E&O insurance
Errors & omissions coverage — genuinely required at distribution, and genuinely a waste of money before it.
The money-saving moment
This one is about NOT spending: don't buy E&O until a distributor or platform requires it in writing. Buying it early burns $2,000–5,000 of policy time while your film sits in the edit. What you should do now is keep the clean chain of title that makes the policy cheap when the time comes.
What it is
Errors & omissions insurance protects distributors and platforms from claims about your film — defamation, rights disputes, an unlicensed song, a trademark in a shot. When a streamer says they 'require E&O,' they mean a policy naming them as an additional insured, typically $1M/$3M in coverage.
When it's actually needed
At the point of distribution — a specific deal, with a specific start date. Policies run from their purchase date, not your release date, so a policy bought during post is coverage you're paying for while nobody can even watch the film.
How to make it cheap later
Underwriters price E&O on risk. A complete chain of title, licensed music with cue sheets, a title report, and no unreleased likenesses turn the application into a formality. Every guide in this library that says 'file the paperwork now' is also quietly lowering this future premium.
When you don't need it
Theatrical screenings on Indie Greenlight don't require E&O. It enters your life when a distribution contract names it — not before.
Questions? hello@indiegreenlight.com