AFM opens with biggest programming lineup to date

Here we go. The 40th American Film Market will open its doors tomorrow, November 6.  

Meaning an estimated 7,000 attendees, including finance, production, sales and distribution executives will descend upon Santa Monica for screenings, networking, panels, and to solidify deals on both completed films and thousands of projects destined to reach the audiences around the world.

The numbers are mind-boggling to be honest – 375 exhibiting companies, including 77 new exhibitors from 22 countries, who combined are representing thousands of films and projects in every stage of production.  The United States will have the biggest exhibitor presence with 160, followed by the United Kingdom (31), France (26), Russia (19) South Korea (17), Germany (12), Italy (8), Romania (8), and Thailand (8). 

The world’s leading buyers will also be in attendance with companies from more than 70 countries confirmed to date, the largest number coming from the United States, followed by Japan, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China. 

Buyers from the world’s leading digital platforms are also confirmed. 

AFM adds AVOD, TV and XR Conversations to Programming lineup

The market is becoming known more and more for its Conference Series. Here is what you can expect:

Breaking the Mold: The Innovators

It all kicks off Friday, Nov. 8 Industry visionaries Erik Feig, CEO, Picturestart, Tim League, Founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and Aron Levitz, Head of Wattpad Studios, and Christian Parkes, Chief Marketing Officer of NEON to discuss what differentiates their business models and what the future holds. 

Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker

The new half-day on Saturday, Nov. 9, will offer opportunities for bringing content, such as virtual and augmented reality, to market with creators and expertsTed Schilowitz, XR expert and Futurist at Paramount Pictures, will present the opening keynote followed by panels featuring Rick Hack, Intel Studios, Laura Hertzfeld, Verizon Media’s Yahoo! News, Randal Kleiser, Film Director, and Lauren Xandra, National Research Group, among others.

ALSO READ: Highland Film Group announces ’13 Minutes’ Cast

Television Conference

The new half-day conference will look at long form programming for the small screen moderated by Variety’s Michael Schneider and featuring producers Paul Bales, The Asylum, Pierre David, ReelOne/Lance Entertainment, Brad Krevoy, Motion Picture Corporation of America, Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, American Cinema International and Tony Vassiliadis, MarVista Entertainment.  Presentations by network executives including Disney’s Lauren Kisilevsky, the History Channel’s Mike Stiller, and Lifetime Original Movie’s Tia Maggini on their feature-length programming needs and priorities will follow.

The Rise of AVOD

This panel on Tuesday, Nov. 12 will explore this rapidly expanding model and the opportunities for independent film with panelists Floris Bauer, Gunpowder & Sky, Jeff Shultz, Pluto TV, Adam Lewinson, Tubi TV, Julian Franco, Vudu, Anthony Layser, Xumo, and moderator Bruce Eisen, Digital Advisors.

Roundtables and Presentations

AFM’s Palisades and Venice Stages at the Loews will be busy as attendees can join these panels:

Audiences Want More: Bringing Diverse Projects to the Marketplace

In partnership with ReFrame on Saturday, Nov. 9,with Glen Basner, FilmNation, Producers Zanne Devine and Cassian Elwes, and Monica Levinson, ShivHans Pictures, and Jane Fleming, Court Five Productions.

Seizing the Moment: Producing LGBTQ Content in a Time of Unprecedented Visibility

In partnership with Outfest on Sunday, Nov. 10 with River GalloPonyboiStephen Kelliher, Bankside Films, Keya Khayatian, United Talent Agency, LaShawn McGhee, Revry, and Valerie Stadler Big Swing Productions & Outfest.

Animals in Film: From Script to Screen

On Saturday, Nov. 9 join Hollywood senior Trainer Mark Harden and K9 dog actor Benny.

Other notable speakers include producer Roxanne Benjamin (V/H/S),  producer Effie Brown (Dear White People), Sherryl Clark, The H Collective, Mark Gooder, Cornerstone Films, Katherine MacDonald, Paramount Pictures, Nat McCormick, The Exchange, producer Alysa Nahmias (Unrest), Vanessa Saal, Protagonist Pictures, Nick Spicer, XYZ Films, and Carrie Wong, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Here we go…

SOURCE: American Film Market

Here we go. The 40th American Film Market will open its doors tomorrow, November 6.  

