The updated AFM Conference Series

The AFM Conference Series gives attendees tremendous knowledge, insight, access, value and a rare opportunity to hear from the industry’s global thought leaders, decision makers and experts who all converge annually at the AFM.

The AFM Conference Series will take place Friday Nov. 7 – Tuesday Nov. 11, from 9:15am – 12:45pm daily and will include Conferences on Finance, Pitching, Production, Marketing and Distribution. From treatment to screen, it’s all covered!

Doors & Will Call Open at 8:00am

Conference Hours: 9:15am - 12:45pm daily

Conference Location: 

Fairmont Hotel, Starlight Ballroom - 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica  

See the AFM Campus Map.  

Friday, November 7

Finance Conference

• First Session - Current Issues in Film Finance
  
  Leading CEOs, filmmakers, financiers and executives converge to explore the state of independent film financing, emerging trends, where the money is and what the future holds.

   

  Moderator:
  
  P. John Burke, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP

  Panelists: 
  
  Matt Belloni, Executive Editor, Hollywood Reporter
  
  Rich Klubeck, Partner, UTA
  
  Brett Ratner, Director of films including Hercules, After the Sunset, Red Dragon, theRush Hour trilogy, The Family Man, X-Men: The Last Stand, and Chief Executive Officer, RatPac Entertainment LLC

• Second Session - Building Your Global Film Financing Strategy
  
  Where is the money and how quickly can you get it? All you need to know about global financing structures and sources of film finance, including incentives, subsidies and tax shelters.

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Joseph Chianese, EVP, Entertainment Partners

  Panelists: 
  
  Yolanda T. Cochran, EVP Physical Production, Alcon Entertainment
  
  Mike Gabrawy, CCO, Arclight Films
  
  Hawk Koch, Producers Guild of America 
  
  Fredrik Malmberg, President & CEO, Cabinet Entertainment
  
  Christopher Pettit, Co-Founder & Joint CEO, Arise Pictures
  
  Adrian Ward, SVP, Entertainment Industries Division, Pacific Mercantile Bank

Saturday, November 8

Pitch Conference sponsored by ROSKINO

• First Session - Pitching Essentials
  
  A good pitch can get a bad film made while a bad pitch can leave a terrific project languishing on the shelf. Pitching is part art (it’s creative), part science (it needs to follow a tight script) and part sales (you have to wow them). Conference attendees will learn the essential rules and tools of pitching from the experts.
• Second Session - The 2-Minute Pitches
  
  Volunteers selected in advance (you?) will pitch to a panel of Hollywood decision makers. They will give unvarnished feedback on each pitch - explaining what worked, what didn't - and why. 

Presenter/ Moderator:

Stephanie Palmer, Founder, Good in a Room

Panelists: 

Tobin Armbrust, President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions, Exclusive Media Group

Cassian Elwes, Independent Producer/ Agent

Start preparing your AFM pitch now!  Read AFM's Pitching Essentials, prepared by Stephanie Palmer, AFM Pitch Conference Moderator and Founder, Good in a Room. 

To be considered to pitch on stage, you will need to submit a 2-minute video pitch. For details on how to submit your pitch, read AFM Pitch Conference Guide To Creating An Effective Video Pitch.

Sunday, November 9

Production Conference sponsored by The Associated Press

• First Session - Producing For a Worldwide Audience
  
  Films with universal appeal have the best opportunity to thrive. What does a producer need to do and consider to ensure a film will travel across borders? Take a whistle-stop tour of the globe to discover what is working and, crucially, what isn’t.
  

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Paul Hertzberg, President & CEO, CineTel Films, Inc.

