Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced today the panelists for the fifth-annual Filmmaker Forum, which will be held October 9-11 at the Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles. Film Independent's Filmmaker Forum is a weekend conference, giving emerging filmmakers access to some of the most innovative names in independent filmmaking, as well as the most useful information available on how to get your movie made, bought, sold, and marketed in today's changing marketplace.
The 2009 Forum is sponsored by Premier Sponsors Kodak, SAGIndie/Screen Actors Guild, Sony Pictures Classics, Directors Guild of America, Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, EFilm and Withoutabox, a division of IMDb.com and Principal Sponsors NBC Universal and Rovi.
The three-day Forum kicks off Friday night with a special screening and Q&A with the filmmakers of an upcoming film, followed by the opening night reception. The remainder of the weekend is filled with intensive panel discussions, one-of-a-kind case studies, and the opportunity to personally connect with top filmmakers and industry leaders. This yearís keynote speaker, opening night film and additional panelists will be announced in the coming weeks.
The event concludes on Sunday evening with a cocktail reception at the DGA at 6:30 pm with the announcement of the Film Independent/Sloan Producers Grant recipient - which carries a production grant of $25,000. The grant is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which seeks to create and develop new scripts and films about science and technology, and to see them into commercial production with national and international distribution. Past Film Independent/Sloan Producers Grant recipients include Film Independent Fellows James Young in 2008 for The Man Who Knew Infinity and Monique Caulfield in 2007 for her film Basmati Blues.

Speakers for the 2009 Filmmaker Forum include:

Richard Abramowitz, Abramorama Entertainment
Claire Aguilar, ITVS
John August, Writer/Director, The Nines
Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting
Seth Caplan, Producer, In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Michael Cieply, New York Times
Laura Gabbert, Director, No Impact Man
Alex Holdridge, Director, In Search of a Midnight Kiss
Kevin Iwashina, IP Advisors/Hunting Lane Films
Scott Kennedy, Director, The Garden
Richard Klubeck, UTA
Ted Kroeber, Producer, American Gun
Michael London, Groundswell Productions
Rena Ronson
Cathy Schulman, Mandalay Pictures
Matt Tyrnauer, Director, Valentino: The Last Emperor
Laurie Woodrow, President, Trans-Pacific Media

Topics for this year's panels are: Following the Money Trail: The Economics of Independent Film, The Doc Is In; Sweet and Low Budget: Making Financial Sense; Money for Docs; Changing Technology: A Multiple Choice Question?; Production Case Studies: Necessity is the Mother of Invention; Going Online: New Stories for New Media; Indielink @ the Forum: Festivals, Markets, Sales Agents, Distributors; Has the Dust Settled? - A Roundtable Discussion; New Uses for Film Festivals; Distribution Case Studies; Day and Date: Three Years and Counting; Cultivating Your Audience in the Digital Era; The International Markeplace: Is the Grass Greener Abroad?; Cracking the Educational Market; and Film Festivals at a Crossroads.
IndieLink Tables are another integral experience for attendees and sponsors at the Filmmaker Forum. Hosting an IndieLink Table offers companies the opportunity to meet one-on-one with attendees for brief sessions. Past hosts include agencies, camera manufacturers, film festivals, film commissions, guilds, post-production facilities, sound stages and many more. To host an IndieLink Table, please contact Kate Walker at 310.432.1255.
All those who wish to attend this year's Forum can save more than 40% by purchasing a pass before September 4. Regular conference passes are $300 for Film Independent members and $350 for non-members. For more information about this year's Filmmaker Forum or to purchase a pass, visit FilmIndependent.org or call 310.432.1222.