Finance Conference I

Friday, November 8     |     9:15am – 12:45pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

The Future of Global Film Finance

Leading CEOs, filmmakers, financiers and studio executives explore the future of independent film financing, emerging trends and the impact of new platforms on global film finance.

Breaking the Mold: The Innovators

Film industry trailblazers, whose companies are transforming traditional business models, share their insights on the future of filmed entertainment.

Pitch Conference

sponsored by Creative Industries Hawaii

Saturday, November 9     |     9:15am – 12:45pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

Pitching Essentials: The 2-Minute Pitch

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 essential rules and tools of pitching to a room as volunteers, selected in advance, pitch their ideas to our panel of experts. Panelists will give unvarnished feedback on each pitch – explaining what worked, what didn’t – and why.

Panelists
Tobin Armbrust, President, Worldwide Production & Acquisitions, Virgin Produced
Effie Brown, Producer, Duly Noted, Inc.
Cassian Elwes, Producer, ELEVATED

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

Finance Conference II

Sunday, November 10     |     9:15am – 12:45pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

Producing Studio Films with Independent Budgets

Production quality and talent are more crucial than ever. Producers need to be strategic with their budgets – talent, locations, special effects, crew, everything! Seasoned producers and experts share their advice on how to stretch budgets and get every dollar, euro, pound, yen or franc “on the screen.”

Moderator
Richard Botto, Founder & CEO, Stage 32

The Film Finance Matrix: From Script to Screen

Moderator
David Offenberg, Associate Professor of Entertainment Finance, Loyola Marymount

MCLE Credit: One hour of MCLE credit is available for attorneys for the second session.

Production Conference

Monday, November 11     |     9:15am – 12:45pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

Producing for the International Pre-Sales Marketplace

Pre-selling to territorial buyers is key to financing most independent films. What are they looking for? Which genres and talent? How do you set a budget that will reflect the marketplace? Discover which projects are most likely to sell globally before they are made.

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

Casting for a Greenlight

Attaching talent to your screenplay doesn’t guarantee that you will get your film financed, but it can certainly increase your chances. Producers and casting directors reveal what it takes to attract talent and get them attached before the financing is in place.

Television Conference

Monday, November 11     |     2:30pm – 6:00pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

Made-for-TV Movies: Expanding Opportunities for Independent Filmmakers

The demand for Made-for-TV Movies is exploding. Cable networks and streaming platforms are now producing, commissioning and acquiring hundreds films every year. Active production companies share their insights on what sells, budgets, and how to get in the door.

Panelists
Paul Bales, Partner, The Asylum
Pierre David, Chief Strategy Advisor & Producer, ReelOne/Lance Entertainment
Brad Krevoy, CEO, Motion Picture Corporation of America
Debra Martin Chase, Executive Producer, Martin Chase Productions
Tony Vassiliadis, Chief Operations Officer, MarVista Entertainment

Upfront: Presentations from Networks and Platforms

From holiday stories and family feel good to genre and sci-fi, original Made-for-TV-Movies are in high demand. Cable and VOD platforms will present their feature-length programming needs and priorities, and reveal how to get them interested in your project.

Distribution Conference

Tuesday, November 12     |     9:15am – 12:45pm     |     Starlight Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel

Working with Sales Agents

To reach the global audience, an independent producer’s best ally is their international Sales Agent. Our panel of experts will discuss how to find and work with the right Sales Agent.

Moderator
Clay Epstein, President, Film Mode Entertainment

The Rise of AVOD

Advertising Supported VOD is rapidly expanding with revenues projected to double by 2024. Get to know the players, the opportunities for independent film, and what the future holds.

Panelists
Floris Bauer, President, Gunpowder & Sky
Anthony Layser, Vice President, Partnerships & Programming, Xumo
Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi TV
Jeff Shultz, Chief Business Officer, Pluto TV

Moderator
Bruce Eisen, President, Digital Advisors

MCLE Credit: One hour of MCLE credit is available for attorneys for the second session.

Additional Information

Doors & Will Call for morning sessions open at 8:00am.
Doors & Will Call for afternoon sessions open at 1:30pm