Pre-sales and Financing: Navigating the New Distribution Landscape?

Hey everyone, as a Props Master, I'm usually focused on getting the practical stuff right on set. But I'm also deeply invested in understanding the bigger picture of how films get made and, honestly, paid for. Lately, I've been hearing a lot about 'Weaponized Distribution' and how major streamers aren't doing those big global buyouts as much anymore. This has me genuinely scratching my head about how projects are actually getting off the ground now.

I'm working on a few independent shorts right now, and the conversation always circles back to financing. My understanding of film financing, especially around pre-sales, feels like it's based on an older model. With these new distribution realities, especially for smaller to mid-budget features, what does pre-selling look like? Is it even a viable strategy anymore, or are producers having to pivot entirely? How has the strategy for financing films based on pre-sales changed in recent years?