I’ll be sitting on the BAFTA panel at AFM discussing changes in Indie Distribution on Sunday, November 8th from 11:00am – 12:30pm.   Come on out to hear the most cutting-edge discussion of indie distribution and marketing!

Sunday November 8th

11:00am-12:30pm

No Direction Home – Changing Indie Distribution Strategies
Programmed by: British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Los Angeles
BAFTA
These are confusing times for indie filmmakers. Just as revolutionary production choices are opening up, traditional distribution models are collapsing. How cost-effective is U.S. theatrical release? Does it still impact foreign sales? What kind of income streams can be generated from such new sources as on-demand, internet download, and direct website DVD sales? Our panel of experts may not have all the answers, but will attempt to provide producers with a compass to navigate the rocky shoals of a challenging and still-evolving marketplace.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
John Alan Simon, Writer-Director, Radio Free Albemuth; Producer, The Getaway; Former Staff Writer, New Orleans Times Picayune; Member, BAFTA/LA Education and Outreach Committee

Panelists:
Chris Hyams, Founder and CEO, B-Side Entertainment
Ted Mundorff, CEO, Landmark Theatres
Jon Reiss, Director/Producer, Bomb It; Author, Think Outside the Box (Office) – The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution and Marketing for the Digital Era
David Shultz, Founder and President, Vitagraph Films
Leslie Urdang, President, Olympus Pictures; Producer, Adam, Rabbit Hole
2:00pm – 3:30pm
THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE IS BELOW:
2009 AFM Conference & Seminars

Presented by Akin Gump KPMG

Purchase a badge by 16 October and receive 3 FREE Seminars (excludes Finance Conference). Badges are not required to attend Seminars or Conferences.

Register Now!

AFM Conferences and Seminars provide a forum where attendees can interact with and learn from prominent filmmakers, financiers, industry executives and talent. Below you will find information about our 2009 Conferences and Seminars.

Missed the 2008 Seminar Series? Click here to see last year’s schedule and view video of selected panels.

Seminar topics, panelists and moderators are being added regularly. Please check back for updates.

Friday, 6 November, 2009

9:00am – 12:30pm
AFM Finance Conference
The yearly AFM Finance Conference brings together CEOs, financiers, and filmmakers in two back-to-back sessions where you will learn about the future of independent film financing. These high-powered panels discuss emerging trends and financing options.

Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel (101 Wilshire Boulevard)
Cost: $95 per person

First Session: Current State of the Independent Film Business

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

Panelists:
Modi Wiczyk, Co – Chief Executive Officer, Media Rights Capital
Ryan Kavanaugh, Founder & CEO, Relativity Media
Morgan Rector, President, Entertainment Group, Comerica Bank

Second Session: Foreign Investment: A Growing Source of Film Financing

Moderator:
Benson R. Berro, Managing Director, KPMG LLP

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Hong Kong: Your Ideal Co-production Partner and Gateway to the China Market
Programmed by: Hong Kong Trade Development Council
HKTDC
The Hong Kong FILMART seminar at AFM presents a panel of veterans who will share their views on how Hong Kong plays an effective role in the making of successful co-production models. Additionally, the panel will identify opportunities in the most lucrative and promising region in the world, that is Asia, and particularly China.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel, Pacific Room, Courtyard Level (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Saturday, 7 November, 2009

9:00am – 12:30pm
Pitch Me!
Programmed by: Independent Film & Television Alliance
IFTA
Whether you have a meeting with a studio head or you bump into an actor in an elevator, you need to be able to pitch your film well. Learn the art of the pitch in this intensive session where a dozen filmmakers pitch their project to a panel of industry experts – agents, producers, and production execs – who will give their unvarnished feedback on each pitch, saying what worked, what didn’t, and why. Space is limited – advance registration is recommended.

New for 2009, Pitch Me! will be held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel (101 Wilshire Boulevard). The AFM Shuttle runs every 8 minutes from the Loews Hotel and will drop you right in front of the Fairmont.

Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel (101 Wilshire Boulevard)
Cost: $50 per person

Moderator:
Peggy Rajski, Executive Producer, Bee Season; Producer, Home for the Holidays, Little Man Tate; Director, ER (TV Series)

Panelists:
Caroline Baron, Producer, Capote, Centre Stage; Associate Producer, The Wonder Years
Ron Yerxa, Producer, Big Eyes; Little Miss Sunshine

2:00pm – 5:30pm
Produce & Sell Your Film with Dov S-S Simens
Presented by: Dov S-S Simens
Dov S-S Simens
In simple terms, sought after & respected film instructor Dov S-S Simens demystifies the process of producing, distributing & profiting in today’s global marketplace. Topics include: Theatrical Deal Memo Points, 7 Major Revenue Sources, Profit Participation Scenarios, Cable/TV/DVD Licenses, Publicity & Festivals, On-Demand vs PPV, Global Revenues, Foreign Sales, Private Placements, Investor Offerings, Gross vs Net, Split Rights & 50-50 Deals, Production-Distribution Agreements, etc. Bonus: Producer’s Workbook/Directory.

Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel (101 Wilshire Boulevard)
Cost: $50 per person

Sunday, 8 November, 2009


11:00am – 12:30pm

No Direction Home – Changing Indie Distribution Strategies
Programmed by: British Academy of Film & Television Arts, Los Angeles
BAFTA
These are confusing times for indie filmmakers. Just as revolutionary production choices are opening up, traditional distribution models are collapsing. How cost-effective is U.S. theatrical release? Does it still impact foreign sales? What kind of income streams can be generated from such new sources as on-demand, internet download, and direct website DVD sales? Our panel of experts may not have all the answers, but will attempt to provide producers with a compass to navigate the rocky shoals of a challenging and still-evolving marketplace.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
John Alan Simon, Writer-Director, Radio Free Albemuth; Producer, The Getaway; Former Staff Writer, New Orleans Times Picayune; Member, BAFTA/LA Education and Outreach Committee

Panelists:
Chris Hyams, Founder and CEO, B-Side Entertainment
Ted Mundorff, CEO, Landmark Theatres
Jon Reiss, Director/Producer, Bomb It; Author, Think Outside the Box (Office) – The Ultimate Guide to Film Distribution and Marketing for the Digital Era
David Shultz, Founder and President, Vitagraph Films
Leslie Urdang, President, Olympus Pictures; Producer, Adam, Rabbit Hole

2:00pm – 3:30pm
The DIY Distribution Playbook – What’s Working Now, and What’s Coming Next
Programmed by: International Documentary Association
IDA
As the models for traditional distribution continue to crumble, more and more filmmakers are choosing to take control of their films’ distribution, marketing and outreach responsibilities, and to plunge themselves into the perils and rewards of a DIY release.

Documentary filmmakers in particular are setting an example for the industry, connecting with niche audiences and creating buzz and sales, often on a tiny fraction of a typical studio P&A budget.

Where are filmmakers finding success with DIY distribution? How are conventional distributors adapting to the new dynamics of media consumption? How are emerging distribution models changing the way films are produced, bought and sold?

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Adam Chapnick, CEO, Distribber.com

Panelists:
Lisa Smithline, Producer; Marketing Strategist, Trouble the Water, Crips & Bloods, Dirt!
Matt Tyrnauer, Director, Valentino: The Last Emperor
Sacha Gervasi, Director, Anvil! The Story of Anvil

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Screen Actors Guild: A Filmmaker’s Resource
Programmed by: SAGIndie
SAGIndie
This panel will highlight the many different departments and resources offered by Screen Actors Guild and SAGIndie for the independent filmmaker. From contracts to casting to exhibiting your film, Screen Actors Guild has something to help every independent filmmaker achieve his/her goal.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Darrien Michele Gipson, National Director, SAGIndie

Panelists:
Mark Friedlander, National Director, New Media
William Marshall, Coordinator, iActor
Simon Abou-Fadel, LifeRaft/Roll Film Program Director, SAG Foundation

Monday, 9 November, 2009
11:00am – 12:30pm
Writing for the Genre World
Programmed by: Writers Guild of America, West
WGAW
Screenwriters are often asked to enlist elements from past films, while embracing originality. No easy feat. How can creativity truly set a genre film apart (or can it)? And where does marketing takeover to reach those built-in audiences?

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Mick Garris, Writer/Director/Producer, Riding the Bullet; Writer, Fear Itself; Co-Writer, The Fly II and Critters 2; Co-Writer/Co-Executive Producer, Hocus Pocus; Creator/Writer/Director/Producer, Masters of Horror

Panelists:
Larry Cohen, Writer, Phone Booth, Guilty As Sin, I The Jury; Co-Writer, Cellular; Writer/Director, It’s Alive, Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, Black Caesar, The Ambulance
Howard A. Rodman, Writer, Joe Gould’s Secret, Savage Grace, August; Co-Writer, Takedown
Juliet Snowden & Stiles White, Co-Writers, Boogeyman, Knowing
Stephen Susco, Writer, The Grudge 1 & 2; Writer/Co-Producer, Red

