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
Speakers
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Ezekiel MontesFilm Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Ezekiel Montes is a film director, screenwriter and producer who has produced films such as ‘Este amor es de otro planeta’, ‘Devoción’, ‘La Señora que juega’ or ‘Aullar’, currently in post-production, and his debut film ‘Hombre muerto no sabe vivir’, all from Andalusia and released in cinemas and on platforms.
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Gustavo FerradaHead of Scripted, Mediacrest Entertainment
Head of Scripted at Mediacrest. Previously, after working for TVE as Head of the Film Department he founded CONVOY FILMS and he also worked as Head of the Production Department and Film Producer at SOGETEL and SOGECINE as Head of Spanish and Independent Film Acquisitions at Canal +.
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Pedro Hernández SantosCEO, Aquí y Allí Films
Pedro Hernández Santos (Madrid) founded the audiovisual production company Aquí y Allí Films in 2010. Since then, he has produced more than fifteen feature films, always paying special attention to young talent. Throughout his career he has received several national and international awards for his productions. He was the Spanish representative in Producers on the Move 2016 and one of the Spanish producers attending the Marché du film de Cannes 2022. In recent years he has produced, among others, Mantícora (Carlos Vermut, 2022), Que nadie duerma (Antonio Méndez Esparza, 2023), Alumbramiento (Pau Teixidor, 2024) and As neves (Sonia Méndez, 2024), which took part in the Malaga Festival and was selected in the Made in Spain section of the San Sebastian Festival.
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Belén BernuyProducer, Centuria Films; CEO, Begin Again Films
Her career includes the documentary “Garbo, the Spy”, “Goya” for Best Documentary 2010, and the feature film “When You No Longer Love Me” by Igor Legarreta. She founded the international sales agency Begin Again Films, where she is responsible for international acquisitions and co-productions.
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Jesús Martínez AsencioCEO, Garachico Film
Film Producer, Financier, and Post Supervisor with 25+ years of experience in fiction and non-fiction. He was founder of Garachico Film Service, Total Television, Moby Dick Film Capital, GFilms, DePalacio Films and Kincine Post-production. He has participated as a producer or executive producer in; “The Cold Light of Day”, Mabrouck el Mechri. “The Raven”, James McTeige. “Faltas Leves” Manuel Valls, “Déjate Caer” Jesús Ponce, “El Kaserón” Pau Martínez, “The Art of Stealing” Leonel Vieira, “Cartas a Sorolla” José Antonio Escrivá, and “La Leyenda Del tiempo” Isaki Lacuesta, among others. He is a member of the European Film Academy and the Spanish Film Academy.
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Coque SerranoExecutive Producer/Content Director, La Charito Films
Content director and executive producer at La Charito Films. In 2019 he began his path towards audiovisual production. He has participated in short films such as Nadia or Non Grata, and in feature films Asombrosa Elisa, Asteroid City or La Mesita del Comedor.
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Edson SidonieExecutive Producer, Amore Cine
A burgeoning film production company based in Argentina, created with the objective of discovering new faces, producing fiction and non-fiction work, and having fun while doing it. We specialize in Latin American projects with an international outlook, and participate in leading film festivals such as Cannes, San Sebastian, Toronto, Guadalajara, Ventana Sur, Malaga, Goa, Havana, Münich, among others. Edson Sidonie is known for Karnawal (2020), Hermia y Helena (2014) and The White Room.
Connect with visionary and leading producers as they present innovative projects that will shape the future of the industry.
Panelists
Ezekiel Montes, Film Director/Producer
Gustavo Ferrada, Mediacrest Entertainment
Pedro Hernández Santos, Aquí y Allí Films
Belén Bernuy, Centuria Films/Begin Again Films
Jesús Martínez Asencio, Garachico Film
Coque Serrano, La Charito Films
Edson Sidonie, Amore Cine
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Spanish Animation Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Speakers
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Jara AyucarDeputy Director of Marketing Policies, ICAA – Spanish Film Institute
Jara Ayucar began her career at the Industry Club of the San Sebastian Festival. After a career between Europe and Latin America in which she worked for different international festivals, she held different positions in the promotion of Basque cinema at Glocal Cinema and Zineuskadi (Basque.Audiovisual), and then as coordinator at Spanish Screenings XXL and Ibermedia Next iniciative until last year when she was named Deputy Director of Marketing Policies at the ICAA.
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Carlos FernándezProducer, Kakuru Sam AIE
Producer with more than 15 years of experience in the film and videogame industry. He has produced “Amanece la noche más larga”, “Cafunè” and “Morti”. He has been nominated four times in the Official Selection at the Malaga Film Festival, winning two awards, and twice at the Goya Awards.
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Darío SánchezProducer/Founder, 3Doubles Producciones
Darío Sánchez is a renowned producer with extensive experience in the animation and video game industries, who has been the founder and CEO of 3Doubles Producciones since 2017. Among his most prestigious projects are the feature film ‘Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow’ and the series ‘Momonsters’ in its first two seasons, as well as titles such as ‘200% Wolf’, ‘Giants of La Mancha’, ‘My Fairy Troublemaker’, ‘Norbert’ and ‘SuperKlaus’. He is currently working on the feature films ‘Heidi: The Rescue of the Lynx’, ‘Evolution’ and ‘Arnie & Barney’, a spin-off of ‘The Mayan Bee’. Between 2016 and 2017, he was Production Manager on the animated series ‘Nella the Princess Knight’, and before that he worked as Line Producer on ‘Deep’. He also worked as Production Director and Development Manager (from 2011 to 2013), directing the production of the series ‘Clanners’ and leading the development of video games such as ‘Ginger Beyond the Crystal’ for various consoles and ‘An Idiot Hero’ for iPad.