Meaning an estimated 7,000 attendees, including finance, production, sales and distribution executives will descend upon Santa Monica for screenings, networking, panels, and to solidify deals on both completed films and thousands of projects destined to reach the audiences around the world.

The numbers are mind-boggling to be honest – 375 exhibiting companies, including 77 new exhibitors from 22 countries, who combined are representing thousands of films and projects in every stage of production.  The United States will have the biggest exhibitor presence with 160, followed by the United Kingdom (31), France (26), Russia (19) South Korea (17), Germany (12), Italy (8), Romania (8), and Thailand (8). 

The world’s leading buyers will also be in attendance with companies from more than 70 countries confirmed to date, the largest number coming from the United States, followed by Japan, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China. 

Buyers from the world’s leading digital platforms are also confirmed. 

AFM adds AVOD, TV and XR Conversations to Programming lineup

The market is becoming known more and more for its Conference Series. Here is what you can expect:

Breaking the Mold: The Innovators

It all kicks off Friday, Nov. 8 Industry visionaries Erik Feig, CEO, Picturestart, Tim League, Founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and Aron Levitz, Head of Wattpad Studios, and Christian Parkes, Chief Marketing Officer of NEON to discuss what differentiates their business models and what the future holds. 

Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker

The new half-day on Saturday, Nov. 9, will offer opportunities for bringing content, such as virtual and augmented reality, to market with creators and expertsTed Schilowitz, XR expert and Futurist at Paramount Pictures, will present the opening keynote followed by panels featuring Rick Hack, Intel Studios, Laura Hertzfeld, Verizon Media’s Yahoo! News, Randal Kleiser, Film Director, and Lauren Xandra, National Research Group, among others.

ALSO READ: Highland Film Group announces ’13 Minutes’ Cast

Television Conference

The new half-day conference will look at long form programming for the small screen moderated by Variety’s Michael Schneider and featuring producers Paul Bales, The Asylum, Pierre David, ReelOne/Lance Entertainment, Brad Krevoy, Motion Picture Corporation of America, Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, American Cinema International and Tony Vassiliadis, MarVista Entertainment.  Presentations by network executives including Disney’s Lauren Kisilevsky, the History Channel’s Mike Stiller, and Lifetime Original Movie’s Tia Maggini on their feature-length programming needs and priorities will follow.

The Rise of AVOD

This panel on Tuesday, Nov. 12 will explore this rapidly expanding model and the opportunities for independent film with panelists Floris Bauer, Gunpowder & Sky, Jeff Shultz, Pluto TV, Adam Lewinson, Tubi TV, Julian Franco, Vudu, Anthony Layser, Xumo, and moderator Bruce Eisen, Digital Advisors.

Roundtables and Presentations

AFM’s Palisades and Venice Stages at the Loews will be busy as attendees can join these panels:

Audiences Want More: Bringing Diverse Projects to the Marketplace

In partnership with ReFrame on Saturday, Nov. 9,with Glen Basner, FilmNation, Producers Zanne Devine and Cassian Elwes, and Monica Levinson, ShivHans Pictures, and Jane Fleming, Court Five Productions.

Seizing the Moment: Producing LGBTQ Content in a Time of Unprecedented Visibility

In partnership with Outfest on Sunday, Nov. 10 with River GalloPonyboiStephen Kelliher, Bankside Films, Keya Khayatian, United Talent Agency, LaShawn McGhee, Revry, and Valerie Stadler Big Swing Productions & Outfest.

Animals in Film: From Script to Screen

On Saturday, Nov. 9 join Hollywood senior Trainer Mark Harden and K9 dog actor Benny.

Other notable speakers include producer Roxanne Benjamin (V/H/S),  producer Effie Brown (Dear White People), Sherryl Clark, The H Collective, Mark Gooder, Cornerstone Films, Katherine MacDonald, Paramount Pictures, Nat McCormick, The Exchange, producer Alysa Nahmias (Unrest), Vanessa Saal, Protagonist Pictures, Nick Spicer, XYZ Films, and Carrie Wong, Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Here we go…

SOURCE: American Film Market