The AFM Sessions

Josh Rosenbaum is a Partner and Producer at Waypoint Entertainment, where he combines creative vision with business strategy to develop, finance, and produce bold, genre-spanning films. Over the past decade, he has been a driving force behind Waypoint’s slate, its horror label Cweature Features, and the company’s strategic partnerships.

Rosenbaum executive produced Yorgos Lanthimos’ Academy Award-winning The Favourite, as well as NEON’s upcoming Hokum with Adam Scott, Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, Aneil Karia’s Hamlet, Michael Angelo Covino’s Splitsville, Duke Johnson’s The Actor, and Nick Rowland’s She Rides Shotgun.

His previous projects include Tilman Singer’s Cuckoo, Scott Cooper’s Hostiles, Netflix’s Tau, Jonah Hill’s Mid90s, Martin Zandvliet’s The Outsider, Lionsgate’s The Glass Castle, A24’s Woodshock, and Woody Harrelson’s Lost in London.

A USC graduate, Rosenbaum began his career in film finance and distribution at WME.

Jeff Caruso has spanned both sides of the production world. He’s walked the set in hands-on production roles, navigated the complexities of production finance at Summit Entertainment, and spent over a decade helping studios and streamers manage their business at Cast & Crew. This unique mix of experience gives him rare insight into the challenges finance teams face from prep through wrap—and why the industry is hungry for change.

Jeaneane Davey is a seasoned Tax and Production Incentives professional, with over 16 years of experience in the entertainment industry, including over 12 years of working with production incentives.

Jeaneane began her career in general tax consulting at PwC in 2009. She then joined Fox’s Production Tax Planning & Incentives team in 2013, and advised on all production-related tax and incentive matters for Fox’s Film, Television, and Sports divisions until leaving for Netflix in 2016. After having led different teams which, collectively and at different points in time, supported all of Netflix’s content teams and studio-wide initiatives from both an incentives and tax-perspective, Jeaneane left Netflix in February 2025 to launch her own advisory practice, specializing in tailored tax planning solutions for media industry companies and professionals.

Jeaneane holds a Master of Accounting from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is a licensed CPA in the state of California.

Sam Pressman was named CEO, Pressman Film, in January 2023. Since then, he has ushered in an exciting new era of growth for the company through his long-standing relationships with talent, industry insiders and an expansive independent financing network. Pressman Film was founded by Sam’s late father Edward R. Pressman who produced such iconic films as Badlands, Conan the Barbarian, American Psycho and Wall Street. The Los Angeles-based production company has produced four films so far in 2025 including Takashi Miike’s Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, a new take on Pressman’s 1992 classic Bad Lieutenant and Gus Van Sant’s hostage thriller Dead Man’s Wire starring Bill Skarsgard, Coleman Domingo and Al Pacino, and currently has over a dozen new films in active development including Luca Guadagnino’s new adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho.

Under Sam, Pressman Film is also pushing into TV and stage, expanding operations internationally with new creative execs, and recently secured $2 million in an unprecedented crowd-equity development raise on Republic.com that allows big screen fans a chance to invest in its upcoming slate—a first for Hollywood. The company recently announced its teaming with Tomorrow Studios on a new limited TV series at Apple about the Claus von Bülow trial from Jack Thorne (Adolescence) and unveiled its first slate of TV projects with writers, directors and producers behind such series as The Wire, Bosch and Tehran. Earlier this summer, Pressman also unveiled it is in development on a musical stage version of the company’s Brian De Palma cult hit Phantom of the Paradise with Paul Willams.

Sam is also pushing his team to incorporate VR, AI, blockchain and other cutting-edge technology into its everyday business models and the company has recently produced several projects that showcase new tech. Pressman Film recently partnered with Asteria to bring John Fitzgerald’s critically acclaimed AI installation Beyond The Vivid Unknown to this year’s Immersive Competition at Cannes and a year earlier, alongside EP Terrence Malick, produced VR experience Evolver, which features the voice of Cate Blanchett and was part of the inaugural Cannes Immersive Competition. Pressman is bringing VR experience Dark Rooms to the Venice’s Immersive Competition this summer and earlier this year debuted the groundbreaking film About a Hero in Holland at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, which was created through a collaboration between director Piotr Winiewicz and Kaspar, an LLM trained the work of Werner Herzog (with his permission.) About a Hero has since played more than 20 festivals across Europe and Asia with its North American debut to be announced soon.

Before assuming the role of CEO, Sam worked with his father on such films as Werner Herzog’s Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Barry Levinson’s Paterno, Keith Maitland’s Dear Mr. Brody, Matt Brown’s The Man Who Knew Infinity, Mary Harron’s Daliland and Rupert Sander’s reboot of The Crow. With a deep reverence for his father’s contributions to independent cinema and a firm commitment to carrying on the Pressman penchant for storytelling, Sam approaches his role as producer with a sense of humility and a fierce determination to create films that honor the company’s legacy. Sam graduated from Stanford University, where he majored in Film & Media Studies and was the president of the Stanford Film Society and head of the Advanced Film Workshop.

Jeremy Ross is the President of Film at Rabbits Black, a global media and entertainment company specializing in creative strategy, end-to-end production, and innovative investment and financing across film, media, sports, music, and lifestyle companies.

