FEATURED SPEAKERS

Get to know the industry leaders, innovators and storytellers joining us at The AFM Summit.

Jackie-Brenneman

Jackie Brenneman

President & CEO
IFTA/AFM

Prior to joining IFTA, Brenneman served as Executive Vice President & General Counsel of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) and as founding President of The Cinema Foundation, where she helped launch National Cinema Day and led major industry-wide initiatives focused on growth, accessibility, and audience engagement. She is also a co-founder of The Fithian Group, a strategic consultancy supporting the evolving theatrical and independent film ecosystem.

Brenneman is known for her collaborative leadership style, deep policy expertise, and commitment to strengthening cross-border partnerships that support independent storytellers worldwide.

Brenneman serves on the Board of Directors of the Attend Theatrical Marketplace, a platform she played a key role in developing, and holds a seat on the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission.

Evan-Shapiro

Evan Shapiro

Founder & CEO
ESHAP

Shapiro has been a featured speaker at the world’s most important media events. His maps, infographics, and ruminations are now widely quoted and used by businesses, executives, analysts, and colleges around the world.

He is also an Emmy and Peabody Award winning producer of TV, films and podcasts, including Portlandia, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Please Like Me, and Brick City. He also served 18 years as a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business.

David-Freeman

David Freeman

Founder & CEO
Kynetic Media Ventures

Currently, he is the Founder & CEO of Kynetic Media Ventures, a next-generation culture venture studio launched in 2026 to expand fandom, activate communities, and transform talent and their intellectual property into scalable enterprises.

Previously, David was the Global Head of the Digital Media department at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). As the founder of the group in 2010, Freeman was at the forefront of the digital media marketplace, leading the company and its traditional and digital endemic clients (talent and corporate) across all areas.

Over 15 years at CAA with the proliferation of the Creator Economy across all Media and Hollywood, Freeman launched, created and led a number of new verticals within the department that have become best in class across the industry including creator representation, branded entertainment, gaming/eSports, social media monetization and distribution, immersive media/XR, AI, and corporate advisory.

Freeman’s unique global perspective as technology has disrupted both the Advertising and Hollywood industries has led to the formation of new business models, global IP sales, the launch of new digital companies and key investments for the company.

Prior to joining CAA in 2010, he served as General Manager of MATTER, Edelman Sports and Entertainment Marketing. In 2003, Freeman co-founded MATTER to forge and develop marketing partnerships for brands, entertainment companies, and content creators. The company was acquired by Edelman in 2006 and at its peak, Freeman oversaw a team of 120 executives across Los Angeles, New York and London.

Previously, Freeman led a joint venture between OMD Worldwide and Aaron Walton Entertainment, two of the leading media and entertainment companies within the Omnicom network. Additionally, he held positions at CNB Entertainment, an entertainment fi nance and development company, and NFL Properties in its Corporate Sponsorship Sales & Marketing Division.

Wesley-Wang

Wesley Wang

Director/Founder
Wesley Wang Media

He just left Harvard to build a creator-led studio that lets the internet greenlight the next generation of films and shows. The studio is in active development on projects backed by Warner Music Group and Colin & Samir, and has already raised $2.5 million across its slate. In chess, he is an 11-time National Champion, and 6-time All-American.

Jared-Geesey

Jared Geesey

EVP of International
Angel Studios

Jared and his team built a network of 100+ distribution and licensing partners that delivers theatrical releases in 40+ countries, including Sound of Freedom, The King of Kings, and David. They present Angel’s slate at Cannes, Berlin, the American Film Market, CineEurope, CineAsia, and CineLatam. He co-launched Angel’s theatrical division in

2023, debuting at #8 among U.S. distributors and grossing more than

$650 million globally.