The Rise of Short Drama: A New Era for Film and TV IP Development 

Speakers

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  Luna Zhang Women’s Empowerment Advocate • Producer • Financier, Celes Luna Holding
  

  Luna Zhang

  Women’s Empowerment Advocate • Producer • Financier, Celes Luna Holding

  As an independent producer and business development executive, Luna Zhang is adept at deal-making, investor relationships, strategic partnerships, finance, and sales and distribution. She also has strong relationships with top management companies, agencies, producers, and other above-the-line talent. Her slate of feature and short films, animated features often reflect her passion for meaningful storytelling, women empowerment, Asian and minority representation, and social consciousness. She is also a financier of short form content and her films support women and LGBTQA communities. Luna is a women empowerment advocate. She spoke as a panelist for World Woman Foundation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival (The Festival de Cannes), where she addressed equity for women in entertainment and advocacy against domestic violence. In 2023, Luna partnered with a well-recognized, twenty-year experienced executive from film finance world focusing on financing independent films, helping indie filmmakers making dreams. To date, Luna has executive produced feature films with budgets exceeding $100 million. Luna has an MBA from University of Southern California, and certificates in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from her extended study at Harvard University. Before becoming an independent producer, Luna Zhang was a highly skilled business executive and serial entrepreneur, successfully building and exiting ventures across high-end fashion, medicine, and tech. Known for her sharp market insight and strong negotiation skills, she earned a reputation as a savvy and strategic business leader.

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  Bennett Pozil EVP - Head of Corporate Banking, East West Bank
  

  Bennett Pozil

  EVP - Head of Corporate Banking, East West Bank

  Bennett Pozil is Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Banking at East West Bank, where he oversees key sectors including Entertainment, Commercial and Cross Border Banking. A recognized authority in entertainment finance and cross-border business, he has financed over 1,500+ titles, including Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero and Lost in Translation and has played a key role in establishing the bank’s global presence. Pozil is a frequent speaker at industry forums across Asia and serves on advisory boards for Gold House and the Asia Society’s Southern California Chapter. He has been honored in the Variety 500, by the Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Business Journal.

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  David Ellender Media Executive, Paragon Media
  

  David Ellender

  Media Executive, Paragon Media

  David Ellender is a seasoned media executive with 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Specializing in content strategy across the full spectrum of digital, television, and firm distribution. His expertise includes the creation, production, and distribution of branded content, collaborating with consumer brands both in the USA and internationally. Through his career, David has held senior management and board positions at renowned international media companies, including sonar entertainment, Fremantle, universal TV international, Polygram Film Entertainment, and Viacom internationally. His extensive background and keen industry insights have positioned him as a leader in the evolving landscape of media and entertainment David has also served as Executive Producer for a diverse array of factual and scripted series across FAST, AVOD, network television, and streaming platforms in the US and Europe. His notable works include Merton Scorsese Presents: The Saints(Fox Nation) Wedding Talk(Crackle)Das Boot(2018) (Sky Europe), Hunters(Amazon Prime) and Mysterious Benedict society(Disney+) sing a wide range of content with varying budgets.

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  Jim Tsai Board Director & Strategic Advisor, Snail Games USA
  

  Jim Tsai

  Board Director & Strategic Advisor, Snail Games USA

  As a seasoned leader in the gaming industry, Jim Tsai has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. With over a decade of executive experience, including as CEO and now Board Director and Strategic Advisor at Snail Games USA, Jim has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s global vision alongside its founder and chairman, Mr. Shi Hai. His leadership has helped Snail Games evolve into a Nasdaq-listed powerhouse recognized for iconic franchises like ARK: Survival Evolved, ARK: Survival Ascended, and Dark and Light.

  Jim’s career spans across the U.S., China, and Taiwan, where he has successfully built and managed studios, overseen game production, and guided international partnerships. He combines his creative background in art direction with strategic business acumen to bridge East-West collaboration in entertainment and technology.

  Jim holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Chinese Culture University and certifications in Computer Graphics from Platt College Los Angeles and Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy from MIT Sloan School of Management.

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  Jin Wang Film and Television Planner/Producer, China Television Production Industry Association
  

  Jin Wang

  Film and Television Planner/Producer, China Television Production Industry Association

  Jin Wang — Film and Television Planner / Producer Graduated from the Beijing Film Academy, She has served as Secretary of the Short Drama Working Committee of the China Television Production Industry Association, Judge for the China Region of the International Emmy Awards. She has participated in the planning and production of more than a dozen television dramas and films. Her recent film《 The Karst》 won Best Film at the 8th Pingyao International Film Festival in 2024. She is currently the CEO of Qiqi Entertainment, a short drama producer, and the Vice President and President of the China Region of the International Short Drama Association. As a short drama producer, she continues to create outstanding works that combine artistic value and commercial potential. Meanwhile, as the Vice President of the Short Drama Association, she will actively play a leading role and continue to promote the growth and development of the short drama industry.