At Rabbits Black, Ross oversees the company’s film investment and distribution portfolio, managing partnerships across financing, production, and theatrical release. He has executive produced more than 20 films, including the upcoming Casey Affleck thriller Company, Pathetic Fallacy starring Kid Cudi and Natasha Lyonne, Kill Me starring Charlie Day and Allison Williams, and Midnight starring Rosario Dawson and Milla Jovovich. Ross also led Rabbits Black’s co-release of Stitch Head in partnership with Briarcliff, dentsu, and Fever/Atom Tickets.

Prior to Rabbits Black, Ross was a founding partner at 3QU Media, an animated film production company initially capitalized with $25 million in equity. The company produced and sold four CG-animated features to Netflix – Gnome Alone, Charming, Trouble, and Fearless – two of which reached #1 on the platform globally. He also executive produced the Academy Award-winning If Anything Happens I Love You for Netflix. Earlier in his career, Ross worked in business affairs for producer John H. Williams (Shrek), Disney, and 20th Century Fox, and later led business development and business affairs for Prana Studios, overseeing projects including three Tinkerbell films and two Planes franchise films for Disney.

Ross is also a founding partner at Nineteen10 Capital, an SEC-exempt investment manager of Nineteen10 Fund, initially capitalized with $20 million for film investments. He has consulted for Blue Fox Financing, helping launch a platform that has closed more than two dozen loans totaling over $20 million. Across his career, Ross has closed or assisted in more than $200 million in debt and equity financing for independent productions.

Ross holds an M.B.A. from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Northwestern University.

Christopher 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 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 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.

Roberto Stabile is the Head of the International Department, Cinecittà/Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC)

After graduating in Political Science and International Affairs he has dedicated the past 30 years to developing and strengthening relationships with international cinema and tv institutions.

From 1996 to 2005 he was General Secretary of the National Union of Film Producers in ANICA (Italian Film Audiovisual and Digital Industries Association) and from 2005 to 2023 he headed the International Department in ANICA.

For the Italian Trade Agency, he has set up a network of information desks on the Italian film industry funding and location services in the major World Markets.

He also developed the ITALIAN SCREENS project, an initiative supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which highlights a wide variety of genres and emerging talents—including those films featured at major international film festivals. Additionally, the project promotes Italy’s tax incentives, funding programs, and co-production opportunities for filmmakers looking to shoot in the country.
From March 2022, he has become Head of the International Department at Cinecittà on behalf of the Directorate Cinema in order to enhance international cooperation, activities and further develop relationships and business among Italian and foreign film professionals.

Francesca Rotondo is a professional with over 20 years of experience at Cinecittà Studios. As Senior International Sales Development Manager, she manages the rental of Cinecittà’s sound stages, backlot locations, and all related services, striving to meet the needs of production from prep to wrap. A trained architect, Francesca has been working at Cinecittà since 2001 in various roles, ranging from VFX post-production to sales management. Her experience and dedication have significantly contributed to the success and growth of the studios. She believes what makes Cinecittà stand out is the time and effort the Sales Department dedicates to understanding their clients’ needs and their proven ability to work professionally and efficiently exceeding expectations without exceeding budgets.

Jacopo Chessa (Turin, 1973) majored in film history and worked largely on the 1950s and 1960s in French cinema. He has published two books and several articles, and collaborated with the National Film Archive of the Resistance, the University of Turin, and Paris III – Sorbonne Nouvelle University. Since early 2014, he has been the director of Aiace Nazionale, the first Italian association of art-house cinemas, and the Italian Short Film Center. In 2016, he founded the Torino Short Film Market, which he directed until 2020. He worked as contract professor at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris 3 from 2017 to 2019. Since 2020, he has been the director of the Veneto Film Commission, and since late 2024, he has served as president of Italian Film Commissions.

Gary Lucchesi is Producer and Executive Producer in the Film and Scripted Television. Gary has produced over 65 feature films, beginning with Academy Award nominated Primal Fear, followed by notable hits including Runaway Bride, Arlington Road, and The Mothman Prophecies. In 2004 he produced the Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Million Dollar Baby. In subsequent years he produced numerous hits including The Ugly Truth, Lincoln Lawyer, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and the Underworld franchise with Kate Beckinsale, of which he made four sequels. Other film credits include, The Gift starring Cate Blanchette, and adaptations of three Philip Roth novels – The Human Stain, Elegy, and 2016’s American Pastoral.

Gary also produced two Emmy Award-winning movies for television Gotti for HBO and Wild Iris for Showtime, as well the series Heathers for Paramount Television.

At age 34, Gary became the President of Production at Paramount Pictures, where he oversaw such films as Ghost, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Fatal Attraction, The Hunt For Red October, Coming To America, The Naked Gun, The Godfather: Part III, Star Trek, and The Untouchables. He also worked at TriStar Pictures for four years as both Vice President and Senior Vice President of Production. He began his career in Los Angeles as an agent for the William Morris Agency representing such notable actors as Kevin Costner, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and John Malkovich. He is a former President and President Emeritus of the Producer’s Guild of America and currently is head of the International Committee of the PGA. Gary has been an active member of the Motion Picture Academy since 1988.

