The Innovators – From Fan to Financier: New Models in Film Financing and Distribution
Panelists:
Marc Iserlis, Head of Film, Republic Film
Christopher Woodrow, Founder and Chairman, MCT
Willie Morris, Co-Founder, Watrfall
Speakers
-
Christopher WoodrowFounder and Chairman, MCTChristopher Woodrow is an entrepreneur, financier, and movie producer. He has financed and produced over 50 motion pictures, which have grossed more than $1 billion in global box o@ice revenue. He is the founder and chairman of Media Capital Technologies (MCT), a leading media and entertainment investment company focused on structured finance, corporate transactions, and venture incubation.
MCT has been Lionsgate’s primary slate co-financing partner since 2023 and has invested in 20 films with the studio, including “Ballerina”, “Flight Risk, “The Long Walk”, “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”, and “Saw X”.
Woodrow serves as co-chairman of Row K Entertainment, a U.S. theatrical distribution company focused on wide release, star-driven, and prestige filmmaker-driven movies with global appeal. He also serves as chairman of the board of Eli Roth’s The Horror Section, a 360 media company focused on building a robust intellectual property library and creating the world’s premier horror brand.
Woodrow was the founder and served as chairman and CEO of Worldview Entertainment, a prolific motion picture finance and production company, as well as its successor, Vendian Entertainment. Under his leadership, the companies produced over 30 notable feature films, including Fox Searchlight’s critically acclaimed hit “Birdman”, Warner Bros.’ “Black Mass”, and Lionsgate’s “Hacksaw Ridge”, which were nominated for 16 Academy Awards and won six Oscars, including Best Picture.
Prior to this, Woodrow served as the managing director of Prospect Point Capital, an investment company focused on structured finance and venture capital opportunities in media and entertainment. He was previously a vice president at Citigroup Global Markets and worked in investment banking at Oppenheimer & Co. Woodrow began his career managing business development at Syrinex Communications, a pioneer in manufacturing internet server appliances. He performed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama.
-
Marc IserlisHead of Film, RepublicMarc Iserlis is the Head of Film at Republic, an investment platform that lets everyone –both accredited and non-accredited investors–invest in private market opportunities like startups, films, sports, gaming, real estate, and beyond, and share in the financial upside. Republic boasts a community of nearly 3 million members and has deployed over $2.6 billion through its investment platforms, funds, and firms.
Marc leads Republic’s film financing vertical, Republic Film, which enables fans to invest directly in their favorite filmmakers’ new projects and share in their success. Republic Film’s portfolio includes The Horror Section from Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel), Brass Knuckle Films from Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, El Mariachi), Skybound Entertainment (The Walking Dead, Invincible), Watrfall from Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy), and Pressman Film (American Psycho, Wall Street), which have raised tens of millions of dollars from their global fanbases.
Marc is also a film and TV producer whose credits include The Testament of Ann Lee (2025), Dalíland (2022), Gone in the Night (2022), and Hotel Mumbai (2019).
-
Willie MorrisCo-Founder, Asylm Studios and WatrfallWillie Morris is an award-winning creator, entrepreneur, and storyteller. As cofounder of ASYLM Studios, he’s building a new kind of creative collective—where filmmakers, animators, and visionaries collaborate to forge stories that defy convention. He also cofounded Watrfall, a Web3-powered platform reimagining how creators fund, own, and distribute film and television projects. A veteran of the creator economy, Willie has collaborated with top YouTube creators and brands to develop authentic, story-driven content that bridges entertainment and community. His work has been recognized with a Webby Award for digital innovation.