THE AFM SESSIONS
AFM24 Topics & Events Coming Soon
The AFM Sessions Replay Pass is available for purchase for just $79. Hear Industry leaders discuss the topics, opportunities, and practical information most relevant to global filmmakers, sales agents, and distributors, educating us on our changing business.
Browse the full list of available content Below and take advantage of the actionable information offered to support your next project and your business. Get Your Replay Pass Here
Once again, The AFM Sessions will present four full days of programming exploring today’s global industry and where we are headed. Forecasts for the future, marketplace intelligence, advice on how to best navigate our industry, and conversations on the most current topics and technologies across Financing, Production, Distribution, Streaming, Diversity, and more will be shared through the lens of 100+ Speakers from all facets of the business.
This year, The AFM Sessions will take place on two stages at Palms Casino Resort:
Main Stage – Access to the Sessions on the Main Stage is exclusive to Platinum and Plus Badge holders (Four Day Plus & Three Day Plus).
*The Main Stage is located in the Ballroom on the 2nd Floor.
View Stage – Access to the Sessions on the View Stage is available to All AFM Badge Holders EXCEPT Day Badge Holders, unless otherwise specified.
*The View Stage is located in the Lounge at View and accessed by two dedicated Elevators marked Moon, View & Nove in the Fantasy Tower wing off the Lobby Level.
To explore hosting a Presentation (fees apply) contact Robin Burt at rburt@ifta-online.org or +1.310.446.1020.
Once again, The AFM Sessions will present four full days of programming exploring today’s global industry and where we are headed. Forecasts for the future, marketplace intelligence, advice on how to best navigate our industry, and conversations on the most current topics and technologies across Financing, Production, Distribution, Streaming, FAST, AI, Sustainability, Diversity, and more will be shared through the lens of 100+ Speakers from all facets of the business.
Presenting Sponsors
Presented by
THE AFM SESSIONS
November 2024
Spanish Producers Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Connect with visionary and leading producers as they present innovative projects that will shape the future of the industry.
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Spanish Animation Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Dive into imaginary worlds and discover animations that are redefining the boundaries of visual creativity.
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
From Local to Global: Developing Stories and Content for Worldwide Appeal
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- Main Stage
Finding Gold: Discovering Captivating Narratives and Essential Story Ideas for Your Next Project
Stage
- Main Stage
Speakers
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Miranda BaileyCEO & Producer, Cold Iron Pictures
As the CEO of Cold Iron Pictures, Miranda Bailey most recently produced Morrisa Maltz’s JAZZY, a follow-up to Maltz’s first feature, THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, which premiered at Tribeca 2024, and won for Best Lead Actress in a Feature. THE UNKNOWN COUNTRY, starring Lily Gladstone, premiered at SXSW 2022 and sold to Music Box for domestic theatrical release. Bailey also produced and directed an episode of the LGBTQ+ independent comedy series, UNCONVENTIONAL. Bailey’s other recent projects include: Amanda Kramer’s BY DESIGN, which Cold Iron is producing alongside Smudge Films (I SAW THE TV GLOW) starring Juliette Lewis and Mamadou Athie, and is currently in post-production; GOD’S COUNTRY, which premiered at Sundance 2022 and sold to IFC Domestic and Universal International; and THE BOY WITH THE LIGHT BLUE EYES, a Greek-language feature film.
Bailey’s producing career spans over two decades, during which she became known for uplifting new talent and putting up-and-coming directors on the map. She worked with Noah Baumbach on his Oscar-nominated debut film, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE. After that, James Gunn came to her with his wacky indie film, SUPER, starring Rainn Wilson and Kevin Bacon. Bailey also produced Marielle Heller’s first film, THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL, leading to multiple Gotham and Spirit Awards. Most notably, she also produced the radical directors DANIELS’ first film SWISS ARMY MAN, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to sell to SPC and A24.
Aside from elevating new directors, Bailey has also worked with established filmmakers like foreign film director, Joseph Cedar, for his first English language film, NORMAN, which starred Richard Gere, Michael Sheen, Dan Stevens, and Steve Buscemi. Bailey produced Mike Birbiglia’s DON’T THINK TWICE, starring Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Birbiglia, and Kate Micucci, and Lake Bell’s second feature I DO… UNTIL I DON’T.
In addition to Cold Iron Pictures, Miranda Bailey is an actress and director. Her documentary THE PATHOLOGICAL OPTIMIST and comedy Feature, BEING FRANK, starring Jim Gaffigan, gained several film festival awards. In 2018, unsatisfied with the number of female film critics and jobs for female film journalists, Miranda founded CherryPicks, a female-fronted film and tv review site aimed at growing the voices and critical writings of women and nonbinary writers. www.TheCherryPicks.com.