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Luis Lloret PadrónProject Director, Capitan Araña SL
Capitán Araña has produced to date three feature films selected in festivals such as Malaga, Seville, Seminci, San Sebastian, Mar del Plata and ITFS which have received 4 nominations at the Goya Awards and 1 nomination at the Platino Awards. The production company is currently developing 3 new feature films and 1 documentary that have participated in labs and markets such as the Cannes Producers Network, the TIFF co-production forum, Ventana Sur, TorinoFilmLab or Ventana CineMad. It is also producing three animated films with countries such as Argentina and Canada.
Dive into imaginary worlds and discover animations that are redefining the boundaries of visual creativity.
Moderator
Jara Ayucar, ICAA – Spanish Film Institute
Panelists
Carlos Fernández, Kakuru Sam AIE
Darío Sánchez, 3Doubles Producciones
Luis Lloret Padrón, Capitan Araña SL
Paloma Mora, TV On Producciones
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
From Local to Global: Developing Stories & Content for Worldwide Appeal
Stage
- Main Stage
Working with SAG-AFTRA as an Independent
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- View Stage
Speaker
Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre, Executive Director/Co-Head, Entertainment Contracts, SAG-AFTRA
Finding Gold: Discovering Captivating Narratives and Essential Story Ideas for Your Next Project
Stage
- Main Stage
Speakers
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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.
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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.
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
Unlocking Latino Representation: Tapping into Billions in Untapped Revenue
Stage
- Main Stage
Moderator
TBA
Panelists
TBA
In Collaboration with
Nevada Film Office
Spanish Fantastic Showcase
Stage
- View Stage
Speakers
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Mónica GarcíaGeneral Director, Sitges International Film Festival
General Director of the Sitges International Film Festival. She has extensive experience in the field of cinema since 2004, when she first took charge of communications for the Sitges Film Festival. Since then, she has worked on the international promotion of audiovisual works produced in Catalonia and on the evaluation of national competitions. In Sitges, she oversees the entire industry sector and the development of projects with international ties.
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Alberto DíazDirector/Producer/Screenwriter, Mordisco Films
Alberto Díaz López (Bóveda, 1984) graduated in Audiovisual Communication from Rey Juan Carlos University and has a European master’s degree in film studies.
It was during his time as a student that he filmed his first short Stringless, which was defined as “a piece capable of innovating the layout of an hypertonic montage which has a thrilling post-modernist structure” Ca´ Foscari de Venecia Film Festival.
He has recently directed a self-referential film workshop in the Escuela Internacional de Cine de San Antonio de los Baños (Cuba) thanks a grant awarded by the SGAE.
Currently, he is working on the script and development of his first feature film: Mirlo Blanco, which is a meta-linguistic reflection on cinematographic art. He has just started the distribution of a period short film, Galicia: A Rage, which has obtained aid from AGADIC and ICAA respectively.
Al is passionate about the theory of Cinematography and the poetic discourse. Mordisco Films, his very own production company, has enabled him to carry out simultaneous undertakings such as writing, directing and post-producing in various audiovisual pieces. He is also the founder of Yaq distribution, a short film production company, having dealt with over 400 audiovisual pieces to date, also involved in 75 editions of festivals such as Cortópolis, Cortopatía and Cortoodeon.
Among his projects as a director and producer he counts more than 1500 selections and 300 international awards. Always interested in the triangle composed by poetry, philosophy and the senses.
Alberto held one of the most prestigious grants in the Real Academia de España in Rome as an Artist in residence for the creation of the documentary film, Lembranza and obtained one of the five Becas Talento (Talent grants) of the AGADIC for the production of his last short film: Exhalación.
He is the producer of five feature films Dos Amigos, Invierno en Europa, The Book, A Diente de Perro (premiered at the Seville festival) and Welcome to Ma Maison (premiered and awarded at the Gijón festival).
And at the moment he is also immersed as a producer in the development of three feature films: Eco selected in the ESCAC Laboratory with development aid from the Cantabrian government, Todos Los Héroes and La Mala Madre: with the latter he attended the festival of Cannes as one of the seven worldwide projects selected in the Fastastic 7 of the Marche du Film, in addition they granted us a development grant from the Community of Madrid.
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Cristóbal GarcíaCo-Founder, La Terraza Films
He began his career at Morena Films as a production assistant and later became responsible for Business and Legal Affairs. He then worked at Telecinco Cinema. In 2018, he co-founded La Terraza Films, where he has produced films such as Saturn Return, Valley of Shadows and Taxi to Treasure Rock.
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Ezekiel MontesFilm Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Ezekiel Montes is a film director, screenwriter and producer who has produced films such as ‘Este amor es de otro planeta’, ‘Devoción’, ‘La Señora que juega’ or ‘Aullar’, currently in post-production, and his debut film ‘Hombre muerto no sabe vivir’, all from Andalusia and released in cinemas and on platforms.
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Gustavo FerradaHead of Scripted, Mediacrest Entertainment
Head of Scripted at Mediacrest. Previously, after working for TVE as Head of the Film Department he founded CONVOY FILMS and he also worked as Head of the Production Department and Film Producer at SOGETEL and SOGECINE as Head of Spanish and Independent Film Acquisitions at Canal +.
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Nuria LandeteExecutive Producer, Sideral Cinema
Nuria Landete is executive producer of Sideral Cinema. Her recent productions include “The Fantastic Golem Affairs” by Burnin’ Percebes, “Girl Unknown” by Pablo Maqueda, “Saturn Return” by Isaki Lacuesta, “Close to the Sultan” by Javier Rebollo and “Still Life with Ghosts” by Enrique Buleo.
Explore the unknown with fantastic films curated by Sitges FanLab that will transport you to surprising and imaginative realities.