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  Na Gao Producer/Talent Agent, Forest Dream / CineDream / ReelTree
  

  Na Gao

  Producer/Talent Agent, Forest Dream / CineDream / ReelTree

  Na Gao (also known as Vina Gao) – AFM Guest Profile Forest Dream / CineDream / ReelTree Na Gao (also known as Vina Gao) is a Los Angeles–based producer and talent agent with over 30 years of experience in the music, film, and entertainment industry. After a successful early career as a singer and actress in China, Na Gao transitioned to artist management in 2011 and founded Beijing Awakening East Cultural Brokerage Co., Ltd. in 2015, representing several prominent Chinese artists. In 2018, Na Gao established Forest Dream Media in Los Angeles, focusing on actor training and film production, with works recognized and awarded at international film festivals. Since 2022, Na Gao has expanded into short drama production and TikTok entertainment operations. Na Gao currently leads a TikTok-certified entertainment guild and MCN agency, representing over 3,000 signed creators and streamers, and maintaining long-term collaborations with more than 2,000 short-video e-commerce influencers. As co-founder of CineDream and founder of ReelTree, Na Gao leads a top-tier short drama distribution team collaborating with major global platforms, driving innovation in the international short drama ecosystem.

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  Sining Xiang Writer, Director, Short Drama Director
  

  Sining Xiang

  Writer, Director, Short Drama Director

  Sining Xiang is a writer/director based in Los Angeles. He wrote and directed FOREIGN UNCLE, which garnered numerous accolades, including a Jury Award from the Directors Guild of America, Best U.S. Student Film at Palm Springs International Shortfest, and was distributed by The New Yorker. His horror feature project THE GHOST WEDDING was selected for the 2025 Bay List, a new initiative created by The Black List and Rafael Casal. Sining is a trailblazer in the vertical space. He directed many viral vertical shows, including the phenomenon The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband(400M+ views on ReelShort). He has created many viral shows for all major vertical platforms, including ReelShort, Dramabox, GoodShort and more. Before embarking on a career in the entertainment industry, he worked as an electrical engineer in Silicon Valley. He holds an MS degree in electrical engineering from UCSD and an MFA degree in film production from UCLA.

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  William Feng Head of Greater China and Vice President of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) Asia Pacific
  

  William Feng

  Head of Greater China and Vice President of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) Asia Pacific

  William Feng is the Head of Greater China and Vice President of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) Asia Pacific. In this role, he works closely with Chinese government authorities and stakeholders to expand market access, and to advocate for the protection of commercial and creative interests of American as well as China’s screen communities. Since joining MPA in 2008, Mr. Feng has successfully initiated and promoted major U.S.-China film industry projects, including the U.S.-China Filmmaker Exchange Program, Global Film Industry Value Chain Development Forum, Golden Screen Awards, MPA Master Classes at Beijing and Shanghai film festivals, and programs advocating for China’s film industrialization and international cooperation.

  Mr. Feng brings more than 30 years of experience working within government institutions and Global Fortune 500 companies in both in China and the United States. Before the MPA, he worked in various responsible roles and held senior positions with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Smithsonian Institution, Hill & Knowlton Public Relations Worldwide, Dell China and Viacom China/MTV China Network. He has also served as an adjunct professor and advisory board member for leading academic institutions and programs, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Theatre Academy, Beijing Film Academy and The Central Academy of Drama.

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  Xian Li Founder & Principal, Ideali Projects
  

  Xian Li

  Founder & Principal, Ideali Projects

  Xian Li Founder & Principal, Ideali Projects Xian Li is an acclaimed executive and producer with decades of experience in the global entertainment industry. With expertise across creative development, packaging, financing, distribution, and cross-border partnerships, Xian brings a deep understanding of the changing media landscape. As Founder of Ideali Projects, Xian has quickly positioned the company as a top player in the micro-drama space. Under her leadership, Ideali has produced multiple series that currently ranks #1 of all time on various platforms, generating tens of millions in revenue per title. Previously, Xian held leadership roles at major Hollywood studios, including serving as Executive Vice President, Film & TV at SK Global Entertainment, and Head of Asia at Twentieth Century Fox International. Her tenure was defined by a sharp instinct for globally resonant content, contributing to projects that have collectively earned billions worldwide.

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  Hernan Lopez Founder, Owl & Co
  

  Hernan Lopez

  Founder, Owl & Co

  Hernan Lopez, founder of management consulting firm Owl & Co, is a trailblazing entrepreneur best known as the founder of podcasting powerhouse Wondery (now part of Amazon). Wondery quickly became recognized for its immersive storytelling podcasts, which led the industry in podcast-to-TV adaptations, including Dr Death, WeCrashed, and the Emmy-nominated Dying For Sex. Prior to Wondery, he scaled and ran Fox International Channels as CEO, growing it into a $3 billion division of Fox (now Disney), overseeing the launch of hundreds of entertainment channels and production houses around the world. Hernan runs the Hernan Lopez Family Foundation, and was a Founding Governor of The Podcast Academy. He’s been a speaker at Cannes Lions, CES, the Milken Global Conference, SXSW and numerous investor conferences, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and has developed the StreamonomicsⓇ framework. An MBA graduate from the University of Miami, Hernan lives in Los Angeles with his family.