Jonathan Wolf, Managing Director of the American Film Market
The AFM got underway yesterday, with an estimated 7,000 attendees. Responding to its worldwide members and a changed distribution landscape, three years ago, Jonathan Wolf, managing director, the American Film Market, introduced AFM Screening on Demand during the event and this year going through to March 2020. Wolf said: “We introduced AFM Screening on Demand for a number of reasons and it has been a success; this year it’s located on the 6th floor. The distribution demands and viewing have evolved, and production budgets vary. The smaller budgeted films no longer need a theatrical screening at the market, where it is competing with the bigger budgeted fare. With AFM Screening on Demand, sales agents no longer have to rely on competing for that 90-minute slot to make their films visible. The AFM is not a one size fits all market. Our job is to provide our members with as many different sales tools as we can devise to help them with their work.”
The AFM welcomed 375 exhibiting companies, including 77 new exhibitors from 22 countries, who, combined, are representing thousands of films and projects in every stage of production. The United States will have the biggest exhibitor presence with 160, followed by the United Kingdom (31), France (26), Russia (19) South Korea (17), Germany (12), Italy (8), Romania (8), and Thailand (8).
The world’s leading buyers are also in attendance with companies from more than 70 countries, the largest number coming from the United States, followed by Japan, South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, and China. Buyers from the world’s leading digital platforms are also in attendance.
The AFM conference programme aims to keep members of the industry from the experienced to the newbie informed on the rapid changes that are escalating continually and evolving in all sectors of the industry. This year AFM’s programming expansion continues with the addition of dedicated AVOD, Television, and XR conversations on its main stage at the Fairmont Hotel. Over six days and 52 sessions, the topics, opportunities, and practical information most relevant to global filmmakers will be presented across three stages, providing attendees the chance to hear from more than 150 thought leaders, decision makers and experts.
The Conference Series begins tomorrow (Friday, Nov. 8) with Breaking the Mold: The Innovators, bringing together industry visionaries Erik Feig, CEO, Picturestart, Tim League, Founder, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Aron Levitz, Head of Wattpad Studios, and Christian Parkes, Chief Marketing Officer of NEON to discuss what differentiates their business models and what the future holds.
The new half-day Television Conference on Monday, Nov. 11 will look at long form programming for the small screen, moderated by Variety’s Michael Schneider and featuring producers Paul Bales, The Asylum; Pierre David, ReelOne/Lance Entertainment; Brad Krevoy, Motion Picture Corporation of America; Chevonne O’Shaughnessy, American Cinema International; and Tony Vassiliadis, MarVista Entertainment. Presentations by network executives, including Disney’s Lauren Kisilevsky, the History Channel’s Mike Stiller, and Lifetime Original Movie’s Tia Maggini on their feature-length programming needs and priorities, will follow.
AFM’s The Rise of AVOD panel on Tuesday, Nov. 12 will explore this rapidly expanding model and the opportunities for independent film with panelists Floris Bauer, Gunpowder & Sky; Jeff Shultz, Pluto TV; Adam Lewinson, Tubi TV; Julian Franco, Vudu; Anthony Layser, Xumo; and moderator Bruce Eisen, Digital Advisors.
Other notable speakers include producer Roxanne Benjamin (V/H/S); producer Effie Brown (Dear White People); Sherryl Clark, The H Collective; Mark Gooder, Cornerstone Films; Katherine MacDonald, Paramount Pictures; Nat McCormick, The Exchange; producer Alysa Nahmias (Unrest); Vanessa Saal, Protagonist Pictures; Nick Spicer, XYZ Films; and Carrie Wong, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
For the full programme click to view full programming lineup for AFM 2019.
About the American Film Market®
The American Film Market is the most efficient film acquisition, development and networking event in the world. Unlike a festival, AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. More than US$1 billion in deals are sealed every year – on both completed films and those in every stage of development and production. Over 7,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries converge in Santa Monica every November. They include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry. At AFM, participants can discover the entire global catalogue of available films and projects, attend 50+ best-in-class class conferences, summits, roundtables and presentations, and connect with the independent film community’s decision makers, all in one convenient location without the distraction of a film festival.
About the Independent Film & Television Alliance®
The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA®) is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IFTA represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 140 Member companies in 23 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, and financial institutions engaged in production finance. Collectively, IFTA Members produce more than 500 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year, generating more than $5 billion in sales revenues annually.
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