  Initial Panelists: 
  
  Tom Berry, President, Reel One Entertainment
  
  Eric Brenner, Partner, Informant Media 
  
  Mark Damon, CEO & Chairman, Foresight Unlimited
  
  Mark Gill, President, Millennium Films
  
  Mimi Steinbauer, President & CEO, Radiant Films International

• Second Session - Accessing and Securing Talent
  
  Attracting the interest and services of talent is a competitive minefield. Is it the script? Is it relationships? Do you need to offer a play-or-pay contract? Our experts reveal all of the steps producers need to take to get the right, in-demand, leading lady... or man.
  

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Kevin Iwashina, Managing Partner, Preferred Content

  Panelists: 
  
  Jessica Lacy, Head, International Film, ICM Partners
  
  Emanuel Nunez, Agent, Paradigm
  
  Laura Rister, Head, Production, Untitled Entertainment
  
  Rena Ronson, Co-Head, Independent Film Group, UTA

Monday, November 10

Marketing Conference sponsored by iQIYI

• First Session - The Engagement Factor- Creating Effective Social Media Campaigns 
  
  Connecting with and engaging the core audience in authentic, creative and ongoing ways is critical. The social media and marketing gurus behind successful campaigns cover the essentials of creating a customized and innovative digital marketing strategy. Learn why timing is critical, how the consumer can be the most effective marketing tool and where the audience discovery process is headed.
  

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Natalie Bruss, VP, Digital Partnership, ID

  Initial Panelists: 
  
  Clay Dollarhide, Publicist, Ginsberg/Libby
  
  Mickey Meyer, Co-Founder, JASH
  
  Anne Zeiser, President & CEO, Azure Media, LLC

• Second Session - The Role of the Publicist and Why You Need One
  
  Publicity is capable of making or breaking a film but it’s often overlooked by independent producers. Beginning in pre-production, publicists play a key role through production, post, festivals and distribution. Leading publicists disclose the dark arts of publicity, the value of crisis management and the achievements and horror stories behind successful independent and large budget campaigns.
  

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Gary Foster, Partner, Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment

  Initial Panelists: 
  
  Dana Archer, President & Partner, DDA PR
  
  Chris Day, Head, Corporate Communications, UTA
  
  Jill Jones, EVP Marketing & Publicity, Mister Smith Entertainment
  
  Marian Koltai-Levine, EVP Film, PMK*BNC

Tuesday, November 11

Distribution Conference sponsored by iQIYI

• First Session - Video on Demand: 2015
  
  VOD could soon be the primary source of revenue for independent filmmakers. Many see a future where all films are available worldwide and every film finds its audience. Leading aggregators and distributors come together to separate fact from fiction - exploring who is making money, how they are doing it and what the future holds.

   

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Alex Fragen, Global Distribution Strategist, UTA

  Initial Panelists: 
  
  Paul Davidson, SVP, Film & TV, The Orchard
  
  Nolan Gallagher, Founder & CEO, Gravitas Ventures
  
  John Sloss, Founder, Cinetic Media
  
  Doug Sylvester, President, Vubiquity

• Second Session - DIY Distribution: Finding Your Film's Audience and Digital Niche
  
  What every producer needs to know before bypassing distributors and aggregators. Platforms and filmmakers take the audience through the range of options and reveal how to find and select the distribution channel that will deliver the most enthusiastic audience for every film.

   

  
  
  Moderator:
  
  Russell Schwartz, President, Domestic Marketing, Relativity Europa Distribution

  Panelists: 
  
  Richard Abramowitz, President, Abramorama
  
  Nicolas Gonda, CEO, Tugg, Inc.
  
  Adam Leipzig, CEO, Entertainment Media Partners
  
  Sam Toles, VP, Content Acquisitions, Vimeo
  
  Dylan Wiley, Independent Film Marketing & Distribution Executive

Information will be posted as announced on this page, AFM’s Facebook page, and AFM365™.

The AFM Conference Series will be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica.

Doors & Will Call Open at 8:00am – Conference Hours: 9:15am - 12:45pm daily

Conference tickets may be ordered with or without an AFM pass. See Attendee Packages & Pricing for more information.