Riccardo Neri started his film carrier in 1989 and since then he covered all the positions in the production departments becoming over the years line producer, executive producer and producer.

In 1996 he worked on his first international feature film “Portrait of a Lady” directed by Jane Campion. He continued his career in Italian and international productions working with directors like M. Scorsese, G. Tornatore, C. Verdone, F. Ozpetek, A. Ferrara, P. Greengrass, P. Haggis, T. Gilliam, A. Arau, S. Costanzo, P. Sorrentino, L. Guadagnino, and many others.

His filmography as UPM/Line Producer, includes: Kundun, The Legend of the Pianist on the Ocean, Harem Soiree, Under the Tuscan Sun, Gangs of New York, The Bourne Supremacy.

As Executive Producer: Mary Magdalene, Third Person, Hungry Hearts, Europe Raiders, The New Pope, We Are Who We Are, The Hand of God.

In 2004 Riccardo founded the independent production company Lupin Film which over the years, produced feature films and awarded documentaries.

Lupin Film operates also as production service company and its filmography includes: “Memories of my Father” directed by Fernando Trueba, “Home Sweet Rome” tv series directed by Stefan Scaini for HBOMax, “Cabrini” directed by Alejandro Monteverde, “Immaculate” directed by Michael Mohan for Black Bear Pictures, “Pajaros” directed by Pau Durà, “My Spy II” directed by Pete Segal for Amazon Studios, “Those About to Die” directed by Roland Emmerich for AGC TV and Peacock, “The Saints S2” for Lionsgate produced by Martin Scorsese and along with other APE companies is currently working on “The Resurrection of the Christ” to be directed by Mel Gibson.

Thomas K. Arnold is the publisher and editorial director of Media Play News, one of the five Hollywood trades and the only one to focus on home distribution: streaming, digital transactional, and disc. Arnold is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, summits and other events, including CES, Digital Hollywood and events produced by trade groups OTT.X and DEG. He has appeared on television to talk about home entertainment issues on CNN’s “Showbiz Tonight,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and the G4 network’s “Attack of the Show.” Arnold is a veteran journalist who has been published in the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, San Diego Magazine, Billboard, Ad Age, the San Diego Reader and various other local, national and regional publications.

Paula Paizes serves as Chief Operating Officer and President of Production, at Pressman Film, the independent production company founded by legendary producer Edward R. Pressman. Paizes oversees finance, production, distribution, merchandising, strategy, and business affairs for the Los Angeles-based company behind such films as Wall Street, American Psycho, Badlands, Thank You for Smoking and The Crow. A seasoned media/entertainment senior executive, she has broad experience and deep relationships in Hollywood, Australia and internationally. Paula is a producer on Gus Van Sant’s latest film DEAD MAN’S WIRE (Bill Skarsgard, Al Pacino, Colman Domingo) and was a key part of the team responsible for selling it at Toronto to new distributor Row K. She also produced BAD LIEUTENANT: TOKYO (Takashi Miike, Lily James), in partnership with Neon as well as THE CROW 2024 (Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs), with Lionsgate. Other productions include DALILAND (Sir Ben Kingsley) with Magnolia Pictures, WHERE ESKIMOS LIVE (Bob Hoskins), BLACK LIMOUSINE (David Arquette and Bijou Philips) and the VR experience EVOLVER, (Cate Blanchett) selected to compete in the Cannes Immersive Competition (2024). Paula is currently working across a slate of 20 film and TV projects and managing a library of over 100 titles and is regularly invited to participate in industry panels at Cannes, TIFF and AFM.

Joe Lewis is a two-time Emmy, Tony, Peabody, Golden Globe-winning producer and the CEO of Amplify Pictures, the pioneering independent studio that develops, finances, and produces award-winning, commercially driven scripted series, documentary projects and theatrical productions, including HBO’s Emmy-winning 100 Foot Wave. Lewis also produced the acclaimed series Fleabag, Transparent and Too Old To Die Young. On Broadway, he co-produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical A Strange Loop and also co-produced the Tony-nominated Gutenberg! The Musical! starring Grammy Award-winners Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells. Lewis is the only producer to win an Emmy Award for both an Outstanding Scripted Series and an Outstanding Documentary Series.

Founded by Lewis in 2018, with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Amsterdam, Amplify Pictures is focused on producing globally successful projects through bold ideas, brilliant creators, and unparalleled filmmaking. Lewis won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series for producing season three of Amplify Pictures’ hit series 100 Foot Wave. Season three of the big wave docu-series took home its third Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program. The first two seasons of 100 Foot Wave also won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, and season one won a PGA Award for Outstanding Sports Program.

