How to Sell your Movie to HBO - with Stefan Van De Graaf
Tue Feb 03 2026
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#filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm
This week I sit down with indie filmmaker Stefan Van De Graff to break down the real journey behind selling a first feature film.
Stefan walks through how his debut thriller Simmer came together, from shaping the story and stretching a small budget to achieving a high-end look and co-directing his first feature.
We dive into the unconventional release strategy of putting the entire film on Facebook, how that led to a deal with HBO and what the sales process actually looked like behind the scenes.
We talk about how genre plays a role in distribution, working with casting agents, and how Stefan went on to mount a much bigger project starring Kit Connors.
Along the way, he shares practical lessons, hard-earned advice and what he wishes he’d known when he was starting out.
Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
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HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER
Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business.
We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career.
Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk
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Send us a text #filmmakingpodcast #filmmaking #indiefilm This week I sit down with indie filmmaker Stefan Van De Graff to break down the real journey behind selling a first feature film. Stefan walks through how his debut thriller Simmer came together, from shaping the story and stretching a small budget to achieving a high-end look and co-directing his first feature. We dive into the unconventional release strategy of putting the entire film on Facebook, how that led to a deal with HBO and what the sales process actually looked like behind the scenes. We talk about how genre plays a role in distribution, working with casting agents, and how Stefan went on to mount a much bigger project starring Kit Connors. Along the way, he shares practical lessons, hard-earned advice and what he wishes he’d known when he was starting out. Check out the re-release of Jim's first solo directing feature The Witches Hammer - out now on amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0F235F4T8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r For regular updates and exclusive content - sign up for The Honest Filmmaker newsletter https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/e-newsletter/ Join The Honest Filmmaker community on our Facebook Group or Discord https://thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk/index.php/join-the-community/ HONEST, OPEN ADVICE ABOUT YOUR FILMMAKING CAREER Are you about to leave Uni with a filmmaking degree? Or want to change careers and work in a creative industry? We want to give you the tools you need to enter the real world of production or freelancing. Honest and open career advice from people in the business. We also talk to those in other creative industries to discuss their careers, the potential cross over with film production and practical tips for a successful and fulfilling career. Join the community: http://www.thehonestfilmmaker.co.uk