Moderator
Mónica García, Sitges International Film Festival
Panelists
Alberto Díaz, Mordisco Films
Cristóbal García, La Terraza Films
Ezekiel Montes, Film Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Gustavo Ferrada, Mediacrest Entertainment
Nuria Landete, Sideral Cinema
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Producing and Financing Films for Social Impact
Stage
- Main Stage
Spanish Remakes Showcase
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- View Stage
Speakers
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Agustín BurghiProduction Coordinator, Damita Joe
Damita Joe is a young distribution company for the Spanish and international markets. Always on the lookout for audiovisual content of high artistic quality, the Damita Joe team is diverse, dynamic and present in most of the world’s markets, bringing a different, unique cinema with a clear authorial vision to an audience thirsty for new stories. Among the films it has distributed are ‘Tinta Bruta’ by Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, ‘Breve Historia del Planeta Verde’ by Santiago Loza, ‘Evolution’ by Lucile Hadzihalilovic, ‘Isaac’ by Angeles Hernandez and David Matamoros and ‘¿Quién quiere casarse con un astronauta?’ by David Matamoros. A regular participant in the MAFIZ section of the Malaga Festival, the distributor has been active in promoting new talent from both Europe and Latin America.
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Carles TorrasCEO, Zabriskie Films
Carlos Torres is a filmmaker and founder of Zabriskie Films from Barcelona, whose career spans more than 15 years. He has written and directed works such as The Paramedic (2020), Callback (2017), Open 24h (2011), Trash (2009) and Joves (2004). His films have participated at major film festivals like San Sebastián, BFI London, Sitges and Mar del Plata, and have accumulated more than 30 nominations and awards.
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Gloria BretonesCo-CEO & Co-Head of International Sales – Acquisitions, Begin Again Films
With more than 25 years of experience, Gloria became creative director of some of the first audiovisual startups in Madrid at a very young age, and is a founding partner of ArteGB Comunicación, where she was the project director, one of the most prestigious agencies in the cultural industry.
She has been DirCom at APPA, and then at Centuria Films, where she is currently a partner and producer alongside its founder Belén Bernuy. Together with Belén, she created the independent film distributor and international sales agency Begin Again Films, specializing in Spanish cinema, of which she has been the distribution director in Spain for a long time, and is currently its Director of Sales and International Co-Productions, continuing to direct as co-CEO alongside Bernuy. In 2020, she launched the horror film festival “Cinema From Hell”, in collaboration with Planet Horror and AMC Networks.
Over the past 16 years, they have produced and distributed more than 60 films. Many of them have participated in the most prestigious film festivals in the world and have been nominated for Goya awards in various categories, winning with her own feature film “Garbo, the spy” in 2010.
She is currently President of Próxima, the Association of Independent and Author Film Distributors in V.O., which was created with the aim of recognizing the work of these independent distributors, giving them their own voice, and highlighting their contribution to the enrichment and consolidation of the industrial and cultural fabric of our country.
As a regular speaker at events related to marketing and the audiovisual sector, she is responsible for the MOAv, annual Online Marketing Conference for the promotion of Audiovisual; and the Professional Master of Audiovisual and Cinematographic Distribution.
Together with Carmen Jiménez, she published the first book on film marketing in Spain, “No news about my movie”, which is now in its third edition. In 2025 she will publish her second book, which has the provisional title “Egopelículas”.
In 2018, together with her colleagues from ArteGB Comunicación, she founded the digital magazine MDC – Más de Cultura, where they give space to new talents and artists who are outside the commercial circuit.
Gloria has studies in Journalism from the San Pablo CEU University, Economics from the UNED, and postgraduate courses in Business Management, Web Programming, Communication and Marketing in various public and private educational institutions.
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Juan TorresHead of International Sales, Latido Films
Latido Films is an international sales agency mostly specialized in Spanish-speaking and European films but open to movies from all over the world. We pursue new talents and support established directors in order to create a catalogue with a variety of high-quality titles. We work as much with arthouse films as with box-office hits. Animation films and ground-breaking documentaries are also substantial in our projects.
Relive blockbusters with a fresh vision in this space dedicated to remakes that reinvent unforgettable stories.
Panelists
Gloria Bretones, Begin Again Films
Agustín Burghi, Damita Joe
Juan Torres, Latido Films
Carles Torras, Zabriskie Films
Presented by
Festival De Malaga – Spanish Screenings On Tour
Finance I: Cracking the Formula: Independent Film Financing in Today’s Financial Landscape
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- Main Stage
Speakers
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Jill GoldsmithCo-Business Editor, Deadline
Jill joined Deadline in 2019 after working as a New York-based contributor. She follows corporate finance, deals and publicly traded companies in media and entertainment, film financing, and New York film and TV production.
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George HamiltonCCO, Protagonist Pictures
George Hamilton is the Chief Commercial Officer at leading independent sales, finance, and production outfit Protagonist Pictures. He specialises in the financing and representation of worldwide sales of independently financed feature films. He works closely with filmmakers, producers, production companies, and financiers to greenlight their films. Since 2020, he has been involved in the sales and/or financing of over 30 features, including Brady Corbet’s THE BRUTALIST, Nora Fingscheidt’s THE OUTRUN, Temple Hill’s CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD and ENCORE, Plan B’s H IS FOR HAWK, Bharat Nalluri’s FLAVIA DE LUCE and Protagonist’s first in-house production, THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT.
As Protagonist’s CCO, Hamilton played a key role in the evolution of the business into a fully multi -faceted production, financing, and sales company. George joined Protagonist in 2013, and prior to his current role, he led Protagonist’s sales team. He began his career producing and directing short form content for world leading brands and agencies.
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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.