Amplify Pictures’ production slate also includes Jay Duplass’ comedy series Sleep King, produced with Duplass Brothers Productions; Matt Wolf’s Soaps, an epic and unprecedented look into the unseen world of soap operas; Ryan White’s Sundance Festival Favorite Award-winner Come See Me in the Good Light, an unexpectedly funny and joyful love story about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley for Apple TV; Bollywood Dance U, the electrifying new docu-series that follows the high-stakes world of competitive collegiate Bollywood Fusion dance, directed by Smriti Mundhra (Indian Matchmaking), and Game Changers, which explores the backstories behind the video games that changed our world, streaming on HBO Max. The first season of Amplify Pictures’ podcast, Pretty Sure I Can Fly, hosted by Johnny Knoxville and Elna Baker, and created by Lewis, is out now and produced alongside SmartLess Media and Campside Media. In addition, Lewis and Amplify Pictures are co-produced Maia Novi’s buzzy semi-autobiographical play Invasive Species for its London run, following its successful New York and off Broadway run in 2024 and co-produced Julia Randall’s dark comedy Dilaria starring Ella Stiller, Chiara Aurelia and Christopher Briney, which opened off Broadway in June 2025.

Prior to Amplify, Lewis was the co-founder of Amazon Studios, running comedy, drama and mixed reality for the studio’s first six years (2012 – 2017). Series commissioned by Lewis include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Underground Railroad, Jack Ryan, Bosch, Catastrophe, Transparent, Fleabag, Homecoming, Good Omens, Mozart in the Jungle, Hanna, The Tick, Undone, Red Oaks, I Love Dick, Tosh.0, The New Yorker Presents and Long Strange Trip, among others. Series commissioned by Lewis have garnered 96 major award wins out of 201 major award nominations, including two Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series, one Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, four Golden Globe Awards for Best Comedy Series, one BAFTA TV Award for International Series and two PGA Awards.

Prior to Amazon, Lewis was CEO and co-founder of Bark, a startup AVOD streamer, Director of Production at 20th Century Fox and Manager of Development at Comedy Central.

Lewis received his B.A. in Cinema-Television from the University of Southern California. He grew up in Washington, DC and even went to TV camp in high school. He and his wife reside in Los Angeles.

JJ Caruth is President, Domestic Marketing and Distribution for The Avenue, Highland Film Group’s domestic distribution label, managing all release windows, from theatrical through home entertainment to television, SVOD and AVOD. Launched in 2020, The Avenue empowers filmmakers by pioneering innovative marketing and distribution strategies that amplify their stories to connect them with the broadest possible audience while driving commercial success. The Avenue has a partnership with Paramount Pictures to handle home entertainment and airlines. Films released under The Avenue label are a combination of film titles from Highland Film Group as well as third party acquisitions.

The Avenue’s releases include successful launches of William Eubank’s action thriller Land of Bad starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth; Adam Cooper’s crime thriller Sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe and Karen Gillan; and Adrian Grünberg’s shark actioner The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas. Recent titles include¬¬ the survival thriller Locked produced by Sam Raimi and starring Bill Skarsgård and Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins which recently took the #1 spot on Hulu in the U.S. following its theatrical release; Rod Blackhurst’s Tribeca Film Festival and Deauville title Blood For Dust starring Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington and Josh Lucas; Rusty Cundieff’s sci-fi thriller 57 Seconds starring Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson; and Petr Jákl’s sweeping historical action epic Medieval starring Ben Foster, Sophie Lowe and Academy Award® winner Sir Michael Caine. The first feature film title released under the new stand-alone distribution banner was the martial arts sci-fi film Jiu Jitsu starring Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage and Frank Grillo, followed by Renny Harlin’s The Misfits, starring Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon and Tim Roth.

Patrick Rizzotti is a seasoned film producer and financing executive with over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry. As the founder of Crossroad Productions, Patrick has made a significant impact on independent filmmaking, producing a variety of successful films that have garnered international acclaim. His impressive filmography includes Pride (Lionsgate), The Collector trilogy (from the writers of SAW franchise), The Super, Malicious, The Free Fall, Maximum Truth, Tiger Mom, and many more. These films have established him as a versatile producer capable of delivering compelling content across genres.

In addition to his work in film production, Patrick is the founding member of Blue Fox Financing, a revolutionary marketplace specializing in debt and gap financing for film and television producers. With Blue Fox Financing, Patrick and his team provide critical financial solutions such as tax credit lending, international presales, union deposit loans, and gap financing, helping filmmakers navigate the complex financial landscape of independent film production. Through this platform, Patrick continues to innovate and support creators by offering accessible and transparent financing options tailored to their project needs.

Patrick’s vision extends beyond financing, as he has launched a Producer Services Division within Blue Fox Financing to assist with project development, leveraging his extensive industry expertise to help filmmakers maximize their financial potential from the earliest stages of production. His deep understanding of both the creative and financial aspects of filmmaking positions him uniquely within the industry, where he bridges the gap between artistic vision and financial execution.

Patrick is also a regular speaker and panel moderator, often leading discussions on the intricacies of film financing in both U.S. and international markets. He has moderated key industry panels such as IFTA’s “Where’s the Money? The Realities of Film Financing Today” and “How to Utilize and Secure Debt/Gap Financing,” where he shares his insights on the evolving landscape of independent film financing.

Through Crossroad Productions and Blue Fox Financing, Patrick Rizzotti remains a driving force in independent film, championing innovative financial models that support creative projects and empower filmmakers to bring their visions to life.