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Karin ChienFounder & CEO, Art & Action
KARIN CHIEN has a proven track record building impactful companies across media production. Karin is both a results-driven problem solver and a strategic systems thinker.
Karin is currently the founder & CEO of Art & Action Productions, a production company innovating at the intersection of art and action, which spearheaded the international production expansion of MasterClass. By innovating her role as a producer, Karin is building cross-monetization opportunities for film-centered IP. Karin is working on new revenue models, more equitable production structures, and radically different distribution solutions. For her producing work, Karin has been recognized with top honors in her field, including the Independent Spirit Producers Award, the Humanitas Prize, the Sundance Audience Award, the inaugural Cinereach Producers Award, and the 2022 Sundance Film Festival’s Producers Keynote speaker.
Karin is also the co-founder & president of the distribution company dGenerate Films, which works in partnership with Icarus Films to distribute over 70 fiction and nonfiction titles of independent Chinese cinema. dGenerate Films was awarded a Special Recognition for Distribution from the New York Film Critics Circle in 2023. Karin is also the co-founder of the collective Distribution Advocates, which launched a new distribution innovations fund in Sept 2024. Other recent roles include partner at Louverture Films, strategic consultant to Color Congress, and Film Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center.
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Michele KananEmmy winning Producer, Emmy nominated Writer and Director
Emmy® winning producer and co-writer of Way of the Cobra Couples, Michele Kanan was living in the suburbs, carpooling and serving as administrator for a successful medical practice when she decided to step out of her comfort zone to make a movie. Fast forward, and Kanan found herself and her kids married to the ‘Bad Boy of Karate’ Sean Kanan, while beginning a Hollywood career as a producer, writer and director.
She has produced ten films including ’Til Death Do Us Part with Jason Patric, Orlando Jones and Cam Gigandet; Darkness of Man with Jean Claude VanDam; and a Cannes Film Festival sci-fi favorite, Colonials with Greg Kriek.
In 2021, Kanan was nominated for an Emmy® for writing and she won an Emmy® as producer for Outstanding Digital Drama for STUDiO CiTY (Amazon Prime, ROKU). STUDiO CiTY has received over 20 Emmy® nominations and garnered Kanan a 2019 Indie Series Award for Best Writing.
Currently Kanan is in post-production on the young adult television show, Pretty Little Gun and is set to direct the feature films, A Gift of Magic and Snipers. She has four projects in development, including one with Eric Roberts and another with Orlando Jones. In addition, Kanan is launching a web3 interactive game and token in conjunction with her show Pretty Little Gun, while running a flourishing e-commerce/digital marketing boutique agency.
In 2022, she received a star on Palm Springs prestigious Walk of Fame in recognition for her work in entertainment and philanthropy in the Coachella Valley and Hollywood. In her spare time, Kanan spoils Beatrix, her Pug and she adores spending time with her five grown children and international television star husband.
Join top producers and executives as they share their insider strategies for unearthing groundbreaking ideas and crafting narratives that truly resonate with film and TV audiences. Learn how to bring compelling stories to life and stand out in a crowded content landscape.
Panelists
Michele Kanan, Emmy winning Producer, Emmy nominated Writer and Director
Miranda Bailey, Cold Iron Pictures
Karin Chien, dGenerate Films, Art & Action Productions
Crafting the Next Film Juggernaut: Strategies for High Returns and Audience Impact
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- Main Stage
Spanish Fantastic Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Explore the unknown with fantastic films curated by Sitges FanLab that will transport you to surprising and imaginative realities.
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Spanish Remakes Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Relive blockbusters with a fresh vision in this space dedicated to remakes that reinvent unforgettable stories.
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Finance I: Cracking the Formula: Independent Film Financing in Today’s Financial Landscape
Stage
- Main Stage
Speakers
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Jon GosierFounder & CEO, FilmHedge
Jon Gosier is the founder of investment firm and family office Southbox Capital (a.k.a. Gosier Holdings). Southbox has a diverse portfolio of assets spanning a credit facility, tech investments, real estate, and venture capital totaling more than $200M in value.
Jon is also the Founder and CEO of FilmHedge, a private credit fin-tech company that finances Film and TV productions globally, providing up to $25M per production. Before his work in film, Jon spent ten years in venture capital and tech. His 2014 TEDTalk about ethical innovation has been viewed millions of times.
He was the Founder and former CEO of Audigent.com, recently named one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country by INC5000 and Deloitte. He was named one of ‘the new faces of Black Leadership’ by TIME Magazine in 2015.
Jon has built his career focused on building businesses positively disruptive to the entertainment industry.
His company Audigent provided artists like Camila Cabello, Eminem, Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Shakira, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and other entertainers with new ways of understanding audience data. Audigent past and present partners include Warner Music, Spotify, Tidal, and Nielsen. As the founder of FilmHedge, he now does the same in Film and TV providing financing and opportunity to filmmakers around the world.
