The American Film Market (AFM) opens tomorrow for its 35th edition with 396 exhibiting companies; the highest level of participation since 2008. Running November 5-12, more than 8,000 attendees from over 80 countries are expected in Santa Monica over the course of the week.
Growing from 2013, a total of 430 films are set to screen with 349 market premieres and 84 world premieres. Attendees can look forward to first-glimpse performances by the likes of: Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Morgan Freeman, Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, Adam Driver, Kate Beckinsale, Maggie Smith, Hailee Steinfeld, Kristin Scott Thomas, Al Pacino, James Franco, Elijah Wood and many others. The entire screening program can be viewed at http://www.thefilmcatalogue.com.
More than 100 speakers from around the globe will participate in the AFM Conference Series, Producers Forum, Roundtables and Industry Conversations – with industry thought leaders and experts sharing their knowledge and insights with participants. Director/producer Brett Ratner takes part in the Finance Conference and comedian/podcast king Adam Carolla will participate in an Industry Conversation. Millennium Films’ President Mark Gill, WME Partner Mark Ankner, and UTA’s Independent Film Group Co-Head Rena Ronson will impart wisdom and advice in the Production Conferences. Additional speakers include: Preferred Content’s Kevin Iwashina, Tugg, Inc. CEO and independent producer Nicolas Gonda, Cinetic Media Founder John Sloss, Relativity Europa’s Russell Schwartz, Mister Smith’s Jill Jones, CineTel President & CEO Paul Hertzberg, UTA partner Rich Klubeck, Foresight Unlimited CEO & Chairman Mark Damon and independent producer Cassian Elwes. Further information on all scheduled events can be found at: www.americanfilmmarket.com/attendee.
The independent film industry growth is evident as 126 buying companies from 41 countries and 112 exhibiting companies from 21 countries will participate in the market for the first time. Asian companies will once again be particularly well-represented, with the largest number of new buyers coming from South Korea.
