Phil Gorn: "Being a sales agent as well as an independent filmmaker has its benefits"

Based in San Francisco, Wonderphil Entertainment has been a trusted worldwide sales company for the past 18 years of Feature Films of all genres and Documentaries. "Most of our films are from the United States but we also represent many films from around the world," said Phil Gorn, CEO at the company exclusively to Señal News.

At ATF 2023, Wonderphil Entertainment will be highlighting several 2023-2024 feature films, including its latest sci-fi action called “Sentinel” (filmed in the United States and Italy), an action comedy from Spain called “Bullets & Katanas” and a family film called “Jessie and the Elf Boy”. "We also have a variety of documentaries, including a food doc called 'Frankie’s Way' (from Italy) and 'Jacks & Jills' which follows an unusual lumberjack competition," he added.

Phil Gorn is not only a sales agent but also an independent filmmaker with a recognized trajectory. "Being a sales agent as well as an independent filmmaker has its benefits. The investors know I have built-in distribution and I have a long track record of making profitable independent films," he explained.

But also being independent, both filmmaker and distributor, includes difficult challenges. "The main challenge is each year the sales seem to be a bit more difficult. I’ve been in business for nearly 20 years and each year I’ve been able to make a profit for myself, my investors as well as many of the producers I represent," he admitted. "But I look back at distribution agreements from 5 or 10 years ago and the license fees were significantly larger. At the same time, being in San Francisco, living expenses continually increase. But I’ve been able to adjust, keep the business profitable and continue to produce films. And I will have a new slate to begin 2024 – my own productions as well as other filmmakers," he anticipated.