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Paula PaizesCOO/Media and Entertainment Business Executive/Lawyer, Pressman Film
As COO and Head of Business affairs at Pressman Film, www.pressman.com, Paula oversees all aspects of production, finance, distribution, licensing, merchandising, operations and business affairs of a library of over 100 films and a current development slate of 25 film, TV and new media projects. A seasoned media and entertainment executive, with broad corporate experience, she has deep relationships in Hollywood and internationally handling a variety of business negotiations and dealings including structuring the deals and supervising many complex and cross border transactions and the teams involved in closing them. Paula started her career as a media, communications and corporate lawyer in Sydney, Australia, with major international law firm Blake Dawson Waldron, representing Fox Studios and many high-profile TV and corporate clients. She was recruited by client, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company, The Really Useful Company, as In-House General Counsel and was responsible for negotiating and handling all business dealings on the live stage productions and licensing of shows in Australia and South East Asia. The USA beckoned and after settling in Los Angeles in the late 1990’s, Paula joined advisory and consulting company, Ignite Media, eventually becoming a principal and managing director. At Ignite, Paula provided overall strategic, business and cross border transactional advice to film, TV, digital media, technology and software clients.
In her career, Paula has also served as an Arbitrator for bond company, Film Finances, in production and finance related disputes. Paula has produced and executive produced TV and film, and innovative new media including an immersive entertainment project “Evolver” with Cate Blanchett (selected for competition at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024), feature films including the remake of the “The Crow” (released by Lionsgate in August 2024), “Daliland” (with Sir Ben Kingsley, released in June 2023), “Where Eskimos Live”, Black
Limousine”, and the late-night reality TV series “Clubbin” which ran for two seasons on the WB Network. Paula also served a producing deal with veteran Hollywood producer Mark Gordon (“Grey’s Anatomy”, “Saving Private Ryan” and “Criminal Minds”) where she developed projects with both The Mark Gordon Company and his independent production arm, Stratus Film Company. In addition, Pressman is in development on a robust slate of film and TV projects that Paula is attached to as a producer or executive producer.Paula has extensive board leadership and governance experience having served on several corporate and non – profit boards. Paula co-founded LA-based organization Australians in Film and served on its board for 13 years and in various management positions significantly contributing to the growth of the organization as President, Chairman and AIF Foundation Chair. She also served as an advisory board member of “Women Who Lead”, part of the Los Angeles based AMEC (American Media and Entertainment Counsel) and participated on the steering committee of Los Angeles based, The Tall Poppy Collective, a collective of young tech entrepreneurs and innovators. Paula is currently an advisory board member of the Legends Capital Management Fund, a real estate and development fund, where she sits alongside many prolific sports and entertainment personalities including Leigh Steinberg, Byron Scott and Elizabeth Guber and is a Board member of LA-based charity, Lost Faces of Humanity, a humanitarian Foundation empowering refugees, worldwide. Paula is also a member of female focused industry groups, including LA-based not-for-profit Visionary Women which mentors young female founders and entrepreneurs in business, Women in Film and FEME (Female Executives in Media and Entertainment) and is a longstanding member of international arts club Soho House, its sister club Little Beach House in Malibu and San Vicente Bungalows. She is also a proud member of the Summit Series group of thought leaders and innovators and regularly attends community meetings and events. Paula holds double degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws and is an accomplished speaker at various industry events and has contributed to industry publications. She is married and raised two sons in Santa Monica, CA.
Moderator
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline
Panelists
Jon Gosier, Film Hedge
Miguel Palos, AGC Studios
George Hamilton, Protagonist Pictures
Paula Paizes, Pressman Films
The Innovators
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Focus on Italy: Why Filming in Italy is Now More Convenient Than Ever
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Speakers
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Roberto StabileHead of Special Projects, Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at Cinecittà
After graduating with a degree in Political Science and International Affairs he has dedicated the past 30 years to developing and strengthening relationships with international cinema and TV institutions.
From 1996 to 2005, he held the title of General Secretary of the National Union of Film Producers in ANICA (Italian Film Audiovisual and Digital Industries Association), and from 2005 to 2023 he held the title Head of the International Department in ANICA.
For the Italian Trade Agency, he set up a network of information desks on the Italian film industry funding and location services in the major World Markets.
He is also the Co-founder of the AVPSummit, which he directed in 2022 and 2023 with the aim of promoting dialogue, cooperation, and increasing business between American, French and Italian film industries.
From March 2022, he has become Head of Special Projects of the DGCA-MiC at Cinecittà to enhance international cooperation, activities and further develop relationships and business among Italian and foreign film professionals.
Another pillar of Pugini’s activity is his constant commitment to training. He attended specialization courses (“Screenwriter as Storyteller” by Tom Schlesinger and Keith Cunningham and the ACE 6 Workshop), and in 2001 helped create a production course within the master MEGA-Plus of the Media Business School of which was in charge from 2009 until 2015. He has acted as tutor and expert for many schools and institutions, along with his intense activity as a consultant. -
Manuela CacciamaniCEO, Cinecittà S.p.A.
Manuela Cacciamani began her professional career working alongside world-renowned directors such as Martin Scorsese, Stephen Soderbergh, Wes Anderson, and Terry Gilliam. In 2006, she founded her film and audiovisual production company, One More Pictures. Since the same year, she has also been a partner at Direct 2 Brain, a VFX, post-production company, and software house. Her passions lie in storytelling, talent development, and technology.
She has taught at the Scuola Holden, where she led a cross-media course, and at the IED Academy, where she taught video design.
In 2018, in collaboration with Rai Cinema, she launched the national contest “The Reality That Doesn’t Exist” to select new creative ideas to be produced in both traditional formats and in new media such as Virtual Reality and Video Mapping. The projects were showcased as special events at the 76th and 77th Venice International Film Festival.
