AFM ISA of the Day: Tannaz Anisi of 13 Films

Coverage of ISA’s (international sales agents) resumed for The American Film Market. This segment follows leaders and innovation in the world of international film sales and distribution.

Sales veteran and President of 13 Films Tannaz Anisi launched her Los Angeles based distribution and finance company just a year ago at The American Film Market. Her expertise, honest work ethic, and keen sensibilities are widely respected in the industry and have helped her to start 13 Films with strong financial backing.
One year later, Tannaz shares the latest progress on this exciting venture:

I launched 13 Films a year ago, so this AFM marks my one year anniversary. It’s very exciting to see how far the company has come since its inception, as we continue to grow and build a full slate of films.

Given my background as a foreign sales agent, the timing was right to start my own company and I was able to secure strong investors to back my vision.

My aim is to seek cast-driven, commercial films with theatrical potential across all genres. Our eclectic state includes romantic comedies, action films, thrillers and family films.

We’re looking for about eight to ten films a year in pre-sales, peppered with a few finished films.
What is your background in sales?

For the last seven years, I was a freelance sales consultant and had the opportunity to work for some of the leading companies in the business – Voltage Pictures and Sierra/Affinity, to name a few.

Over the years, I developed great relationships and relished being able to work on high profile projects. However, I felt I was ready to make the transition from freelance consultant to having my own company and being able to immerse myself in my own projects.

Once I secured the financial investment, it was time to move forward with full force and determination.
How did you first get involved in the business?

I’ve been in the industry for about 18 years.

My very first job in the industry was working in production actually. I worked for PentAmerica Pictures, which was a partnership between Vittorio Cecchi Gori and Silvio Berlusconi.

Way back when I got the chance to work as an assistant at AFM, I fell in love with foreign sales from the very first moment. Since then, I was determined to succeed in the field and started from the ground up. I sought out the right opportunities to learn and absorb as much possible to reach the level where I’m at today.

My sales background started in television sales – I was fortunate enough to work for some of the bigger independent companies such as WIN, Kushner-Locke and 20^th Century Fox before moving into film.
What inspires you in your work?

What I love most is the face-to-face interaction with people from all over the world.

It’s truly fascinating and what drives me to continue doing this every day.  The world is such a melting pot of different cultures, and being able to constantly meet and do business with buyers from across the globe is very rewarding.  There’s never a dull moment.
Please talk about the 13 Films Slate.

We just announced our big, new project – “Voice From The Stone”, which is a supernatural thriller starring Emilia Clarke from “Game of Thrones.”

It’s a haunting script produced by Dean Zanuck who also produced “The Road to Perdition”. The film is currently shooting in Italy which is very exciting.

I have two other new projects too – an action film called “Extortion”, which is a very fun project with Frank Grillo attached and set to start shooting by the end of November.

Another key title for us is the comedy “Loitering With Intent”, which was well received at the Tribeca Film Festival this year and stars Sam Rockwell and Marisa Tomei. We showed the film for the first time to buyers here at AFM, and were thrilled with the response. It will be released theatrically in the US by The Orchard, a Sony Pictures company.
Learn about the 13 Films slate here. 

More About 13 Films:

13 Films is an international distribution and finance company based in Los Angeles founded by Tannaz Anisi. The company launched at AFM 2013 with a slate of films that included VERY GOOD GIRLS starring Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen and LIFE OF A KING starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Dennis Haysbert.

The company’s current slate of titles includes three films either shooting or about to start principal photography: the supernatural thriller VOICE FROM THE STONE starring Emilia Clarke and Marton Csokas (currently shooting in Italy), actioner EXTORTION with Frank Grillo and Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi, and crime thriller MANHATTAN NOCTURNE set to star Oscar winner Adrien Brody.

13 Films had 2 films make their market premieres at AFM: LOITERING WITH INTENT with Sam Rockwell and Marisa Tomei which world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and will be released by The Orchard stateside and the romantic comedy TAKE CARE starring Leslie Bibb and Thomas Sadoski with a theatrical release via Phase 4 Films in December.