James Huntsman is a founding partner of Blue Fox Entertainment in 2015 and formed Blue Fox Entertainment Group in 2024. Blue Fox Entertainment Group offers filmmakers international sales as well as distribution services in the United States and Canada (via the Blue Fox Entertainment Canada label based on Toronto). The company selects between 30-40 movies a year of all genres. In 2022, Blue Fox Entertainment acquired Crossroads Lending to form Blue Fox Financing, the largest global marketplace to cash flow debt and provide gap financing . Prior to Blue Fox Entertainment, James was a founding partner of the Beverly Hills based production company Asgaard Entertainment in 2006.

Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre has been practicing labor law in the context of the entertainment industry for over 29 years. As a law graduate of UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings College of the Law), she joined Bush Gottlieb (formerly Geffner & Bush), a union-side labor boutique in Burbank, CA where she represented many of the entertainment guilds and plans- SAG, DGA and WGA, among others, for 8 years in the area of financial assurances and ERISA. Olga has been with SAG-AFTRA (formerly known as Screen Actors Guild, Inc.) for over 20 years practicing in the areas of secured transactions, labor, copyright and bankruptcy, specializing in negotiating with producers and attorneys for the payment of additional compensation to SAG-AFTRA performers working in studio and independent pictures exhibiting in theaters, television and streaming platforms. Currently, she is an Executive Director of Entertainment Contracts (Co-Head Film) where she oversees the enforcement, negotiation and policies of SAG-AFTRA collectively bargained and promulgated agreements.

Susan Sprung is the CEO of the Producers Guild of America, a nonprofit trade group that represents over 8400 producers working in film, television, and new media. Ms. Sprung has been with the PGA since 2012, where she began as Associate National Executive Director and COO. In her current position, she carries out the strategic goals of the Board and runs the day-to-day operations of the Guild. On behalf of the PGA, she sits on the Hollywood Commission Leadership Council, the California Film & Television Production Alliance, the Western Council of the Actors Fund, the NAACP Entertainment Advocacy Council, the FilmLA Government Affairs Committee, and formerly served on the AMPAS Members at Large Executive Committee.

Ms. Sprung previously served as Special Counsel at the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers in Los Angeles, where she specialized in general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, large bank financings, private placements, and public offerings. Prior to that, she was an associate at Barrett Smith Shapiro Simon and Armstrong in New York. She also served as Corporate Counsel to TrizecHahn Corporation during the completion of the Hollywood and Highland project.

Matt Mueller is the Editor-in-Chief of Screen International, which provides insight and intelligence into the global film and high-end TV industries via its print magazine, daily editions at major festivals and markets, and industry website ScreenDaily.com.

Before becoming Editor of Screen International in 2015, Matt worked as a freelance film journalist across a variety of print and online outlets, including The Sunday Times, The Independent and IndieWire, and prior to that served as the Editor of two UK consumer film titles, Premiere UK and Total Film. Matt was shortlisted in 2022 for the Editor of the Year (Business Media) award by the UK’s Professional Publishers Association (PPA).

He is a voting member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy.

Kent Sanderson is the CEO of Bleecker Street, an independent studio founded in August 2014 by Andrew Karpen. A key architect of the company’s slate and strategy since its launch, Sanderson previously served as Head of Acquisitions and Ancillary Distribution, and then President, before being elevated to CEO earlier this year. He previously led the acquisition of celebrated titles including Debra Granik’s Leave No Trace, Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky, Gavin Hood’s Eye in the Sky, James Hawes’ One Life, and dozens of other acclaimed titles, while also overseeing output and licensing deals with Amazon Prime Video, Showtime / Paramount+, Hulu, HBO, Netflix, Starz, and more.

Bleecker Street has released nearly 100 theatrical films and built a reputation for championing both commercial and filmmaker-driven cinema. Recent releases include the 40th anniversary event-style re-release of the 1984 cult classic This Is Spinal Tap, created by Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, followed by sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and the horror-thriller Bone Lake. Upcoming releases include Max Walker-Silverman’s Sundance favorite Rebuilding (November 14), starring Josh O’Connor, Lily Latorre, Meghann Fahy, Kali Reis, and Amy Madigan; and Fackham Hall (December 5), a sharp satire of British period dramas starring Damian Lewis, Thomasin McKenzie, and Katherine Waterston which had its trailer go viral in October.

Looking ahead to 2026, Bleecker’s lineup features an untitled action-comedy starring multi-Emmy® winner and entertainment icon RuPaul and directed by Adam Shankman; Oscar-winner Guy Nattiv’s Harmonia, starring Bella Ramsey, Odessa Young, Carrie Coon, and Lily James; The Third Parent, starring Rob Lowe, Crispin Glover, and Roselyn Sanchez; Victorian Psycho, a horror-thriller adapted from the acclaimed novel and starring Maika Monroe, Thomasin McKenzie, and Jason Isaacs; Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney’s Musk, centered on the world’s most controversial tech entrepreneur; and the next, still-untitled feature from auteur Mike Leigh.

