Special Guests Include: Paul Bettany, Paul Dano, Topher Grace,Debra Granik, Hope Hall, Mads Mikkelsen, Greg Sestero and many more.
Acclaimed actors, filmmakers, movie executives, and journalists will be among those featured during the upcoming “Industry In Focus” Series and “In Conversation” programming at The American Pavilion at the 2018 Cannes International Film Festival, it was announced by Julie Sisk, Founder and Director of The American Pavilion (www.ampav.com).
The American Pavilion’s discussions and one-on-one in conversations take place in the Roger Ebert Conference Center and are open to all AmPav members.
Exciting panels and In Conversation events include filmmakers and stars of films ARCTIC, BEST F(R)IENDS, BlacKkKlansman, HOUSE OF CARDIN, LEAVE NO TRACE, RAFIKI, Solo: A Star Wars STORY, UNDER the Silver Lake, THE EYES OR ORSON WELLES, WHITNEY, WILDLIFE and many more.
Programming includes executives and moderators fromCinetic Media, CSA, Focus Features, Gunpowder & Sky, IFC Midnight, ICM, IMDb, Indiewire, Pinewood Atlanta Studios, Roadside Attractions, SAG-AFTRA, Screen International, SingularDTV, Submarine, Sundance Film Festival among other notable speakers.
Additional diverse topics being covered in the Series include:
AMERICAN SHORT FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY: UNDER THE HOOD, CASTING: WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS, DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, HOLLYWOOD IN THE ERA OF #METOO AND #TIMESUP, INDIEWIRE’S SCREEN TALK LIVE, SECRETS OF PR PROS, STORYTELLERS: THE FILMMAKERS BEHIND THE STORIES WE LOVE, THE MUSIC OF THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, THE POWER OF GENRE FILMS, VR AND STORYTELLING, WHEN IS A MOVIE A MOVIE?, AND WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S WORK AT CANNES.
QUEER NIGHT, which has become the biggest and only LGBTQ dance party event tied to the Festival, will take place on Sunday, May 13 beginning at 10:00PMand entry is gratis to ALL Festival badge holders.
AmPav’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase will celebrate its 21 year at Cannes this year, with an impressive program featuring 27 short documentary and narrative films by up-and-coming filmmakers from the U.S. and around the world, all of which will screen at The American Pavilion during the festival.
The American Pavilion’s Worldwide Student Program continues its streak of student satisfaction year over year, with an increasing number of students returning to do the student program this year as Alumni. This year’s student program also shows a welcome uptick of women participants, with female students outnumbering the male students nearly 2 to 1.
Past Student Program alumni include director Jeff Nicholls, acquisitions executive Scott Shooman, CAA agent Dakhil Maha, Killer Films production executive David Hinojosa, MGM Television’s VP of Business and Legal Affairs Kathryn Floro, Syfy development director Eli Kirschner, Barack Obama’s White House videographer Hope Hall, and producers Cameron Porsandeh, Alex Shepsman, and Bryan Wynbrandt, among many others.
“For our 30 Anniversary in Cannes, The American Pavilion will continue our mission to be INTERNATIONAL, INDEPENDENT and INCLUSIVE, at a time when US politics are anything but. We look forward to providing hospitality and exciting programming for our members, in addition to supporting a new generation of students and emerging filmmakers for the next 30 years and beyond, ” said Sisk.
The American Pavilion would also like to thank our sponsors for Cannes 2018:
American Airlines, American Express, The Asylum Inc, Autograph Collection Hotels, Coffee of Grace, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, Hughes Hubbard and Reed, IMDb, Marlings, Pinewood Atlanta Studios, SAGIndie, Variety, Yeti and ZIOBAFFA Wines.
The following is the full programming schedule.
All schedule, panels and guests are subject to changes and additions.
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2018 American Pavilion Schedule
TUESDAY, MAY 8
Opening Day / Night
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9
2:30PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: SECRETS OF PR PROS
Top film publicists share their tips and insights into the often-misunderstood world of film publicity.
