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.
SMPTE elects board officers, regional governors
SMPTE®,the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, has revealed the board officers and regional governors who will serve terms beginning in January 2025.
Three new officers--Richard Welsh as SMPTE president, Eric Gsell as SMPTE executive VP, and Polly Hickling as SMPTE Education VP--have been elected for a two-year term from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026. One SMPTE officer, Lisa Hobbs, will be continuing her service as SMPTE secretary and treasurer for another two-year term. Additionally, Raymond Yeung will be stepping into the role of standards VP on Jan. 1, 2025.
“SMPTE’s membership has spoken,” said SMPTE interim executive director Sally-Ann D’Amato. “These officers have been tasked with an important responsibility, one each of them is prepared to tackle head-on. These next two years are looking bright for SMPTE!”
In addition to the officers, 10 regional governors were elected by the Society to serve two-year 2025-2026 terms.
These include the following regional governors, re-elected to continue their service:
Asia-Pacific Region Governor
Tony Ngai, Society of Motion Imaging Ltd.
EMEA - Central & South America Region Governor
Fernando Bittencourt, FB Consultant
United Kingdom Region Governor
Chris Johns, Sky UK.
USA - Central Region Governor
William T. Hayes, Consultant
USA - Eastern Region Governor
Dover Jeanne Mundt, Riedel Communications
USA - Western Region Governor
Jeffrey F. Way, Open Drives
Also elected were four newcomers to the SMPTE Board:
Canada Region Governor
Jonathan Jobin, Grass Valley
USA - Hollywood Region Governor
Allan Schollnick, Voxx... Read More