American Film Market Launches Largest Programming Lineup AVOD, TV And XR Conversations Take Main Stage For 40th Edition
Paramount Pictures’ Futurist Ted Schilowitz Set as Keynote
Los Angeles, CA – September 24, 2019 — The American Film Market (AFM®) will mark its 40th edition November 6 – 13 with its most expansive programming to date. New to the lineup is a half-day Television Conference and a session centered on AVOD (Ad Supported Video On Demand).
AFM’s more than 50 panels, roundtables and presentations will showcase international industry experts, decision makers, and academics across three stages, alongside the AFM’s industry screenings and marketplace.
Ted Schilowitz, XR expert and Futurist at Paramount Pictures, will also present the opening State of the Industry keynote for AFM’s half-day Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker on November 9.
AFM ’s Distribution Conference on November 12 will feature The Rise of AVOD panel with speakers Floris Bauer, President, Gunpowder & Sky, Jeff Shultz, Chief Business Officer, Pluto TV, Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi TV, Julian Franco, Senior Director – AVOD, Vudu, and Anthony Layser, Vice President, Partnerships & Programming, Xumo. Moderated by Bruce Eisen, President, Digital Advisors, the session will explore this rapidly expanding model and the opportunities for independent film.
For the first time, AFM will spotlight the small screen with a half-day Television Conference on November 11. Two panels will examine the increasing opportunities for feature-length programming and Made-for-TV Movies with TV networks and platforms. Initial panelists include producer Debra Martin Chase, Paul Bales, Partner, The Asylum, Michael Stiller, Vice President, Development & Programming, The History Channel, Tony Vassiliadis, Chief Operations Officer, MarVista Entertainment, Brad Krevoy, CEO, Motion Picture Corporation of America, and Pierre David, Chief Strategy Advisor & Producer, ReelOne/Lance Entertainment.
In his current role, Schilowitz works with studio leadership and the technology teams at Paramount / Viacom, exploring forms of new and emerging technologies, with an emphasis on Virtual and Mixed Reality. Three XR panels covering topics ranging from storytelling to monetization will follow his keynote.
View the full lineup of sessions for AFM 2019. For badge and ticket information, please visit the AFM website.
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 distribution revenues annually. For more information on IFTA, please visit www.IFTA-online.org.
About Winston Baker:
Co-Founded by Katherine Winston and Amy Baker, Winston Baker is the leading producer of entertainment conferences worldwide addressing finance, innovation and growth. Winston Baker has been successfully organizing educational events globally since 2008 in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Cannes, Zurich, Shanghai, Beijing, Los Cabos, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Moscow and Singapore. Winston Baker’s conference series includes the CONFLUENCE SUMMIT, FILM FINANCE FORUM, IMMERSIVE SUMMIT, and MUSIC FINANCE FORUM. For more information, visit www.WinstonBaker.com.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Garnick, VP Communications
jgarnick@ifta-online.org | 310.446.1006