During the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, she conceived and developed the participatory platform Posso.it, a free digital portal where users can offer their time and expertise to help others. It serves as a digital tool for social support.
In the same year, she became Chief Digital Officer of Videocittà, a festival of visual culture dedicated to audiovisual and cross-media contamination. In July 2024, she was appointed CEO of Cinecittà S.p.A. with the aim of revitalizing the historic studios and strengthening its position in the global film industry.
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Marco Valerio PuginiPresident, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Marco Valerio Pugini is the majority shareholder and main Producer of Panorama Films S.r.l. and President of APE – Association of Production Service Companies.
As well as his company commitments, Pugini is also a very active Executive Producer. He was the Co-Executive Producer of the television series Rome and The White Lotus S2 (HBO), and acted, as Producer, Exec. Producer, Co-Producer or Line Producer on a long string of projects including Mr. & Mrs. Smith S1 (K. Evans), House of Gucci (Ridley Scott), Indiana Jones 5 (James Mangold), Tenet (Christopher Nolan), Mission Impossible 7 (Chris McQuerrie), Miracle at St. Anna (Spike Lee) and many more.
He strongly believes in the importance of Associations and training. He was a founding partners of API – Independent Authors and Producers, which then merged into ANICA; APP – Advertising Producers and, finally, of APE, that he led from 2003 to 2012, succeeding in the completion of a Field Study that led to participating in the discussion regarding the current laws on fiscal incentives. He is a member of the European Film Academy and former member of the Emmy International Academy.
Since 2011 he has been a member of the Joint Committee (Anica, APT, APE, CGIL, CISL, UIL) and follows the process for the renewal of the National Corporate Contract for the Film, Television and Advertising Fields.
Another pillar of Pugini’s activity is his constant commitment to training. He attended specialization courses (“Screenwriter as Storyteller by” Tom Schlesinger and Keith Cunningham and the ACE 6 Workshop) and, in 2001 helped to create a production course within the master MEGA-Plus of the Media Business School of which he has been in charge from 2009 until 2015. He has acted as tutor and expert for many schools and institutions, along with his intense activity as a consultant.
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Francesca RotondoSales and Business Development Manager, Cinecittà S.p.A.
Francesca Rotondo is a professional with over 20 years of experience at Cinecittà Studios. As Senior International Sales Manager, she manages the rental of Cinecittà’s sound stages, backlot locations, and all related services, striving to meet the needs of production from prep to wrap. A trained architect, Francesca has been working at Cinecittà since 2001 in various roles, ranging from VFX post-production to sales management. Her experience and dedication have significantly contributed to the success and growth of the studios. She believes what makes Cinecittà stand out is the time and effort the Sales Department dedicates to understanding their clients’ needs and the proven ability to work professionally and efficiently, exceeding expectations without exceeding budgets.
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Cristina GiubbettiVice President, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Cristina Giubbetti is based in Rome and currently is Executive Producer for international productions at Cattleya. Her most recent productions include any budget level. She served as Executive Producer “TWO SCOOPS OF ITALY” for MarVista Entertainment, but also “THE FIRST OMEN” for 20th Century Studios. She serviced both seasons of “DOMINA” for Sky Studios and MGM+, both seasons of “SIGNORA VOLPE” for Route 24 and Acorn TV. She produced also “ROSALINE” and “THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN” for 20th Century Studios, “UNTHINKABLY GOOD THINGS”, “ROME IN LOVE” and “CHRISTMAS IN ROME” for Hallmark Channel, “MAFIA MAMMA” for Edver Films, “CASSINO IN ISCHIA” for Isola Verde Films – Paramount Global and “La DERIVE DES CONTINENTES (AU SUD)” for Bandita Films – selected in the QUINZAINE DES REALISATEURS at Cannes 2022.
In 2008, she worked as Sales Manager for international productions at Cinecittà Studios and in 2011 she became responsible for the studios’ executive production services, working with the most important international clients such as Woody Allen, Paul Haggis, MGM, Paramount, Universal, Amazon, Canal +, HBO, Warner Bros., Disney and many more. She had previously been president of the Italian Film Commission and General Manager of the Umbria Film Commission, where she also worked as a production supervisor. Before that, she had worked as a production manager for many of the most important Italian and European productions.
Learn more about Italy’s 40% tax credit, the legendary Cinecittà Studios Facilities and meet APE -The Italian Association of Production Service Companies.
Moderator
Cristina Giubbetti, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Panelists
Manuela Cacciamani, Cinecittà S.p.A.
Marco Valerio Pugini, APE – Association of Italian Production Service Companies
Francesca Rotondo, Cinecittà S.p.A.
Roberto Stabile, Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at Cinecittà
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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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
Ask Me Anything: Financing Independent Films
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Speaker
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Patrick RizzottiPresident, Blue Fox Financing
Patrick Rizzotti is a seasoned film producer and financing executive with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. As the founder of Crossroad Productions, Patrick has made a significant impact on independent filmmaking, producing a variety of successful films that have garnered international acclaim. His impressive filmography includes Pride (Lionsgate), The Collector trilogy (from the writers of SAW franchise), The Super, Malicious, The Free Fall, Maximum Truth, Tiger Mom, and many more. These films have established him as a versatile producer capable of delivering compelling content across genres.
In addition to his work in film production, Patrick is the founding member of Blue Fox Financing, a revolutionary marketplace specializing in debt and gap financing for film and television producers. With Blue Fox Financing, Patrick and his team provide critical financial solutions such as tax credit lending, international presales, union deposit loans, and gap financing, helping filmmakers navigate the complex financial landscape of independent film production. Through this platform, Patrick continues to innovate and support creators by offering accessible and transparent financing options tailored to their project needs.