2:00pm – 3:30pm
Walking the Digital Plank: How to Out-Swashbuckle Online Pirates
Programmed by: Directors Guild of America
DGA
As the battle continues against online piracy, panelists will discuss their weapons of choice. From cutting edge computer technology to reevaluating international distribution windows, panelists will outline high and low-tech solutions that not only attempt to block piracy but reduce its profitability.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Jonathan Dayton, Director; Member, DGA Independent Directors Committee West; Co-Director, Little Miss Sunshine

Panelists:
Darcy Antonellis, President, Warner Bros. Technical Operations, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.
Brad Beutlich, Sales Director, DtecNet
Andrew Horton , Director, Product Management, MarkMonitor, Inc.
Alann McNeil, Vice President, Content Protection Services, Deluxe’s Web Watch
Barbara Mudge, Director, IFTA and Owner, Worldwide Film Entertainment LLC

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Case Study: How to Package and Finance Your Independent Project Overseas
Programmed by: Producers Guild of America
PGA
This seminar promises to be an insider’s look at what it takes to attract talent, strategic partners and financing for independent films with an international setting. Using an actual screenplay budgeted at ten million dollars as a starting point for discussion, our moderator and panelists will take you through the various steps a producer needs to consider when packaging a project overseas. Moderated by a seasoned Producer with international production and sales experience, our panelists will include packaging agents, international buyers, and foreign sales and distribution experts.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
William Stuart, President/CEO, Aurora Productions

Panelists:
Tim O’Hair, Packaging Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency

Tuesday, 10 November, 2009

11:00am – 12:30pm
The New Rules of Indie Marketing
Programmed by: Film Independent
Film Independent
The old rules of distributing & marketing films no longer apply—as the print media loses its power and the theater moves into the living room, new outlets and tools at a filmmaker’s disposal make for exciting times. How do you create a distribution plan and marketing campaign in the Twitter age? Whom should you have on your team to create the right buzz? Come and hear from filmmakers and indie experts who have created unique distribution strategies & marketing campaigns that dispense with the old models, and prove that you don’t need to be a studio to reach your audience.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Michael Donaldson, Partner, Donaldon & Callif

Panelists:
Sacha Gervasi, Director, Anvil! The Story of Anvil
Susan Jackson, Co-President, Freestyle Releasing
Dennis Rice, Founder, Vision Entertainment
Russell Schwartz, President, Pandemic Marketing

2:00pm – 3:30pm
The New Hollywood Movie Studio: New Power for the Independent Filmmaker Found in the World of New Media & Social Networking
Programmed by: Women in Film International Committee
WIF
The seminar will identify and analyze the resources available to independent filmmakers in the new media and social networking platforms. We will discuss how these resources can pinpoint trends to inspire stories, help secure financing and create targeted marketing/public relation campaigns that include innovative branding strategies.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
Peter Broderick, President, Paradigm Consulting

Panelists:
Thomas Mai, CEO, Festival Darlings
Marianna Palka, Filmmaker/Co-President, Morning Knight Productions
Nonny del la Peña, Senior Research Fellow Immersive Journalism, USC Annenberg School of Journalism

4:00pm – 5:30pm
Film or Digital…That’s the Question
Beautiful Images on a Shoestring Budget
Programmed by: American Society of Cinematographers
ASC
A Panel of Cinematographers hand picked from the ranks of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) will share their knowledge and expertise with Filmmakers in a Q & A session.

Location: Le Merigot Hotel (1740 Ocean Avenue)
Cost: $40 per person

Moderator:
George Spiro Dibie, ASC, Multi-Emmy-Award-winning Cinematographer

Panelists:
Michael Goi, ASC, President, American Society of Cinematographers
Richard Crudo, ASC, Federal Hill, American Buffalo
Michael Negrin, ASC, Time Loves a Hero, The Attic Expeditions
Johnny Jensen, ASC, Lost In Yonkers, An American Story.
Isidore Mankofsky, ASC, Love, Lies and Murder, Better Off Dead
Donald M. Morgan, ASC, Murder in Mississippi, Geronimo
Daryn Okada, ASC, Baby Mama, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Robert Primes, ASC, MDs, Bird on a Wire
Nancy Schreiber, ASC, The Celluloid Closet, November
Denis Lenoir, ASC, AFC Uprising, The Vintner’s Luck
Roberto Schaefer, ASC, Stranger Than Fiction, For Your Consideration
David Darby, ASC, Far Sighted, True Rights
Antony Palmieri, ASC, ER, Monk
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