The Writers Guild Theater became ground zero for the next wave of independent film financing as the Film Finance & Future Capital Entertainment Summit drew a highly curated mix of private equity executives, family offices, producers, financiers, and tech innovators.
Founded by real estate mogul Doval Bacall and hosted by Your Script Produced! Studios, the event zeroed in on the rapidly shifting economics of independent filmmaking, and the growing role global private capital, AI, and digital asset technology will play in Hollywood’s next cycle.
Independent filmmakers, global investors, production companies, and emerging technology leaders were all on hand to help redefine entertainment economics. The event functioned as a marketplace for dealmaking, strategic partnerships, and investment across film, TV, and next-gen media.
Backed by Doval Bacall Entertainment and represented exclusively by UTA, the summit positioned itself as one of the rare industry gatherings where meaningful private capital was actually in the room. Over a full day of panels and dealmaking conversations, the program explored new investment pathways for a studio system still recalibrating from the streaming era. Key topics included:
• Tax-smart investment structures
• Studio-level financing models accessible to independents
• How private equity is reshaping content spending
• Family office strategies in film and media
• Unlocking global crypto wealth and tokenization models
• Web3 rights management and digital distribution
• Reducing investor risk across film slates and SPVs
Industry insiders pointed to recurring themes: cross-border financing, structured credit, and investor-favored Section 181 strategies, all signals that alternative capital is poised to fill the gap as traditional studio spending continues to contract.
High-Profile Execs, Financiers, and Creators Look Ahead to Hollywood’s Next Cycle
Speakers included a mix of studio veterans, producers, financiers, attorneys, and tech leaders such as Glenn S. Gainor (Hollywood Ventures Group), Dante DeSario (UTA), Samara Pollak (MarcyPen Capital Partners), Amara Wayans (Wayans Empire), Michael Spanos (LA Chargers), Jethro Rothe-Kushel (Producers Guild of America), Brian O’Shea (The Exchange), Brian Altounian (Miramontes Capital), Zack Ellison (Applied Real Intelligence) and others.
Conversation throughout the day centered on the new reality for independent production: tighter studio output, rising demand for private capital, and a broad push to build more innovative, more resilient financing models.
Looking Ahead: A Bigger, Broader 2026 Edition
Bacall confirmed that planning is already underway for an expanded 2026 summit, which will include:
• Larger accredited investor roundtables
• International crypto-wealth and tokenization segments
• SPV and slate equity financing programs
• Global delegations
• AI and production-tech showcases
• A stronger presence from Wall Street and private markets
The goal: cement the summit as the bridge between Hollywood and the global private-capital ecosystem, driving its next wave of growth.
He told Reel 360 News, “This summit is about bringing the smartest capital in the world directly into the creative ecosystem — and building structures that finally derisk what has historically been seen as a volatile asset class. We’re creating a dealmaking environment that combines entertainment, private markets, and innovation at the highest level.”
Here are some photos from the event:
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