● Emma Griffiths / Emma Griffiths PR, President/ 20+ year independent film PR
● Mark Pogachefsky / MPRM Communications, President / 30+ years of independent film PR, from Kiss of the Spider Woman to Assassination Nation
● Hilda Somarriba / Prism Media Group, Owner / Swiss Army Man, The Rider, First Reformed
6:00-8:00PM – Member cocktail party
THURSDAY, MAY 10
10:00AM
IN CONVERSATION: PAUL DANO
The actor and director of Wildlife, screening in Director’s Fortnight, discusses the making of the film with Aaron Hillis.
12:30PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: THE POWER OF GENRE FILMS
Smart, sophisticated genre films have taken over the box office. A panel of filmmakers and execs discuss the recent successes and coming trends for all things genre.
● Noah C. Haeussner / Producer / Arctic
● Matt Landers / IFC Films/Sundance Selects/IFC Midnight / VP, Marketing
● Maria Pulera / Writer & Director / Between Worlds
● Heidi Zwicker / Sundance Film Festival / Programmer
● Moderated by: Nancy Tartaglione / Deadline Hollywood
2:00PM
FILM PANEL: HOUSE OF CARDIN
A conversation with the filmmakers and subjects of House of Cardin. The currently in production feature documentary chronicles the life and design of Pierre Cardin. With a sneak peek of footage from the film.
● Rodrigo Basilicati, film subject / Artistic director, Pierre Cardin Paris
● Matthew Gonder, film subject / American brand ambassador, Pierre Cardin Paris
● P. David Ebersole, filmmaker
● Todd Hughes, filmmaker
● Moderated by: Bronwyn Cosgrave / Author and Journalist
FRIDAY, MAY 11
11:00AM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY: UNDER THE HOOD
Blockchain technology brings total transparency to the film industry. With the blockchain buzz starting in Berlin, SXSW, and Tribeca, it’s time to take a look under the hood. Can filmmakers truly be in charge of their art? Screen International US editor Jeremy Kay in conversation with SingularDTV’s VP of entertainment, finance and development Dan Hyman.
1:30PM
FILM PANEL: RAFIKI and the Diversity of African Stories
The filmmakers behind Kenya’s first-ever film selected for Cannes discuss their experience creating the film, which was recently banned in their own country due to the LGBTQ content.
● Wanuri Kahiu / writer/director
● Samantha Mugatsia / actress
● Sheil Munyiva / actress
● Steven Markovitz / producer
● Moderated by Ellen Huang / SAG-AFTRA, Director of EEO & Diversity and Queer Lounge Founder
2:30PM
IN CONVERSATION: HOPE HALL
AmPav Student Program alum Hope Hall shares lessons learned from her time as Official Videographer in the newly formed Office of Digital Strategy for President Barack Obama, the first president to have a videographer in addition to official photographers. As a documentary cinematographer and filmmaker for over 20 years, primarily in non-fiction, observational and verite work but also with a solid footing in music (both live and music videos) and fiction, she will share gems that extend far beyond the White House. She’s particularly interested in the ethics of the relationship of cinematographer to subject, but also loves to dive deep into technique and tech specs.
Moderated by Sharon Waxman / The Wrap
SATURDAY, MAY 12
12:30PM
WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S WORK AT CANNES
2:00PM
FILM PANEL: LEAVE NO TRACE
Filmmaker Debra Granik and her collaborators discuss their film Leave No Trace, screening in Director’s Fortnight, with Sundance’s Anne Lai.
● Debra Granik / writer/director
● Anne Rosellini / writer/producer
● Anne Harrison / producer
● Moderated by Anne Lai / Sundance
3:00PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: CASTING: WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
CSA hosts a panel moderated by Keith Simanton from IMDb where leading casting directors and talent agents discuss strategies to get the very best cast for your project.