He is an alumnus of Savannah College of Art and Design and the THNK School of Creative Leadership and Innovation. Guest lecturer and presenter at Yale, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Lund University in Sweden, NYU, Rollins College, Wharton, Temple, Drexel, U Penn, and more.
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Miguel PalosChief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, AGC Studios
AGC Studios’ Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder Miguel Palos Jr. is a seasoned executive with a remarkable track record in the entertainment industry. He currently oversees all operational and financial matters, business affairs, financial reporting, project financing and management of lender relationships for AGC Studios and its subsidiaries and divisions. He is an expert in financial structuring and has helped establish financing structures in a number of burgeoning geographies with new film incentives over the years including Romania, Mauritius, and Italy amongst others.
Prior to AGC Studios, Palos served as CFO of IM Global, where he orchestrated financing for over 35 projects, deploying more than $600 million in production capital during which tenure he was lauded as one of Variety’s New Leaders in Film. Prior to joining IM Global, he worked for Ernst & Young in the Assurance and Advisory Business Services division, providing financial and operational accounting services to various entertainment industry clientele including Endeavor (pre-WME), ESPN, ESPN Sur, Fox, ABC, The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, EMI Blackwood Music and Universal Music Group.
Palos is a sought-after speaker and has been on many industry panels. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Southern California as well as an M.S. in Accountancy, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Notre Dame. Palos is a Los Angeles native and spends his hours outside of the studio building his real estate portfolio.
Moderator
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline
Panelists
Jon Gosier, Film Hedge
Miguel Palos, AGC Studios
George Hamilton, Protagonist Pictures
The Innovators
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- Main Stage
Focus on Italy: Why Filming in Italy is Now More Convenient Than Ever
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- View Stage
Learn more about Italy’s 40% tax credit, the legendary Cinecittà Studios Facilities and meet APE -The Italian Association of Production Service Companies.
Presented by
The Italian Ministry of Culture, APE and Cinecittà Studios
Making Sense of Distribution Today: Evaluating a Film’s Release Potential Across All Windows
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- Main Stage
Join industry leaders for a discussion on how to navigate today’s market and the evolving landscape of film sales and distribution with insights on evaluating release potential across all windows from Theatrical to Pay-One and beyond. Learn current strategies to maximize your project’s success in a competitive market.
Moderator
TBA
Panelists
TBA
Confronting Fear – Transcending, Challenging & Elevating the Horror Genre
Stage
- Main Stage
FlexTV International Forum – Short Dramas: Where Entertainment Meets the Internet
Stage
- View Stage
Panelists
Xiaolin Liu, International Short Drama Association
Christine Liu, International Short Drama Association
Presented by
Celes Luna
Unlocking Global Distribution: What Buyers Really Want in Film & TV
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- Main Stage
Finance II
Stage
- Main Stage
The Untold Realities of Global Film Sales: What’s Really Shaping Today’s Market?
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- Main Stage
Beyond Representation: The Business Case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Film
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- Main Stage
Speaker
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Sav Rogers (He/Him)Filmmaker & Founder, Transgender Film Center
Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and pop culture documentarian whose feature directorial debut CHASING CHASING AMY (Tribeca ‘23) explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. The TED Talk he gave in 2018 kickstarted this filmmaking journey, and spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about queer people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Media List in 2024, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. Sav is a proud University of Kansas graduate and still sports KU baseball caps wherever he goes.
Join us for a dynamic panel exploring the tangible benefits of LGBTQ+ representation in the film industry. Experts from various film industry sectors will discuss how inclusive storytelling enriches narratives and drives audience engagement and box office success. Through case studies and real-world examples, the panel will explore the financial advantages of diverse casting and hiring LGBTQ+ storytellers as well as the growing demand for LGBTQ+ stories in mainstream cinema. Discover how embracing inclusivity is not just a moral imperative—it’s a strategic business decision that fosters innovation, profitability, and a more vibrant film landscape.
Presented by the Transgender Film Center and GLAAD
Moderator
Sav Rodgers, Transgender Film Center
Panelists
Alex Schmider, GLAAD
Producers Pitching Their Projects, powered by AI Forecasts
Stage
- Main Stage
Moderator
TBA
Panelists
Sami Arpa, CEO, Largo.ai
Presented by
Largo.AI
Pitch Conference: Mastering the Art of Pitching & Live Pitches
Stage
- Main Stage
Speakers
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Lee JessupScreenwriting Career Consultant & Coach, leejessup.com
Lee Jessup is an Adjunct Screenwriting Professor and career coach for screenwriters, specializing in guiding emerging and professional scribes toward long-standing and prolific screenwriting careers in both TV and feature writing. Lee has provided consulting services to NBC International, the Universal Writers Program, the Final Draft Big Break Contest and Inevitable Foundation, and is an adjunct professor focusing on the Business of Screenwriting with the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts. Her one-on-one coaching clients include everyone from showrunners and studio writers to contest winners, TV writing fellows as well as writers just starting out. She is the author of the best-selling books Breaking In: Tales From the Screenwriting Trenches and Getting It Write: An Insider’s Guide to a Screenwriting Career. Never far from the industry, Lee resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two kids and two rescue dogs.