Patrick’s vision extends beyond financing, as he has launched a Producer Services Division within Blue Fox Financing to assist with project development, leveraging his extensive industry expertise to help filmmakers maximize their financial potential from the earliest stages of production. His deep understanding of both the creative and financial aspects of filmmaking positions him uniquely within the industry, where he bridges the gap between artistic vision and financial execution.
Patrick is also a regular speaker and panel moderator, often leading discussions on the intricacies of film financing in both U.S. and international markets. He has moderated key industry panels such as IFTA’s “Where’s the Money? The Realities of Film Financing Today” and “How to Utilize and Secure Debt/Gap Financing,” where he shares his insights on the evolving landscape of independent film financing.
Through Crossroad Productions and Blue Fox Financing, Patrick Rizzotti remains a driving force in independent film, championing innovative financial models that support creative projects and empower filmmakers to bring their visions to life.
Speakers
Patrick Rizzotti, Blue Fox Financing
James Huntsman, Blue Fox Entertainment
Confronting Fear – Transcending, Challenging & Elevating the Horror Genre
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Speakers
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Tom MalloyCEO, Glass House Distribution
Tom Malloy has been involved for over two decades in all aspects of the film business. He trail-blazed the role of a multi-hyphenate, having approached projects early on as an actor, writer, and producer, recently adding director to his list.
Malloy has raised millions for independent films, produced 26 films, written and sold 25 screenplays, and has starred in many films.
The roster of films produced by Malloy over the years includes 2024’s MCVEIGH, starring Alfie Allen, Anthony Carrigan, and Brett Gelman, which has its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, 2023’s DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL, starring Kristanna Loken and Martin Kove, 2022’s AFTER ALL, starring Erika Christensen, Penelope Ann Miller, David James Elliot, and Zach Gilford, 2021’s ASK ME TO DANCE, directed by Malloy, starring Briana Evigan and Mario Cantone (which was in 38 cities theatrically nationwide on October of 2022, and is now streaming everywhere with an 88% FRESH rating on Rotten Tomatoes), 2020’s LANSKY, starring Harvey Keitel, Sam Worthington, and Minka Kelly, LOVE N’ DANCING, which was directed by Rob Iscove (She’s All That), and stars Amy Smart, Malloy, Billy Zane, Rachel Dratch, and Betty White; the psychological thriller THE ALPHABET KILLER, directed by Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn) and stars Eliza Dushku, Cary Elwes, Malloy, Timothy Hutton, Michael Ironside, and Oscar Winner Melissa Leo; and a horror film directed by Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary) called THE ATTIC, starring Elisabeth Moss. Many film projects are developed through the production company he founded in 2005, Trick Candle Productions.
Trick Candle Productions is known for its quality independent films that span a variety of genres. Trick Candle has most recently produced TRAUMA THERAPY: PSYCHOSIS (released last year), TRAUMA THERAPY, a thriller starring Brian Krause and Chase Coleman, #SCREAMERS, a found footage horror which was twice called the BEST Found Footage Movie Ever, HERO OF THE UNDERWORLD, starring Malloy, Nicole Fox, and Quinton, and FAIR HAVEN, starring Tom Wopat and Michael Grant, as well as the teen drama ASHLEY, starring Nicole Fox, Michael Madsen and Jennifer Taylor.
In 2016, Malloy co-founded the sales and distribution company Glass House Distribution. Glass House is now a leading film sales and distribution company and maintains a presence at AFM, EFM, and Cannes.
Malloy’s unique ability to both write projects and raise the funding for them has been a primary factor in the success of the company. In fact, Malloy shared his expertise on the subject in his best-selling book about independent film financing, BANKROLL, which had two editions and was considered the “gold standard book” of indie film financing. In 2019, Malloy co-founded FilmMakingStuffHQ, which has now become the premiere online training platform for filmmakers.
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Bob PortalManaging Director & Head of Production, AMP
Bob Portal co-founded AMP (Alliance Media Partners) with Inderpal Singh in 2016, a film sales, production and financing company with offices in London and Los Angeles, and part of the Alliance Capital Partners group in Dubai.
Bob is AMP’s managing director, and heads up production activity for the company, based out of LA. Current AMP titles include dark thriller Dragonfly starring Andrea Risborough and Brenda Blethyn, Sci Fi thriller The Resonance, supernatural horror The Morrigan, erotic thriller Compulsion and dark horror thriller Daddy’s Head.
Prior AMP production and sales titles include Joe Lynch’s erotic horror Suitable Flesh, Glorious, Benson and Moorhead’s cult movie The Endless, US Box office number one horror The Wretched, Sundance Midnight thriller Amulet directed by Romola Garai, Blue Iguana, Murder At Yellowstone, and shark action movie The Reef: Stalked.
AMP’s movies have played Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, TIFF and other major festivals, and have starred J.K. Simmons, Gabriel Byrne, Heather Graham, Thomas Jane, Stephan Lang, Bill Pullman, Sean Bean, Anna Camp, Timothy Spall, Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette, Dafne Keen, Michael Biehn, Jemima Kirke, Andy Garcia and Richard Dreyfuss.
Bob is a board member of Central Film School London, a voting member of BAFTA, and a graduate of Cambridge University and the UK’s National Film & Television School.
Moderator
Tom Malloy, Glass House Distribution
Panelists
Priscilla Ross Smith, The Coven
Gregory Chambet, WTFILMS
Bob Portal, AMP
Emily Gotto, Shudder
FlexTV International Forum – Short Dramas: Where Entertainment Meets the Internet
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Panelists
Xiaolin Liu, International Short Drama Association
Christine Liu, International Short Drama Association
Presented by
Celes Luna
The Producer’s Journey
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Moderator
TBA
Panelists
TBA
Sponsored by
Pepperdine University, Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Sports
Finance II: How to Choose a Location to Maximize Your Budget
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Black Culture at the Epicenter of Hollywood
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Speaker
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Kyle BowserSenior VP, NAACP Hollywood Bureau
Kyle Bowser serves as the Senior Vice President of the Hollywood Bureau. In this capacity, Mr. Bowser is responsible for advancing NAACP’s Hollywood projects, relationships, and overseeing NAACP’s Image Awards production.
