TIFF industry 2015 Video: Financing Female Led Films
A fearless and very topical dialogue on the realities of female-led projects, with perspectives on talent and storytelling, the uphill funding battle, and strategies of female executives. How and why do films that are led by women seemingly receive less funding? Does the female auteur bring a nuanced perspective and how does this impact the audience, and sales? How can female executives drive change?
The new Upfront series provides a no-holds barred access to high profile perspectives on a topical industry conversation. In 2015, the Upfronts will focus on the evolving gender in the media discourse. Each Upfront will delve into challenges and opportunities, presented through the experience and opinions of some of the most outspoken public figures in the biz. In Collaboration With Google.
SUSAN CARTSONIS
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, STOREFRONT FILM GROUP
@SUSANCARTSONIS
The Hollywood Reporter named Susan Cartsonis one of the top 5 grossing producers of the year for What Women Want—the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time at the time of its release, and Where the Heart Is (Natalie Portman). She’s produced other female-friendly hits like Aquamarine, Beastly, and No Reservationsand believes in the power of the female audience. Susan Cartsonis recently produced The Duffwhich Variety called “an instant teen classic” and a “smart, snappy Pygmalion for the millennial age". Next up to shoot this fall is Carrie Pilby, starring Bel Powley, who has garnered rave reviews for the recently released Diary of a Teenage Girl, also starring Eddie Izzard, and Tom Wilkinson.
LYDIA DEAN-PILCHER
VICE PRESIDENT OF MOTION PICTURES FOR THE PRODUCER'S GUILD OF AMERICA AND CHAIR OF THE WOMEN'S IMPACT NETWORK OF THE PGA.
@QUEENDEAN
Lydia Dean Pilcher is founder of the New York based production company, Cine Mosaic, and producer of over 35 features with directors including Mira Nair, Wes Anderson, Barry Levinson, and Gina Prince-Bythwood. Active internationally with business relationships in the US, India, Turkey, Africa and Middle East, her recent films include, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, The Lunchbox, directed by Ritesh Batra, and the Academy Award nominated Cutie & The Boxer
NIIJA KUYKENDALL
VP OF PRODUCTION, WARNER BROS PICTURES
GIGI PRITZKER
FOUNDER AND CEO, ODDLOT ENTERTAINMENT
ANNA SERNER
CEO, SWEDISH FILM INSTITUTE
@ANNASERNER
Anna Serner became the CEO of the Swedish Film Institute on October 1st 2011. She previously served as Managing Director of the Swedish Media Publishers' Association (Tidningsutgivarna), where she was active in public debate on freedom of speech and the media's role in society. For two years prior to this she ran her own marketing communications consultancy business, and was also CEO of the Advertising Association of Sweden (Reklamförbundet) from 1998-2006. With a degree in law, Anna has a wide experience of board level appointments, including Berghs School of Communication, Folkoperan, United Minds, Fanzingo and the magazine Dagens Samhälle. She has also served as an expert on various Swedish government commissions, including one on copyright (2010). In addition, she undertook a two-year course in practical filmmaking at the Stockholm School of Film as well as film studies at Stockholm University.
WENDY MITCHELL
FILM PROGRAMMER MANAGER, BRITISH COUNCIL
@INDIEWENDY
Wendy Mitchell is a Film Programme Manager at the British Council, where she looks after various film programmes (such as our new UK-Nigeria screenwriting lab Script Junction), as well as running the festival selector screening programme in London for the world’s top festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Toronto and many more. She is also a contributing editor at Screen International, which she first joined in 2005. Mitchell previously worked as staff news editor for Entertainment Weekly in New York and as Managing Editor at indieWIRE. She has also written about the entertainment business for The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Variety, Rolling Stone, the Dow Jones News Service, Time Out New York, Billboard, and the New York Daily News. She is also a contributor for SkyArts’ TV series Discovering Hollywood and has appeared as a film industry commentator on the BBC, CNN, and Sky.
