The American Film Market (AFM®) has announced initial speakers confirmed for its expanded programming of Conferences, Roundtables, Workshops, and Spotlight Events which run alongside the AFM’s marketplace and industry screenings. This year’s market is taking place October 31–November 7 in Santa Monica.
More than 150 speakers will take the AFM stages to participate in 40+ sessions across three venues. An initial list of highlights includes:
- Producers: Caryn Capotosto, Cassian Elwes, Basil Iwanyk, Khaliah Neal, Ben Stillman, Gary Michael Walters, and Janet Yang.
- Industry Executives: Lisa Gutberlet, EVP, International Sales & Acquisitions, Blue Fox Entertainment; Alison Thompson, Co-President, Cornerstone Films; Janet Brown, EVP, Distribution, Gunpowder & Sky; Jeffrey Greenstein, Co-President, Millennium Media; Krista Wegener, SVP, Sales and Distribution, Participant Media; John Orlando, Head of Content, Sony Crackle; Ryan Suffern, Head of Documentary Division, The Kennedy/Marshall Company; Paul Broucek, President, Music, Warner Bros. Pictures; and Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director, Women In Film, Los Angeles.
As previously announced, Jean Prewitt, president/CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance®, and Charles Rivkin, chairman/CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America®, will kick off the Conference series with The Global Perspective, on Friday, November 2.
The 2018 speakers announced to date are:
- Alan R. Milligan, White Rabbit
- Marguerite Pigott, CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association)
- Alison Thompson, Cornerstone Films
- Andrea Iervolino, AMBI Media Group and TaTaTu
- Anthony Beaudoin, Union Bank
- Barry Landis, Ribbow Media Group
- Basil Iwanyk, Thunder Road Pictures
- Ben Stillman, Black Bear Pictures
- Billy Mernit, UCLA and Universal Pictures
- Bradley M. Gallo, Amasia Entertainment
- Bruce Eisen, Digital Advisors
- Caryn Capotosto, Tremolo Productions
- Cassian Elwes, Producer (Mudbound)
- Chris Bueno, Ocean Avenue Entertainment
- Clay Epstein, Film Mode Entertainment
- Cody Zwieg, Gunpowder & Sky
- Cynthia Tollett, Directors Guild of America
- Dana Nachman, KTF Films
- Darrien Michele Gipson, SAGindie
- Dave McIntosh, Shout! Factory
- David Kennedy, Saboteur Media
- David Offenberg, Loyola Marymount
- David White, SHIFT72
- Dennis Dreith, Transparence Entertainment Group
- Derek Doneen, Filmmaker, Kailash
- Florian Glatz, Cinemarket
- Gary Michael Walters, Bold Films
- Germaine Franco, Composer and Music Producer
- Irina Albita, Big Couch UK and FilmChain
- Janet Brown, Gunpowder & Sky
- Janet Yang, Producer
- Jeffrey Greenstein, Millennium Media
- John Orlando, Sony Crackle
- John Sloss, Sloss Eckhouse LawCo and Cinetic Media
- Jonathan Barkan, DreadCentral.com
- JP Sarni, Stampede Ventures
- Juliana Da Cunha Jacobsen, BF Distribution
- Karl Hur, Mofac Creative Works
- Kay S. Wolf, Writers Guild of America West
- Khaliah Neal, Independent Producer, The Rachel Divide
- Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund
- Kirsten Schaffer, Women In Film, Los Angeles
- Ko Eun Jung, Digitalidea VFX
- Krista Wegener, Participant Media
- Lisa Gutberlet, Blue Fox Entertainment
- Lucy Mukerjee, Outfest & Newfest
- Mathew Joubert, SHIFT72
- Matt Holzman, KCRW’s “The Document”
- Michael Berman, iN Demand
- Min Sun Hye, WYSIWYG Studios
- Dr. Nelson Granados, Pepperdine Graziadio Business School and Forbes Contributor
- Paul Bales, The Asylum
- Paul Broucek, Warner Bros. Pictures
- Paul Hertzberg, CineTel Films, Inc.
- Peter Baxter, Slamdance Film Festival and Producer
- Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting
- Pilar Alessandra, On the Page
- Raymond C. Nutt, Fathom Events
- Richard Botto, Stage 32
- Robert Binning, StreamSpace
- Robert Menzies, Zed Filmworks
- Ruzanna Kegeyan, Arclight Films
- Ryan Broussard, Media Services
- Ryan Suffern, The Kennedy/Marshall Company
- Ryan Turek, Blumhouse Productions
- Sam Klebanov, Cinezen Blockchained Entertainment AB
- Shaked Berenson, Producer
- Shawn Williamson, Brightlight Pictures
- Stephen Hwang, Studio Macrograph
- Steven Wolfson, UCLA
- Sunwoo Nam, W2 Studios
- Tamara Birkemoe, Foresight Unlimited
- Tobin Ambrust, Virgin Produced
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
“I’ve... Read More