For nearly three decades, Kyle Bowser has worked as an entertainment industry executive. His experience spans film, television, music, theater, radio, and digital media.
This immersion within a vast sphere of media interests has provided Bowser with unique insight into the intersecting parameters of the arts, culture, business development, and emerging technologies.
Bowser’s career began in theater management and concert promotion. His involvement in television began with NBC Business Affairs in New York City. He later moved to Los Angeles to join Fox, Inc., where he developed television programming of multiple genres and creatively managed primetime fare aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Bowser next served as Director of Creative Affairs for HBO Independent Productions, where he developed new programs and creatively supervised content licensed to primetime broadcast carriers. Throughout Bowser’s storied career, his producing talents have been engaged by countless media companies, including NBC, Fox, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Comedy Central, Lifetime, Cooking Channel, PBS, iNDemand, Facebook, Warner Bros., Harper Collins, AEG, the NFL, and more.
A native of Philadelphia, PA, Kyle Bowser received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in Radio/Television Communications and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations and supports the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) – for whom he founded the annual Vision Awards and received its coveted Legacy Award.
Seismic activity emanating from Hollywood reverberates around the world, influencing social customs, policies, and practices. These media vibrations shake and shape perceptions and behaviors – impacting global consciousness to the core.
Despite its distortions of Black life, Hollywood has used, borrowed, appropriated, and exploited Black culture to permeate the surface of banality, offering consumers deeper resonance and stimulation of the human spirit. Black culture is liberating. It frees the spirit to imagine and soar beyond the limitations of convention, sustaining Hollywood’s relevance and commerce.
The NAACP probes Hollywood’s long-standing reliance on Black culture to craft and perpetuate popular narratives, while interrogating the inequitable dynamics of the exchange.
Speaker
Kyle Bowser, Senior Vice President, NAACP Hollywood Bureau
Presented by
NAACP
Casting for Low-Budget Films
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Panelist
Jennifer K.M. Treadwell, CSA, Treadwell / Kelly Casting
The Untold Realities of Global Film Sales: What’s Really Shaping Today’s Market?
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Inside Troma World: An Interview with Lloyd Kaufman
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Speaker
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Chris GoreManaging Director & Head of Production, Film Threat
Chris Gore is a comedian and writer who was a regular on G4TV’s Attack of the Show. He is also the founder of Film Threat, the author of several movie books including the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, writer/producer of the feature comedy My Big Fat Independent Movie.
Chris has appeared as a film expert on MSNBC, E!, CNN, Reelz Channel and has also hosted shows on FX, Starz, IFC as well as G4TV’s Attack of the Show.
As an author, Chris has written “The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made” (St. Martin’s Press) and “The Complete DVD Book” (Michael Wiese Publications). His book “The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide” (Random House) is considered the bible of the industry and is required reading at film school.
His stories have appeared in magazines, online and trades such as The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Video Business, Total Movie, Spin, Details, Men’s Health, ChinaShopMag.com, WaywardNerd.com and Playboy.com.
Moderator
Chris Gore, Film Threat
Panelists
Lloyd Kaufman, Troma Films
Beyond Representation: The Business Case for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Film
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Speakers
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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.
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Alex SchmiderSr. Director, Entertainment & Transgender Inclusion
Alex Schmider is an Emmy®, Peabody, and Critics Choice Awards recognized producer and the Director of Transgender Representation at GLAAD where he educates, advises, and consults on transgender and nonbinary characters, storylines, marketing campaigns, and gender inclusion on digital platforms. A member of the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy, his producing credits include Changing The Game (Hulu), Disclosure (Netflix), Framing Agnes (Kino Lorber), Stay On Board: The Leo Baker Story (Netflix) and Chasing Chasing Amy. Most recently, he was named one of DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40.
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.
Moderator
Sav Rodgers, Transgender Film Center
Panelists
Alex Schmider, GLAAD
Presented by
the Transgender Film Center and GLAAD
Producers Pitching Their Projects, powered by AI Forecasts
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Speakers
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Breven WarrenDoctoral Researcher of Indie Film Finance
Dr. Breven Warren passionately believes in the power of the independent filmmakers, storytellers and artists. She is currently working on her second doctorate on independent film finance and success strategies. She has contributed to new technologies in the entertainment industry, including leading blockchain and fintech solutions. She actively operates a mentorship filmmaker program, currently in its 17th year and has a wealth of experience working at prestigious filmmaker organizations including Sundance Institute, Film Independent, AFI and Outfest. She has built film mentorship programs and urban farming initiatives, founded in art and ecology. Breven also serves on film programming teams and juries throughout the year. Breven is a proud PGA Producer and is also honored to be a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1989. Breven’s passion for serving and supporting independent filmmakers, storytellers and artists is grounded in her ongoing efforts to be a more transparent and transformative leader with each opportunity. Breven hopes to add value to independent filmmakers and contribute to their personal success strategies.
Largo.ai is teaming up again with AFM this year to host “Producers’ Pitches with AI Forecasts” — a high-intensity pitching session where global producers with projects in-development will go face-to-face with forecasts powered by Largo’ai production intelligence platform. Come and find out how data and AI are being used as a tool to better understand a film’s potential, audience, and story’s strong and weak points.
Pitches will be presented by 20 Producers who are currently working with Largo.ai to showcase their projects in front of an audience of AFM attendees including financiers, distributors and other producers looking for co-production opportunities.