Gabrielle Stewart is the CEO of HanWay Films, having joined the company in 2016 as Managing Director. HanWay’s current slate includes Alice Winocour’s Couture starring Angelina Jolie, Ben Sharrock’s Alone Together, Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard and Amma Asante’s Billion Dollar Spy starring Russell Crowe. Stewart came from serving as SVP of International Sales and Distribution in Los Angeles for Bloom Media since its 2013 inception selling films such as The Nice Guys and Suburbicon. The company has since been acquired by Endeavor Content. She joined Bloom from Exclusive Media where she worked on films such as Rush and Jane Got a Gun. Prior to Exclusive Media, she spent eight years in London at Focus Features International where she served as Vice President of International Sales, selling films by international directors including Ang Lee, Pedro Almodovar, the Wachowskis, Woody Allen, Gus Van Sant, Alejandro Iñárritu, the Coen Brothers and Joe Wright.

With a general background from International Sales, I started in the Film Industry in year 2000 at Nordisk Film International Sales. In 2008 I moved to Zentropa’s international Sales arm Trust and later the same year the 2 companies merged to become TrustNordisk, which today is one of the largest sales agents in Europe and the leading expert when it comes to Scandinavian feature films and TV-series worldwide, representing one of the most extensive catalogues in Europe, with films from both upcoming talent such as Mathias Broe (Sauna) Lija Ingolfsdottir (Loveable) as well as highly acclaimed directors such as Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round), Anders Thomas.

Jensen (The Last Viking), Nicolaj Arcel (The Promised Land), Petra Volpe (Late Shift).

Alongside I have been speaker as an ‘Expert’ at Indside Pictures as well as at ACE and active within Europa International, an association for European Sales Agents and former part of the Advisery Board the MIA (Industry Market during Rome Film Festival).

Yohann Comte (b. 1980) is the cofounder of Charades, a Paris-based sales and co-production company launched in 2017 after his tenure as Deputy Head of International Sales at Gaumont. At Charades, he co-produced Revenge by Coralie Fargeat, Mirai by Mamoru Hosoda, and I Lost My Body by Jérémy Clapin — all acclaimed internationally, with Mirai and I Lost My Body earning Academy Award® nominations. He also executive-produced Swallow by Carlo Mirabella-Davis, The World to Come by Mona Fastvold, and co-produced Hosoda’s Belle (Cannes 2021). His later credits include Tchaikovsky’s Wife by Kirill Serebrennikov (Cannes 2022), Sanctuary starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott, Flow by Gints Zilbalodis (Oscar® winner 2025), Memoir of a Snail by Adam Elliot (Annecy 2024 Cristal Award), Sorry, Baby by Eva Victor (Sundance 2024), and Vermiglio by Maura Delpero (Italy’s Oscar® entry 2025).

I have led the development of clusters, training programs, and international events, always with the same purpose: to strengthen the AV industry as an engine of innovation and growth. I’m passionate about supporting teams and partners on the journey where strategy turns into tangible achievements.

I believe collaboration is the strongest lever for growth. That’s why I connect talent, institutions, and businesses, bringing global vision, a trusted network, and hands-on execution.

Key competencies: Strategy & partnerships · Cluster development · Film/animation tax incentives · Training & talent development · Public-private financing · Animation/VFX/post-production · Executive communication.

Co-founder and Executive Producer at ADHOKERS and ADHOKERS NAVARRA. Content creator. Emmy Awards jury in non-American short formats at the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Women Owned Enterprise.

Damián Perea Lezcano is a distinguished figure in the animation industry with over 26 years of experience. He is the founder and director of the International Animayo Festival, the only Spanish animation festival qualifying for the Oscar®️ for Best Animated Short Film. Perea’s career includes significant achievements, such as a Goya®️ nomination for his first short film Podría ser Peor (1999), the first animated film made in the Canary Islands. He also directed the animation for the Los García (2001) campaign for the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Finance, marking the introduction of the euro. As an associate producer and executive producer, he worked on Slide by Bill Plympton and Amanece la noche más larga, which were nominated for the Goya®️. He also won a Goya®️ for Best Animated Short Film for producing Cafuné. In addition to his production work, Perea is a member of the European Film Academy and ASIFA Hollywood. He has directed short films, music videos, and exhibitions, and has taught over 200 masterclasses worldwide. Through his Animayo Educational System, he continues to foster the next generation of animation talent.

Steven Wolfson has taught screenwriting, playwriting and creative writing at The Writers Program at UCLA for the past 30 years and holds the distinction of having created the most new classes, workshops and seminars of any instructor in the program’s history. He has been awarded The Outstanding Instructor of the Year award twice, in both screenwriting and creative writing. Wolfson has also taught at the American Film Market and Japan Writers Conference for the past several years.

As a highly sought-after story consultant and dramaturg, Wolfson’s clients span the worlds of film, television, theater and prose. He has worked one-on-one with several A-list Hollywood writers and directors, shepherding new projects from inception to production. Wolfson’s series of unique writing exercises have been secretly passed throughout Hollywood for years. He has led a series of successful private workshops for writers in both Los Angeles and Tokyo.

As a screenwriter, Wolfson has sold projects to Fox, Lions Gate, TNT, MTV, Langley Entertainment, Beacon Films and producer Arnold Rifkin. Wolfson wrote the independent romantic comedy, Dinner and Driving, which premiered at The Austin Film Festival and went on to win audience awards at several film festivals and was sold to HBO. Wolfson also wrote and co-produced the critically acclaimed Lionsgate feature, Gang Tapes, a coming-of-age drama set in South Central, Los Angeles. Gang Tapes played to sold out audiences at film festivals in both The United States and Europe.

