The American Film Market (AFM) is almost here. It's such an awesome event that takes place in Santa Monica each year in November. This year it takes place from November 2 to 9. As a filmmaker, I love going to the AFM speaker panels and feeling the energy of deals being made every second during the first few days of the market. And if I have a film being sold, I usually swing by our agent's office and say hello and see our poster hanging in their suite. It's a great feeling to see your work out in the world and not only on your computer screen or in your office.
I'm really look forward to the Finance Conference. The panelists look great:
Ashok Amritraj, CEO, Hyde Park Entertainment; Doug Hansen, President, Endgame Entertainment; Robert Hayward, Chief Operating Officer, Summit Entertainment, L.P.; Patrick Russo, Principal, The Salter Group; Jared Underwood, Senior Vice President, Group Manager Entertainment, Comerica Bank Entertainment Group; Leon Clarance, Chief Executive Officer, Motion Picture Capital – a Reliance Entertainment Company; Bill Fay, Former President of Production, Legendary Pictures; Mary Ann Hughes, Vice President, Film & Television Production Planning, The Walt Disney Company; Bill Johnson, Co-Founder & Partner, Inferno Entertainment; Andrew Matthews, President, RKO Films and Bahman Naraghi, Chief Operating Officer, GK Films.
They also have Pitch, Marketing, Production and Distribution Conferences. I will try to attend as many as I can and report back.
If you are new to the business and haven't heard of AFM, here is a brief description. Everyone and I mean everyone who wants to produce films should attend AFM whenever you can. It provides a great perspective on the business and gives you incredible insight into what sales agents are selling. Go if you can.
About the AFM®
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution – a truly collaborative process – reaches its peak every year at the AFM, when more than 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, conferences, premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from more than 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world's press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.
Founded in 1981, the AFM quickly became the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood's decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed - on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production - making the AFM the must-attend industry event.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®), the trade association representing the world's producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs. More information is online at www.IFTA-online.org.
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