• Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019
Execs from Alamo Drafthouse, Disney, NEON, Picturestart join speakers lineup at American Film Market
Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
  • LOS ANGELES
  • --

The American Film Market (AFM®) announced more confirmed speakers for this year’s Conferences and programming which runs alongside the AFM’s marketplace and industry screenings. Over six days, more than 150 thought leaders, decision-makers and experts will discuss topics and issues most relevant to global filmmakers across three dedicated stages. This year’s market takes place November 6-13 in Santa Monica and marks its 40th edition.

The AFM Conferences will kick off on Friday, November 8, on the AFM main stage at the Fairmont Hotel.  Highlights include:

The opening Conference will feature Breaking the Mold: The Innovators bringing together Erik Feig, CEO, Picturestart, Tim League, founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and Aron Levitz, head of Wattpad Studios, and Tom Quinn, founder & CEO, NEON.

As part of its new Television Conference, network executives including Disney’s VP of Original Programming, Lauren Kisilevsky, the History Channel’s VP of Development and Programming, Mike Stiller, and Lifetime Original Movie’s VP of Programming, Tia Maggini will take the stage to present their feature-length programming needs and priorities.

The Producing for the International Pre-sales Marketplace panel featuring Miranda Bailey, CEO, Cold Iron Pictures, Sherryl Clark, president, Production, The H Collective, Mark Gooder, co-president, Cornerstone Films and Nat McCormick, EVP, Worldwide Distribution, The Exchange.

Producer Effie Brown will join AFM’s popular Pitch Conference as a panelist and advisor.

New speakers for the Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker include Rick Hack, head of Media & Entertainment Partnerships, Intel Studios, Laura Hertzfeld, director of XR Partnerships, Verizon Media’s Yahoo! News, Randal Kleiser, film director, and Lauren Xandra, director of Strategic Initiatives, National Research Group.

In addition, the AFM’s Palisades Stage at the Loews Hotel will host Roundtables and Presentations exploring specialized and timely issues. Highlights include:

Audiences Want More: Bringing Diverse Projects to the Marketplace--presented in partnership with ReFrame and featuring Glen Basner, CEO, FilmNation, producers Zanne Devine and Cassian Elwes, and Monica Levinson, president of Production, ShivHans Pictures.    

Seizing the Moment: Producing LGBTQ Content in a Time of Unprecedented Visibility--presented in partnership with Outfest and featuring River Gallo, writer/director/star, Ponyboi, Stephen Kelliher, director, Sales & Marketing, Bankside Films, Keya Khayatian, partner, United Talent Agency, LaShawn McGhee, co-founder & CPO, Revry, and Valerie Stadler, Big Swing Productions and Outfest Board of Directors.

Distributing & Monetizing Feature Documentaries with Josh Braun, co-president, Submarine Entertainment, Alexandra Johnes, producer, Very Special Projects, Melanie Miller, co-founder/producer, Fishbowl Films, and Evan Saxon, head of West Coast Acquisitions and Business Development, Abramorama.
 
Respecting the Genre: Why Some Horror Films Work While Others Don’t with Roxanne Benjamin, producer, V/H/S, Southbound, Patrick Ewald, CEO, Epic Pictures, and Natalie Metzger, VP, Development & Production, Vanishing Angle.
 
Shooting Intimate Scenes--with Amanda Blumenthal, intimacy coordinator, Euphoria, The L Word: Generation Q, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels and founder of Intimacy Professionals Association.


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