Wolfson is a founding member of the Mark Taper Forum’s Mentor Playwrights Project . His original plays have been produced and workshopped at The Mark Taper Forum, Taper Too, The Getty Museum, Cornerstone Theater Company, The Virginia Avenue Project and The Geffen Contemporary.

Jeremy Kay is Americas editor of the international trade publication Screendaily. From his Los Angeles hub he regularly travels to the major markets and festivals on the calendar to report on market news and interview talent and executives.

Besides focusing on the independent business, festivals and markets, Kay reports on production and financing, streamer and studio activity, the Canadian and Latin American film industries, and awards season.

He has moderated panels at TIFF, Cannes, AFM, Ventana Sur and other top tier events on the circuit.

As a freelancer Kay has written on film for The Guardian and The Telegraph, and has written more broadly on news and sport for Time Out, The Independent On Sunday, The Express, and The Sunday Irish Tribune.

Laura is the CEO and Founder of Rebelle Media. Laura has over twenty years of experience in film and television development, production, strategy, sales and financing. She produced Mr. Malcolm’s List for Bleecker Street Media and Universal Pictures and is an Executive Producer on Hulu’s hit television series Tell Me Lies. Previous credits include Long Weekend, An Acceptable Loss, All About Nina, and Little Woods. In theater, she co-produced Once Upon a Mattress and Redwood. Upcoming is The Sweet Spot at Amazon amongst many others across film and television. Prior to founding Rebelle, Lewis was a film finance agent at CAA, where she worked on films such as The Imitation Game, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Begin Again, Mud, Dallas Buyers Club, Bachelorette and more, and a creative executive at Twentieth Century Fox and for Academy-Award winning director Edward Saxon. She is a proud member of the Producer Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, the Television Academy, and a founding member of Producers United. She was named by Variety as one of Hollywood’s New Leaders and as a Woman of Impact. She mentors and volunteers for Sundance and Women in Film.

A Higher Standard was founded by Jeffrey Greenstein, who rose through the ranks at Millennium Media becoming President of the indie studio and President of International Sales & Distribution prior, in April 2015, during his near 15 year tenure.

Overseeing sales and distribution of all the company’s productions he’s handled over 70 films that have grossed upwards of $2 Billion in worldwide box office, including the Expendables franchise, the ‘Has Fallen’ franchise, the Mechanic franchise and the recent #1 box office hit, The Hitman’s Bodyguard.

Greenstein is a graduate of the University of Central Florida – College of Business Administration, where he majored marketing with a concentration in sales.

Prior to entering the film business, he worked as an Assistant Trainer for the Anthony Robbins Foundation, owned and published a professional development magazine for young professionals, and owned and operated a commercial carpet cleaning company he started at the age of 19.

Mark Fasano is a Partner and the CEO of Nickel City Pictures. Mark has developed and produced over a two dozen films and recently was a Producer on Land of Bad, starring Liam Hemsworth & Russell Crowe; Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson; Boys of Summer, starring Mel Gibson; and Scott Beck and Bryan Wood’s Haunt. Mark previously was president of production and PalmStar Media, where he developed and produced Netflix’s True Memoirs of an International Assassin, starring Kevin James; Collateral Beauty, starring Will Smith; American Ultra, starring Jesse Eisenberg & Kristen Steward and John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves. Prior to 2012, Mark worked with acclaimed writer/producers such as David E. Kelly, Gary Scott Thompson, and Doug Liman at both Universal and Warner Bros. Mark subsequently worked directly with John Herzfeld at New Redemption Pictures where he helped develop and produce two feature films as well as two television series which were sold to the Starz network and HBO in just over a year. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Television from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Allison Hironaka is an entertainment executive with over a decade of experience across film and television. She currently manages the Film & TV arm of Caviar LA, an Academy Award-winning production company known for successful projects like Sound of Metal, War Pony, and Bad Sisters. Committed to supporting the vision of artists and nurturing talent creating projects from 60 seconds to six hours, Caviar began in 2005 as a commercials outfit and has evolved into producing boundary-pushing scripted and unscripted film & TV projects, as well as world-class commercials.

Allison is currently producing several upcoming projects for Caviar, including Love Language from writer-director Joey Power, and Zach Woods’ The Accompanist, starring Susan Sarandon, Everly Carganilla, and Aubrey Plaza. She is also an executive producer for Jody Hill’s thriller Famous.

Allison began her entertainment career in the mailroom at Paradigm Talent Agency, where she became an agent trainee in the Motion Picture Talent group. She joined Creative Artists Agency in 2014 and spent nine years in the Media Finance group focused on film financing and sales, client company creation, and operations. During her tenure, Allison worked on precedent-setting deals for films with budgets ranging from <500k to over $100M.

