Victoria Venantini has joined global entertainment company Alkemy X as VP of business development. She will oversee business development for Alkemy X’s expanding animation and design work, building upon the growth in 2020 spurred by the hire of award-winning creative director Rupert Cresswell, formerly of MPC. In addition to continuing to grow Alkemy X’s agency work, Vanantini will further the company’s offerings in the brand-direct and gaming spaces. Venantini is based in Los Angeles, but will cover national business development, drawing from her extensive experience in both the East and West Coast markets. Alkemy X maintains offices in Philadelphia, L.A., NY and Amsterdam. Prior to joining Alkemy X, Venantini was a business development exec at Two Fresh Creative. Earlier she helped lead the expansion of Mill+ to the West Coast. She has handled business development both in-house and as an independent rep for top industry shops including Beast Editorial, RSA Films, Smoke & Mirrors and Moxie Pictures. Coming from a family steeped in the film and television industries, Venantini was drawn to the production business from a young age. Learning the ropes of production hands-on, she immersed herself in the process of creating commercials, music videos and longer form content while working as a director’s assistant. She organically shifted to the business development side of the industry, playing an instrumental role in the launch of PS260, handling sales and marketing strategies. She expanded to the independent sales representation space with CAM MGMT and Holbrook MGMT before spending four years with RSA Films handling the production company’s East Coast sales. She joined Free Agents in 2016 as an executive sales agent focusing on live action and content-driven opportunities across all media platforms. After parting ways with Free Agents, she reconnected with former client The Mill, relocating to Los Angeles to lead brand strategy, business development and direct-to-brand partnerships for Mill+….
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More