Territory-by-Territory vs. Aggregator: When to Simplify Distribution?

Hey everyone,

I'm Fatima Al-Rashid, a sound designer working on an independent feature, 'Desert Echoes.' We’re in the final stages, and the distribution conversation is starting to heat up. Our producers initially aimed for a complex, territory-by-territory sales strategy, believing it would maximize revenue. We even had some initial interest from a few smaller European distributors for specific regions.

However, as the workload piles up and resources dwindle, I'm starting to wonder if this approach is becoming more of a burden than a benefit. The energy required to manage individual deals, contracts, and marketing for each territory seems immense for a small team like ours.

So, my question is this: At what point does the ideal, complex territory-by-territory sales strategy become impractical, and a simpler 'all rights' deal with a single aggregator become the smarter choice for a smaller film like ours? What are the key indicators that tell you it's time to simplify and go with an aggregator?