Moderator
Breven Warren, Doctoral Researcher of Indie Film Finance
Panelists
Sami Arpa, CEO, Largo.ai
Presented by
Largo.ai
The Climate Opportunity: Industry Momentum from Script to Screen
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The industry’s momentum weaving climate and sustainability into the filmmaking process from script to screen is presenting exciting opportunities for audience engagement, new partnerships, bold innovation, and scaled impact. This conversation will share insights to the resources, community, and funding sources available for projects and professionals interested in the climate opportunity.
Pitch Conference: Mastering the Art of Pitching & Live Pitches
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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
Killing It at the Box Office: How Cineverse’s Horror Sensation Won Opening Weekend
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Maximizing Impact: Crafting Powerful Films with Limited Budgets
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Speakers
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Chris GoreManaging Director & Head of Production, Film Threat
Chris Gore is a comedian and writer who was a regular on G4TV’s Attack of the Show. He is also the founder of Film Threat, the author of several movie books including the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, writer/producer of the feature comedy My Big Fat Independent Movie.
Chris has appeared as a film expert on MSNBC, E!, CNN, Reelz Channel and has also hosted shows on FX, Starz, IFC as well as G4TV’s Attack of the Show.
As an author, Chris has written “The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made” (St. Martin’s Press) and “The Complete DVD Book” (Michael Wiese Publications). His book “The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide” (Random House) is considered the bible of the industry and is required reading at film school.
His stories have appeared in magazines, online and trades such as The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Video Business, Total Movie, Spin, Details, Men’s Health, ChinaShopMag.com, WaywardNerd.com and Playboy.com.
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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.
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Max WoertendykeCEO/Founder, Noble Gas Media
A Juilliard trained actor turned award-winning producer, Woertendyke is the founder of Noble Gas Media and the regular producing partner of David Corenswet, Dane Elcar, and others. NGM’s first feature, sci-fi horror BRIGHTWOOD earned 94% Fresh on RT, was called “a masterclass” in The Guardian, became a viral touchstone on #horrortok where non-sponsored content about the film saw 12M+ views, and did 5x in sales vs. budget from TVOD in the first two Qs of release. Other recent projects include REAL LIVE GIRL (dir. by Corenswet, written by BAFTA nom Manon Gage), MILQUETOAST (dir. by Eliza Huberth, starring Vella Lovell and Kayhun Kim), DAD’S RUNNING CLUB (dir. by Claire Siebers, starring Alex Breaux), and WOMAN IN THE SKY, his own documentary (DP’d by Corenswet) about abstract expressionist Jon Schueler and Magda Salvesen, his widow who’s kept his legacy alive. He’s producing Elcar’s second feature, a techno-thriller with horror elements, and was this year’s Keynote Speaker at Juilliard’s Entrepreneurship Symposium, “Creativity as Business” hosted out of Lincoln Center. As a performer, Max’s credits include “Succession”, “Longmire”, an upcoming “Untitled Marvel show”, and Tony, Obie and Audelco winning plays. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and son.
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Paul BalesChief Operating Officer, The Asylum
Since 2006, Paul Bales has been the Chief Operating Officer and Partner at The Asylum, a production and distribution company based in Burbank, California.
The Asylum finances, produces and releases 25 films per year through its direct pipeline to the nation’s top retailers and its network of international partners. Since its founding in 1997, The Asylum has released more than 500 films and built a library of over 300 original productions, including top-rated series’ for Syfy and Netflix, and, the Sharknado franchise.
Prior to joining The Asylum, Paul was National Director of SAGIndie, the Screen Actors Guild outreach program for independent producers. He is a Board Member of the Independent Film & Television Alliance.
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Efuru FlowersFounder, Flourishing Films
EFURU FLOWERS is a dynamic force in film distribution, sales, and production, with a career that began at John Singleton’s New Deal Productions. This experience laid the foundation for a passion for bringing compelling stories to audiences worldwide.
As the founder of Flourishing Films, a sales, distribution, and production company, Flowers has orchestrated the release of diverse content, including features, shorts, and documentaries that have screened at prestigious festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Tribeca, Cannes, Hot Docs, Toronto, ABFF, and BlackStar. Recent titles distributed by Flourishing Films include Three Ways, Holiday Hideaway, Ayiti Mon Amour, Right Near The Beach, Paper Friends, Dreamstates, A Moving Image, The Revolution Won’t Be Televised, and Night Shift.
In addition to distribution achievements, Flowers has produced and executive produced a range of acclaimed projects, such as Hulu’s Three Ways; Fox’s presentation of Kim Cole’s stage play Homework; Sundance Official Selection Night Shift starring Tunde Adebimpe (The Idol) and China Shavers (Judas and the Black Messiah); Urbanworld’s ‘Til Death with Tamala Jones (Castle) and Sherman Augustus (Into the Badlands); and ABFF’s Looking For Me, featuring Dayna Dooley (Insecure, The Upshaws).
Most recently, Flowers launched Flourishing Films’ YouTube movie channel, further expanding the company’s reach. Her latest production, Summer of Violence (2024), marks the feature directorial debut of Nicki Micheaux (Good Trouble, In The Dark, Lincoln Heights), and premiered in theaters, starring Kasey Inez (The David Project) and Jahking Guillory (Kicks, On My Block).
Flowers is an alum of the Producers Guild of America’s The Power of Diversity program, Sundance Institute’s Financing Intensive, and Berlinale Talents (Sales & Distribution).
Moderator
Chris Gore, Film Threat
Panelists
Paul Bales, The Asylum
Max Woertendyke, Noble Gas Media
Jeff Deverett, Producer
Efuru Flowers, Flourishing Films