Nicolas Eschbach

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
Animation, Fantasy, Family, Adventure
Territory focus
Europe and international markets
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
Producers should approach Best Friend Forever directly through management (Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, or Nicolas Eschbach) with a finished or near-finished film carrying festival credentials and a pre-sale package. Cannes and other major European film markets are the most natural points of contact given the company's origins and ongoing market presence.
Deal structure
Best Friend Forever acquires world sales and international distribution rights to arthouse and festival-driven films, then licenses territorial rights to local distributors, as demonstrated by their world sales acquisition of 'Papaya' and the subsequent French distribution deal with Gebeka Films.

Market context

With a 2025 fall line-up headlined by Valentyn Vasyanovych's 'To The Victory!' and 'Egghead Republic,' Best Friend Forever is actively building its international slate around auteur-driven festival titles.

Best Friend Forever operates as an international sales agent with a mandate centered on arthouse and festival-oriented cinema. Launched at Cannes in 2019 as a sister company to the Paris-based Indie Sales, the company handles world sales across key international territories including France, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Nepal. Its positioning sits firmly in the auteur and art-cinema space, representing titles with strong festival pedigree and cross-border theatrical potential. Management is handled by Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, and Nicolas Eschbach, giving the company a lean but experienced leadership structure.

Common questions about Best Friend Forever

What kind of films does Best Friend Forever represent?

Best Friend Forever focuses on arthouse and auteur-driven cinema with international festival potential. Recent titles on their slate include Valentyn Vasyanovych's 'To The Victory!' and 'Egghead Republic' by Pella Kågerman and Hugo Lilja, both headlining their 2025 fall line-up. The company also acquired world sales rights to 'Papaya,' which secured French distribution through Gebeka Films. The pattern points clearly toward distinctive, director-led projects with a strong European or world cinema identity.

Does Best Friend Forever handle pre-sales?

As an international sales agent, Best Friend Forever is structured to handle world sales and pre-sales across international territories. Their acquisition of world sales rights to titles like 'Papaya' demonstrates this capability. Producers seeking pre-sale estimates to unlock production financing should approach the company with a completed package, including director credentials, talent attachments, and a clear festival strategy, as these are the signals most aligned with the company's positioning.

What markets does Best Friend Forever work at?

Best Friend Forever was launched at Cannes in 2019 and, as a sister company to Paris-based Indie Sales, maintains strong roots in the European market circuit. Cannes is the most natural point of contact given the company's origins and ongoing activity. Their tracked territory focus includes France, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Nepal, suggesting active buyer relationships across both European and emerging international markets.

How do I get my film in front of Best Friend Forever?

The most direct route is outreach to the management team: Martin Gondre, Charles Bin, and Nicolas Eschbach. Producers should come prepared with a finished or near-finished film, ideally with festival placement confirmed or pending, along with a pre-sale package outlining territorial strategy. Given the company's arthouse mandate, a strong directorial vision and festival-circuit positioning will carry the most weight in any initial conversation.

What are Best Friend Forever's strongest territories?

Based on tracked activity, Best Friend Forever's territory focus includes France, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Nepal. France is particularly notable given the company's Paris-rooted infrastructure through its sister company Indie Sales, and the fact that Gebeka Films, a French distributor, acquired rights to 'Papaya' from Best Friend Forever's world sales position. This suggests well-established buyer relationships in the French market specifically.

Is Best Friend Forever currently active?

Yes. Best Friend Forever's latest tracked signal dates to May 2026, and the company has a confirmed 2025 fall line-up headlined by 'To The Victory!' and 'Egghead Republic.' Their acquisition of world sales rights to 'Papaya,' which has already generated a French distribution deal with Gebeka Films, further confirms ongoing market activity. With four decision makers tracked and a consistent presence at international markets, the company appears to be in an active representation cycle.

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