Film glossary

Holdback

A holdback is a contractual restriction that prevents a film from appearing in a particular medium or territory until a set date.

Holdbacks protect the value of an earlier release window. For example, a deal might hold back a streaming release until a period after the theatrical run, so one window does not undercut another.

Windowing a film through carefully sequenced holdbacks is a core part of maximizing the value of its rights. The specific dates and conditions are defined in each distribution agreement.

Go deeper

Film Distribution guideFilm distribution is how a finished film reaches audiences and earns revenue across theatrical, streaming, television, and other windows. It involves sales agents, distributors, and a patchwork of territory and rights deals. Clean chain of title, complete deliverables, and clear collection arrangements are what let a distribution deal actually close and pay out.

Related terms

Keep reading the glossary

TerritoryA territory is the geographic area a distribution deal covers, often a single country or a defined region.Sell-ThroughSell-through is the sale of a film directly to consumers to own, such as a digital purchase or a physical copy, as opposed to a rental or a licensed stream.Sales AgentA sales agent represents a film to buyers across territories, using a mandate from the producer to license rights on the film behalf.MandateA mandate is the defined scope of authority and criteria that a producer grants to a sales agent, or that a capital provider publishes to describe what it backs.

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This definition is educational and does not provide financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult your own licensed advisors before acting. FILM.FUND is a software and workflow platform, not a broker-dealer. It never handles money, never holds securities, never takes a percentage of any raise or sale, and never predicts returns.