● Constance Demontoy, CSA France
○ French casting director: cast Knife + Heart (2nd film of director Yann Gonzalez which is part of the Official Selection for Cannes 2018).
● Nicci Topping CDA CSA UK
○ Cast: Northern Soul, The Black Prince and her commercials work includes casting the pre-fall campaign for Gucci in 2017.
● Luci Lenox CSA ICDN
○ Her specialties are international productions shooting in Spain and
○ European co-productions
● Laura Munsterhjelm Actors in Scandinavia, Sweden
○ Director and founder of Actors in Scandinavia. Actors include: Alicia Vikander, Rebecca Ferguson, Fares Fares, Peter Franzén, Laura Birn & Lena Endre
● Nancy Bishop
○ Emmy-nominated casting director: recent TV credits include 12 Monkeys (SyFy), Knightfall (A&E), and Lore (Amazon). Recent film credits include the soon to be released Ophelia, and past credits include, Snowpiercer, Mission Impossible IV, and Bourne Identity.
● Vanessa Henneman -Henneman Agency
● Moderated by: Keith Simanton- Senior Film Editor of IMDb; commentary has appeared in: NPR, EW, NYT, USA Today, CNBC, Time Magazine, BusinessWeek, and is featured as an “Oscar Expert” on GoldDerby.com; Broadcast Film Critics Association member.
4:30PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: VR AND STORYTELLING
Frank Patterson, President of Pinewood Studios Atlanta, leads a conversation with VR filmmakers about how this amazing new technology is taking storytelling to a whole new level.
● Rodrigo Cerqueira / Movie Director, PANOGRAMMA, Jesus VR and 7 Miracles of Jesus
● Natalie Metzger / Vanishing Angle Producer / Credits: Thunder Road VR Projects: MatPat's Game Lab (Streamy Winner 2016), Global Gammer (First Long-form 8k, 360, VR video uploaded to YouTube) /
● Matt Miller / Vanishing Angle Owner, Producer / Credits: Thunder Road, We The Coyotes; VR Projects: MatPat's Game Lab (Streamy Winner 2016), Global Gammer (First Long-form 8k, 360, VR video uploaded to YouTube)
● Danilo Moura / Co-founder LOOT INTERACTIVE, Executive Producer of Buzz Aldrin: Cycling Pathways To Mars
● Moderated by Frank Patterson / President, Pinewood Studios Atlanta / Patterson is a studio executive, entrepreneur and higher education thought leader. He currently serves as President of Pinewood Atlanta Studios, the second largest purpose built film studio in North America, where the films Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Passengers were produced, among others.
SUNDAY, MAY 13
11:00AM
IN CONVERSATION: SUBMARINE
The powerhouse sales agents and producers Dan and Josh Braun, Co-Presidents and Co-Founders of Submarine / Submarine Deluxe, discuss their careers, guiding some of the best docs of the past decade: Chasing Ice, Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict, Kusama - Infinity, Wild Wild Country, Blackfish, 20 Feet From Stardom, Meru, Searching for Sugar Man, White Tide, Finding Vivian Meier, The Witness, among many others.
12:30PM
FILM PANEL: ARCTIC
Join first-time filmmaker Joe Penna and his production team, along with star Mads Mikkelsen, as they discuss their thriller Arctic, a Midnight Screening at the festival.
● Christopher Lemole / producer
● Mads Mikkelsen / actor
● Ryan Morrison / writer/editor
● Joe Penna / director
● Tim Zajaros / producer
2:00PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: WHEN IS A MOVIE A MOVIE?
A philosophical and practical discussion about how we define films today.
