AFM adds Ron Perlman, Sundance leaders and horror heavyweights to conference lineup

(CREDIT: Dan Steinberg/AFM)

How do you finance a film, find its audience, and get people into theaters? The American Film Market is putting those questions in front of executives and filmmakers across its expanded 2026 conference program.

AFM, which opened November 10 and runs through November 15 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, has announced additional speakers for The AFM Sessions and The AFM House. The lineup includes actor and producer Ron Perlman, Sundance Institute CEO David Linde, FilmNation Entertainment CEO Glen Basner, Atomic Monster president Michael Clear and Head Gear Films founder and CEO Phil Hunt.

The additions span studio-scale production, films made for under $1 million, horror, creator filmmakers and the changing economics of theatrical distribution. Representatives from Adobe, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Constantin Film, IFC Films, Roadside Attractions and international film markets are also participating.

Opening-day programming included “The Power of Fan Equity,” featuring Perlman alongside Republic Film’s Marc Iserlis, media analyst Evan Shapiro, producer Jeff Synthesized and filmmaker Wesley Wang. The panel formed part of AFM’s New Global Screen Economy Summit.

On November 11, “The Sundance Film Festival in Boulder: Welcoming the World” brings together Linde, Basner, Sundance managing director Paula DuPré Pesmen and marketing and communications expert Laura Kim for a discussion of the festival’s next chapter.

Later that day, “The High Stakes Business of Producing Big Budget Films” features Nickel City Pictures CEO Mark Fasano, Adobe’s Darren Frankel, A Higher Standard founder Jeffrey Greenstein, Constantin Film’s David Kehrl and Pressman Film CEO Sam Pressman.

The afternoon also includes “More Than a Trend: Rise of Creator Filmmakers,” with Independent Film & Television Alliance president and CEO Jackie Brenneman, Creator Revolution founder Monica Khan and Callo founder Fassa Sar.

The theatrical release debate gets a direct airing November 12 with “Do We Still Need a Wide National Opening?” Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen, Versant Media executive Jerramy Hainline and IFC Films/Shudder distribution head Nicole Weis will examine a question facing distributors at every budget level.

Also on November 12, Studio Dome’s Shaked Berenson and Tom Malloy host “Film Distribution & Finance: Ask Me Anything.” Brenneman joins Marché du Film executive director Guillaume Esmiol and Berlinale Pro and European Film Market director Tanja Meissner for “The Future of Film Markets: Connecting a Global Industry.”

Naturally, Friday the 13th belongs to horror. “Friday the 13th: Why Horror Never Dies” gathers Clear, Hunt, Project X co-CEO Paul Neinstein, Cineverse chief motion pictures officer Yolanda Macias and Spooky Pictures co-founder Steven Schneider.

For filmmakers working with considerably less money, November 14 brings “Low Budgets, High Stakes: Producing Films for Under $1 Million,” featuring The Coven partner Kendall Anlian, Film Mode Entertainment president Clay Epstein and Craftsman Films founder Daren Smith.

The AFM House programming expands the conversation to exhibitors entering distribution, community-driven moviegoing and funding for arthouse cinema. Participants include Alamo Drafthouse’s Lisa Dreyer, Vue Lumière’s Eve Gabereau, GKIDS president David Jesteadt, Vidiots Foundation executive director Maggie Mackay and Art House Convergence executive director Lela Meadow-Conner.

Selected sessions are listed below. All times are Pacific.

The American Film Market runs November 10–15, 2026, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, with screenings at AMC Century City 15. For additional information, visit americanfilmmarket.com.