Catching the Wave at AFM: Full details of AFM panels, keynotes and events

Wednesday November 1st

The Changing Hong Kong Movie Scene: What is New, How and Why?

Seating is limited for this event.

Friday November 3rd

Keynote Address
Nigeria’s Commitment Towards An Enabling Environment For Investment Into The Nigerian Film Business Ecosystem.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Nigeria

Keynote Address

Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization; Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs; Founder, Silverbird GroupKeynote Address

The Opportunities, Possibilities and Challenges of the Film Business in Nigeria: The Past, the Present and the Future.

Seating is limited for this event.

This half-day event features provocative panel discussions and invaluable insider information about the film, television, and new media landscape from a diverse group of notable creative producers and executives in the entertainment industry.
Further details can be found here.

Seating is limited for this event.

Saturday November  4th

A discussion of the independent film landscape, using case studies of specific financing models, in order to identify a sustainable way forward for LGBTQ representation in cinema.
Presented in partnership with Outfest.

Seating is limited for this event.

Finance Conference II: Funding Films Today

Moderator
Richard Botto, Founder & CEO, Stage 32

Panelists
Rebecca Cammarata, Director of Development, Stay Gold Features
Paul Hanson, CEO, Covert Media
Russell Levine, CEO, Route One Films
Ben Stillman, SVP, Black Bear Pictures

Production quality and talent are more crucial than ever. Producers need to be strategic with their budgets – talent, locations, special effects, crew, everything! Seasoned producers and experts share their advice on how to stretch budgets and get every dollar, euro, pound, yen or franc “on the screen.”

The Film Finance Matrix: From Script to Screen.

Moderator
Joe Chianese, EVP, EP Financial Solutions

Panelists
Shirley Davis, Executive Vice President, Physical Production, Alcon Entertainment, LLC
Stefan Lütje, Partner/Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Brian O’Shea, CEO, The Exchange

Adrian Ward, SVP & Manager, Entertainment Industries Division, Pacific Mercantile Bank

Our panel of experts will be presented with five film packages – each with partial or limited funding. They will explore and disclose how each film could be fully financed. Five case studies; five solutions.

The Passion of the Film: Reaching the Faith Community

10:00am – 10:30am Networking and refreshments
10:30am – 12:00pm Roundtable

Seating is limited for this event.

NIFS Production Summit & Talent Spotlight

Broad discussions covering new dimensions in production; the importance of casting; international production/co-production as the next frontiers for Nigeria producers; budgets, timelines and the benefits of the quick turn-around; and Nigeria as a viable production location.

Ascend Talent Spotlight

Seating is limited for this event.

Writers Workshop I

Make the reader love you on the first page! Learn writing techniques that help your script hit the ground running. Through examples from your favorite scripts, we take a hard look at word choice, scene direction, dialogue approach, and the nuances of the page.

The Art of Cinematic Storytelling: Transforming Your Premise Into An Engaging Screenplay

The greatest challenge facing all screenwriters, whether novice or professional, is the process of transforming a premise into a compelling, sustainable story. This workshop focuses solely on the art of the story, with an emphasis on such fundamentals as character development, super-objective, rising conflict, scene work, and three-act structure. Participants learn how to spot critical mistakes often made in the initial development of a screenplay’s narrative. The final goal of the workshop is a greater understanding of what makes a story work and a series of tools that participants can immediately apply to their current screenplay.

The Future is Female

Presented in partnership with the Alliance of Women Directors.

Seating is limited for this event.

Monday November 6th

Production Conference

Producing for the Pre-Sales Marketplace

Pre-Selling to territorial Buyers is key to financing most independent films. What are they looking for? Which genres and talent? How do you set a budget that will reflect the marketplace? Discover which projects are most likely to sell globally before they are made.

What They Want: Inside the Major Studios

The major studios are always in search of the next great script. But what do they really want and need? Producers who are working with the majors today share their experiences and discuss the key elements that the studios look for in scripts and pitches.

Romania Welcomes Hollywood

30%-35% savings over Prague, 50% savings or more over London, up to 80% savings over U.S. prices, landscape galore, experienced crews by US standards and great actors, internationally acclaimed local producers now ready for co-productions with the U.S., and an EU mandatory quota of local content for both broadcast and streaming – are these strong enough arguments to think “Romania” for your next project? We’ll have an open conversation about all aspects of shooting and/or co-producing in Romania. Brought to you by Double 4 Studios and Romanian Filmmakers Association (UCIN). Reception will follow.

Seating is limited for this event.

Only in Louisiana

For over 15 years, Louisiana has set the standard for motion picture production incentives throughout the world. With a competitive film production incentive; tax credits for full time, permanent jobs; and funds for investment in education and workforce development – the Louisiana Advantage is clear. Recent enhancements to the tax credit program in Louisiana are guaranteed to set the bar even higher. Join officials from the state of Louisiana, regional representatives, trade organizations, and Louisiana businesses as they discuss recent changes to Louisiana’s incentive program.

Writers Workshop II

ReVision: Seeing Your Script With New Eyes

If writing is rewriting, how can you best approach the task? This workshop lays out a pragmatic rewrite strategy, as well as identifying the larger questions a writer should ask when revising a script. It concludes with a hands-on exercise, in which participants examine a scene from a film script which has been intentionally sullied, and then attempt to rewrite it into sterling condition.

Writing Compelling Characters

No matter what genre you’re working in, getting your reader to empathize with and root for your story’s protagonist is one of the most important goals – if not THE most important goal – for a screenwriter to achieve. Using film clips, screenplay pages, and brief exercises, this workshop explores how to create powerful, memorable characters, and the most effective techniques for bringing them to life on the page.

How to Get the Best Music For Your Project and Save Time & Money

Original film score or licensed music? From hiring a Composer or Music Supervisor to clearing your music and music-related residuals… we will answer real world questions and explain how to stick to your critically important post-production budget.
Presented in partnership with Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund.

Seating is limited for this event.

Distributing and Monetizing Feature Documentaries

The Documentary marketplace is quickly transforming. New platforms and alliances – creative, geographic and financial – are providing opportunities for stories that can support a long-form treatment. This session will examine the diverse sources of revenue and reveal which co-production models can achieve success.
Presented in partnership with IDA.

Seating is limited for this event.

Distribution Conference

Working with Sales Agents

Moderator
Clay Epstein, President, Film Mode Entertainment

Panelists
Martin Katz, Founder and President, Prospero Pictures
Dana Lustig, Principal, Dana Lustig Productions
Lisa Wilson, Partner, The Solution Entertainment Group

The Future of Video On Demand

Moderator
Bruce Eisen, President, Digital Advisors

Panelists
Andy Bohn, Co-Founder & Partner, The Film Arcade
Thomas Hughes, EVP, Worldwide Digital Distribution, Lionsgate
Tania Jones, VP of Marketing & Customer Service, Shift72

Hanny Patel, VP, Video Marketing, AT&T Entertainment Group

VOD is now the largest source of revenue for many films. Are we heading towards a future where all films will be available worldwide and where every film will be discoverable by its audience? Producers, distributors and platforms will disclose who is making money, how they are doing it, and what the future holds – separating fact from fiction.

Working with the U.S. Guilds

SAGindie, DGA and WGAW representatives explain how to secure talent agreements for actors, directors and writers and make your project signatory to the guilds’ agreements.

Seating is limited for this event.