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Cassian ElwesProducer & Agent, Elevated Film Sales
Cassian Elwes is an expert in producing, arranging financing and finding distribution for independent films. He began his producing career with 1984’s “Oxford Blues” starring Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy and quickly went on to make another 29 films, including “Men At Work,” with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and “The Chase,” again with Sheen.
In 1994, Elwes joined William Morris and headed William Morris Independent Film for 15 years. He arranged financing for indie hits such as “Slingblade” and “The Apostle,” both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. “Monster’s Ball” was their historic follow up as Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. In the end he had arranged financing and distribution for 283 films during his tenure at William Morris.
Since leaving William Morris 10 years ago, Elwes has either produced or executive produced more than 70 films such as David Lowery’s “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”, which was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature, Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine” starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, for which Williams was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, and the hit period drama “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” which featured an all-star cast headed by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.
He also executive produced J.C. Chandor’s “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford and executive produced and arranged financing for the Academy Award winning hit “Dallas Buyers Club” directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner.
Most recently, Elwes produced both the multiple Academy Award nominated “Mudbound”, directed by Dee Rees, which Netflix distributed, and Dee Rees’ latest film, “The Last Thing He Wanted,” starring Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck and Willem Dafoe, which Netflix will distribute. “Dreamland,” starring Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly, and “Best Sellers,” starring Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza, are in currently in post-production.
Pitching is a delicate balance of creativity, precision and persuasion. A standout pitch can get a bad film made, while a weak pitch might mean that a stellar project never sees the light of day. In this panel, AFM attendees will uncover the key principles and strategies for effective pitching from seasoned financiers, producers and development executives. Selected filmmakers will then present their pitches live and be critiqued by our panel who will share candid and constructive feedback on what worked and areas for improvement.
To qualify and be considered to pitch our experts live, you must be registered for AFM with a Platinum or Plus Badge and submit a 2-minute video pitch. For full submission details, consult the AFM 2024 Pitch Guide. Pitch submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, October 16, 2024.
Moderator
Lee Jessup, leejessup.com
Panelists
Lorelle Lynch, AGC Studios
Cassian Elwes, Elevated
Maximizing Impact: Crafting Powerful Films with Limited Budgets
Stage
- Main Stage
Speaker
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Jeff DeverettProducer, The Indie Film Community
Jeff Deverett defines himself first and foremost as an independent filmmaker. Over the past 15 years Jeff has independently financed and produced nine feature films in the budget range of $700k to $1.4M. Three of his movies, FULL OUT, FULL OUT 2 – YOU GOT THIS!, and KISS & CRY were picked up by Netflix for worldwide distribution. Jeff co-wrote and directed five of these movies and won the Best Director Award for his movie GOD INCORPORATED at the Chandler International Film Festival.
In addition to being a film Producer & Director, Jeff spent the first 25 years of his film career in the Film Distribution business, selling & marketing movies & TV shows. Having worked for several major media companies and ultimately founding and owning his own film distribution company, Jeff has attended hundreds of film festivals and film markets worldwide and has focused mainly on family genre films and children’s programming including iconic brands BARNEY, BOB THE BUILDER, THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE, and many more.
Jeff is an Adjunct Professor in the film/TV department at SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY where he teaches two courses on the business & legal aspects of filmmaking including financing, budgeting, scheduling, distribution, marketing, and film tax credits. With a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto, Canada) and a finance degree from University of Toronto, Jeff is well versed in all aspects of Law, Finance, Intellectual Property and film Producing. Jeff has recently been recruited by UCLA EXTENSION where he will begin teaching two courses in 2025, FILM PRODUCING, and FILM LEGAL ISSUES.
As a Professional Film Consultant, Jeff provides guidance and insights to hundreds of indie filmmakers worldwide who need assistance in getting their projects financed, produced, and distributed & marketed with a focus on both artistic and financial success. Jeff is the Founder and CEO of THE INDIE FILM COMMUNITY, an online platform for film education and guidance. In 2023 Jeff authored & introduced Assembly Bill 1421(AB-1421) to the California State Legislature to create a financial tax credit incentive program for films with budgets under $1.0 million.
Jeff is extremely passionate about filmmaking and loves to share his years of experience and knowledge with aspiring students & filmmakers.
Moderator
Chris Gore, Film Threat
Panelists
Paul Bales, The Asylum
Max Woertendyke, Noble Gas Media
Jeff Deverett, Producer