● Janet Brown / Gunpowder & Sky / Executive Vice President of Distribution / The Little Hours, Betting on Zero, Drawn and Recorded, Dust, Hearts Beat Loud
● Chris Charalambous /Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures / Head of Acquisitions / 47 Meters Down, Hostiles, Chappaquiddick. Upcoming titles include Replicas (Keanu Reeves), Animal Crackers (Emily Blunt, John Krasinski), Boss Level (Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts)
● Jean Prewitt / IFTA, Independent Film and Television Alliance
● Moderated by Anne Thompson / Indiewire
4:00PM-6:30PM - LGBTQ Showcase & Reception
10:00PM-LATE- QUEER NIGHT
MONDAY, MAY 14
11:00AM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: AMERICAN SHORT FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
Featuring the American filmmakers whose short films are part of the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
Participants:
● Patrick Bresnan / Director/Producer/Cinematographer / Skip Day
● Jamie Dack / Writer, director, and producer / Palm Trees and Power Lines
● Logan George /co-writer, co-director, editor / Caroline
● Celine Held / co-writer, co-director, actor / Caroline
● Ivete Lucas / Director/Producer/Editor / Skip Day
● Andrew Zox / Director/Writer/Producer / I Am My Own Mother
1:00PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: THE MUSIC OF THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
A conversation between composers with work featured in the films at Cannes. They will discuss how to find inspiration from a blank page, how to score a scene and add an additional emotional layer to the film, how to communicate with the director, how to break into the business and land jobs, how to preserve artistic integrity, how to promote your project, and where to go in your career from Cannes.
● Rich Vreeland aka Disasterpeace / Under the Silverlake
● Morgan Kibby / Girls of the Sun
● Kira Kira / I Am Always Here
● Lucy Bright / Music Supervisor
● Moderated by film music publicist Thomas Mikusz / White Bear PR
2:30PM
IN CONVERSATION: ERIC D’ARBELOFF
The co-founder and co-president of Roadside Attractions (Whitney, Manchester by the Sea, Winter’s Bone) discusses his career and the future of the independent film industry.
Moderated by Steve Pond / The Wrap
4:00PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: STORYTELLERS: THE FILMMAKERS BEHIND THE STORIES WE LOVE
A free-flowing conversation with Greg Sestero (The Disaster Artist), Jim Cummings (Thunder Road), and Cinetic Media’s John Sloss.
● Jim Cummings / Writer/Director / Credits: Thunder Road (2018), The Robbery (2017), Parent Teacher (2016)
● Greg Sestero / Writer, Producer, Actor in Best F(r)iends, NY Times Best Selling Author of The Disaster Artist; Actor, The Room
● John Sloss / Cinetic Media, Founder and President / Credits: Produced or executive produced include Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD, LAST FLAG FLYING, and “BEFORE” Series, Todd Haynes’s WONDERSTRUCK and I’M NOT THERE, Errol Morris’s THE FOG OF WAR, Kimberly Peirce’s BOYS DON’T CRY, Jennifer Westfeldt’s FRIENDS WITH KIDS, Peter Farrelly’s upcoming GREEN BOOK, and Ethan Hawke’s BLAZE. Additionally, he has handled the sale of over 600 films including NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, PRECIOUS, EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, AMY, and many of the most iconic independent films of the past 25 years.
● Moderated by Aaron Hillis / Gunpowder & Sky /consultant
TUESDAY, MAY 15
EMERGING FILMMAKER SHOWCASE DAY
11:00AM-1:00PM - Emerging Filmmaker Showcase
1:30PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL
Filmmakers with documentaries at Cannes and industry leaders discuss the current state, and future, of documentary filmmaking
● Mark Cousins / Director, The Eyes of Orson Welles
● Jonathan Chinn / Producer, Whitney, Citizen Harvey
4:00PM-6:30PM - Emerging Filmmaker Showcase
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
11:00AM
IN CONVERSATION: TOPHER GRACE
The versatile and accomplished actor stars in both of the American films screening In Competition at the festival: BlacKkKlansman and Under the Silver Lake.
12:30PM
IN CONVERSATION: PAUL BETTANY
The Solo: A Star Wars Story and Avengers: Infinity War star talks about his career as both and actor and a filmmaker.
