From Local to Global: Developing Stories & Content for Worldwide Appeal

Speakers

• 

  Katie Irwin Co-Head of International, WME Independent
  

  Katie Irwin

  Co-Head of International, WME Independent

  Katie Irwin is an Agent and the Co-Head of International at WME Independent, where in addition to handling sales and distribution, she advises on financing and packaging for a wideranging slate of films. Her expertise has helped strategically package and sell the upcoming films Nuremberg starring Russell Crowe and Rami Malek, The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer and Normal starring Bob Odenkirk as well as Daddio starring Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, Widow Clicquot starring Haley Bennett and Tom Sturridge, and The Weight with Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe.

  Prior to WME Independent, she was part of the film group at Endeavor Content where she managed titles such as the Oscar® nominated The Lost Daughter, the critically acclaimed PIG, Tin Soldier starring Jaimee Foxx and Scott Eastwood, and audience favorite The Peanut Butter Falcon.

  As a consultant, Irwin has provided services for companies including GoldCrest, AMBI
  Distribution and a Chinese distribution company for which she was based in Beijing. Before this, she was Vice President at Fortitude International handling films such as Sundance Film Festival Official Selection The End of the Tour, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segal.

  During her time at Myriad Pictures, Irwin negotiated international distribution deals for films like Academy Award® nominated Margin Call and the two-part love story The Disappearance of Elenor Rigby starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Viola Davis.

  Irwin has taken several hiatuses from the entertainment industry to work with Doctors Without
  Borders (MSF), leading field logistics for projects in South Sudan, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moreover, as part of an MSF COVID-19 response team in the early days of the pandemic, she was stationed in Immokalee, FL to support the migrant farmworker population. She is filled with gratitude for her colleagues and friends in the industry who have supported her in this endeavor over the years.

  Fluent in French and conversational in Mandarin, Irwin began her career in film and TV production in Chicago, relocating to Los Angeles in 2007 to work for Gianni Nunnari’s Hollywood Gang Productions. She received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago, and after graduating moved to Jilin City in China to teach media studies at Dongbei Dianli University.

• 

  Matt Brodlie Co-President, Upgrade Productions
  

  Matt Brodlie

  Co-President, Upgrade Productions

  Matt Brodlie has a thirty-year career in film production, acquisitions and distribution, working with some of the largest companies in the entertainment industry. His expertise includes building new ventures with global corporations, and expanding established companies’ global reach. Currently, Matt serves as the co-president and founder of Upgrade Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company that he launched with Jonathan Kier in October 2021 backed by German powerhouse Constantin Film. Upgrade Productions focuses on developing and producing premium local language television and film for a global audience, aiming to meet the increasing demand for local language content as global viewing habits evolve. They have film and series projects set up around the world, and have recently leaned back into film sales.

  Prior to this, Matt was the Senior Vice President of International Content for Disney+, where he led the content strategy for all non US markets. His role was pivotal in the global launch of Disney+, as he developed a slate of over 50 narrative and unscripted series and films across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. Matt also initiated and managed a worldwide acquisition business, enhancing Disney+’s offering with first-run and library titles.

  Before his tenure at Disney+, Matt was the Director of Original Film at Netflix, where he oversaw all Original Film acquisitions starting in 2015. He was responsible for acquiring critically acclaimed films such as Roma, Power Of The Dog, Mudbound, and Klaus. Recognizing an opportunity to create a slate of mid-budget films, he crafted and executed a plan that resulted in some of Netflix’s most-watched titles. Additionally, he co-headed the Original Indie Film team.

  Before that, at Paramount, he managed the Worldwide Acquisitions Group, overseeing domestic and international acquisitions and co-productions for the local-language production arm. This role involved releasing films in multiple languages and managing global teams in LA, London, Mexico City, Rio, Madrid, and Munich.

  Earlier in his career, Matt was the Senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions for TriStar Pictures, where he assembled the Hollywood film slate and assisted in producing local-language films for Sony. He began his career at Miramax, advancing from an assistant to Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions. At Miramax, he oversaw acquisitions and co-productions globally, working on award-winning films such as Hero, In The Bedroom, Amélie, City of God, and Barbarian Invasions.

• 

  Peter Van Steemburg Head of Talent Management, XYZ FILMS
  

  Peter Van Steemburg

  Head of Talent Management, XYZ FILMS

  Peter Van Steemburg hails from upstate New York and started his career in NYC after graduating from Williams College. After early stints at Miramax and Cinetic Media, he spent the next 7 years working his way up in the Acquisitions department of Magnolia Pictures & Magnet Releasing. He relocated to Los Angeles to run West Coast acquisitions in 2010. In 2015, Peter joined ICM Partners as an Agent in the International Independent Department where he arranged financing and/or distribution for feature films until heading back to film distribution at Universal Pictures. He was most recently the Vice President of Acquisitions & Production at the Universal Pictures Content Group. He’s been at XYZ since 2019 building out the talent management roster, focusing on global genre filmmakers