Moderated by: Nancy Tartaglione / Deadline Hollywood
3:00PM
INDUSTRY IN FOCUS: HOLLYWOOD IN THE ERA OF #METOO AND #TIMESUP
How can we achieve gender parity and safe workplaces for women in Hollywood? Have the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements made a tangible difference on the ground?
● Pamela Guest / Actor, Writer, Casting Director / Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA, Sexual Harassment Workgroup.
● Dionne Audain / Actor, Cannes Official Selection I Am My Own Mother, Luke Cage/Netflix, How to get Away with Murder/ABC, The Wire/HBO
● Moderated by Melissa Silverstein / Women & Hollywood
THURSDAY, MAY 17
11:00AM
INDIEWIRE’S SCREEN TALK LIVE
Join Indiewire’s Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson for a live recording of their popular Screen Talk podcast.
SATURDAY, MAY 19
Closing Day / Night
2018 American Pavilion - CURRENT PROGRAM AT A GLANCE:
SECRETS OF PR PROS - Wednesday, May 9 at 2:30pm
IN CONVERSATION: PAUL DANO - Thursday, May 10 at 10am
THE POWER OF GENRE FILMS - Thursday, May 10 at 12:30pm
FILM PANEL: HOUSE OF CARDIN - Thursday, May 10 at 2:00pm
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY: UNDER THE HOOD - Friday, May 11 at 11:00am
FILM PANEL: RAFIKI - Friday, May 11 at 1:30pm
IN CONVERSATION: HOPE HALL - Friday, May 11 at 2:30pm
WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S WORK AT CANNES - Saturday, May 12 at 1:00pm
FILM PANEL: LEAVE NO TRACE - Saturday, May 12 at 2:00pm
CASTING: WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS - Saturday, May 12 at 3:00pm
VR AND STORYTELLING - Saturday, May 12 at 4:30
IN CONVERSATION: SUBMARINE - Sunday, May 13 at 11:00am
FILM PANEL: ARCTIC - Sunday, May 13 at 12:30pm
WHEN IS A MOVIE A MOVIE - Sunday, May 13 at 2:00pm
AMERICAN SHORT FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - Monday, May 14 at 11:00am
THE MUSIC OF THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - Monday, May 14 at 1:00pm
IN CONVERSATION: ERIC D’ARBELOFF - Monday, May 14 at 2:30pm
STORYTELLERS: THE FILMMAKERS BEHIND THE STORIES WE LOVE - Monday, May 14 at 4:00pm
DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL - Tuesday, May 15 at 1:30pm
IN CONVERSATION: TOPHER GRACE - Wednesday, May 16 at 11:00am
IN CONVERSATION: PAUL BETTANY - Wednesday, May 16 at 12:30pm
HOLLYWOOD IN THE ERA OF #METOO AND # TIMESUP - Wednesday, May 16 at 3:00pm
INDIEWIRE’S SCREEN TALK LIVE - Thursday, May 17 at 11:00am
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN PAVILION
The American Pavilion, celebrating its 30th year as the epicenter of American hospitality and communication at the Cannes International Film Festival, brings together both professional and emerging filmmakers along with industry executives from across the globe. A sought after destination for information, orientation, and recreation, it accommodates the needs of its members, guests and sponsors in a dynamic business environment. With its impressive array of amenities and services, AmPav provides an opportunity to relax in very comfortable surroundings.
The American Pavilion boasts the Roger Ebert Conference Series which offers insightful and provocative panel discussions and in-conversations with filmmakers, talent and top leaders; a restaurant and bar that provide fast service with a smile throughout the day and is open to all festival badge holders after 6:00pm most evenings; a coffee bar; free WiFi and charging stations; a media terrace with a panoramic view of the Riviera; the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase; the Culinary Program featuring chefs from across the US and Canada; The American Pavilion Worldwide Student Program; and public and private rental for parties and receptions.
For more information, visit www.ampav.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanpavilion
Twitter: @AmPav
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