Thomas Livezey is a Thai–American producer and actor based in Los Angeles, known for his cross-cultural approach to storytelling and film development. He has collaborated with acclaimed Thai filmmaker Prachya Pinkaew (Ong Bak, Tom Yum Goong) and serves as a producing partner with Robert Dudelson, Executive Producer and co-founder of Dysfunctional Film and Taurus Entertainment. Thomas currently works with Buddy Production, representing the studio in the U.S. film market and international co-production ventures. Through this partnership, he bridges creative teams between Hollywood and Southeast Asia, helping expand Thailand’s visibility as a world-class filming destination. His background combines on-screen performance, creative production, and strategic development, with a focus on action, adventure, and culturally inspired projects that resonate globally.

Mr. Tor Saralamba, assumed his duty of Consul-General of Thailand in Los Angeles since November 2021. He has his Master of Arts in International Political Economy as well as a Bachelor of Laws. His career as a diplomat began in 1996 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (MFA Thailand), and his work experience spans over 29 years. He has held various important positions in several departments at the MFA and has been posted in Vietnam, Australia, Hungary, and now in Los Angeles.

Jay Roewe Senior Vice President, Production Global Incentives & Production Planning HBO/HBOMAX/Warner Brothers Discovery Culver City, CA As Senior Vice President of Production, Global Incentives and Production Planning, Jay Roewe manages and oversees Film & TV incentives both domestically and internationally for all productions produced by HBO and HBOMAX. Jay works with production executives and filmmakers to decide where to film projects and helps facilitate the production process around the world. Roewe joined HBO in 1994, originally serving as Vice President of Production for HBO Pictures. In 2000, he began overseeing the miniseries division until 2010 when he was promoted to Head of Physical Production for all television scripted original productions. Roewe’s involvement with programs ranges from Real Time with Bill Maher and Game of Thrones to Succession and The Last of Us. Jay is a 40-plus year veteran of film and television production with experience in news, documentaries, music videos, television series and feature films. In 2019, Jay was given a Doctor of Letters Honorary Degree from Ulster University for his services to the Screen Industry in Northern Ireland for his work on Game of Thrones.

Matt Magielnicki is Senior Vice President of Production at FX, overseeing high-profile projects that span diverse genres and global locations. With extensive experience managing complex productions from development through delivery, Matt has collaborated on projects with acclaimed filmmakers including Hiro Murai, Taika Waititi, Alex Garland, and Michael Mann. Known for strategic vision and hands-on leadership, Matt has guided productions across international destinations, ensuring seamless integration of creative and logistical elements. Matt’s work reflects a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and storytelling excellence in today’s dynamic entertainment landscape.

Kevin Bernhardt is an American screenwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career in television with contract roles on General Hospital (1985–1986) and Dynasty (1989). After several appearances in film, he transitioned in the mid-1990s to focus primarily on screenwriting.

Dr. Granados is the Academic Director of the Pepperdine Executive Doctorate in Business Administration, Executive Director of the Institute for Entertainment, Media, and Sports, and professor of information systems and technology management. He actively combines academia with practice as a member of the Board of Advisors for technology start-ups, and he is a frequent contributor to the Media and Entertainment section on Forbes. His broad research interests are related to the strategic and economic consequences of digital innovation in the tech, travel, media, and entertainment industry sectors. Prior to joining academia, Dr. Granados performed multiple marketing management positions in the airline industry across four continents, and he was also a product manager for enterprise systems at IBM.

His research on the economic and informational impacts of digital technologies has received multiple awards and recognitions, including the finalist 2012-2014 best paper in Management Science, e-Business Best Paper at the INFORMS Annual Meeting, Best Publication of the Year in the Information Systems discipline, and Best Paper of the Year in the Journal of the Association for Information Systems.

Darren Frankel brings 35+ years of experience in visual effects and post-production in television Northwestern and media, to both domestic and international clients. Prior to joining Adobe as Head of Film & Television, Darren was Head of Post Production and Visual Effects for Marvel Television working in both studio oversight and creative capacities. Prior to joining Marvel, he was President of Stargate Studios and was responsible for the day-to-day management of the company overseeing all operations at the ten facilities in seven countries including business development, corporate strategy, technology and financial activities. He was a freelance producer and post producer before joining Stargate. Darren consults for various visual effects companies including Untold Studios, and helped to build the episodic division of Framestore, along with two stints on the Executive Committee at the Television Academy in visual effects. Darren attended Northwestern University and UCLA and majored in Theatre Arts. When Darren isn’t working, he’s either working out, running or spending time with his wife and their two rescue dogs.

Scott Martin is a consultant and advisor on intellectual property, artificial intelligence, and related challenges with Aspen IP Consulting. He served as Deputy General Counsel and EVP Intellectual Property & Market Access at Paramount Pictures from 1992-2025, where he was responsible for intellectual property policy, rights acquisitions, copyrights and trademarks, production clearances, content protection strategy, film preservation, market access challenges, artificial intelligence aspects of labor relations, and WIPO negotiations. Prior to joining Paramount Scott was in private practice in New York, specializing in stage, music, and direct-to-video transactions and litigation.

He served with the U.S. State Department as a copyright law consultant in Estonia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Lithuania.

Scott taught as an Associate in Law at Columbia Law School, an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and a guest lecturer at the University of Southern California Thorton School of Music.

Ted is a recognized Futurist that has presented worldwide at numerous conferences and events for the Movie, TV and interactive Entertainment industries.

He’s been featured in Wired, Variety, NY Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, The
Hollywood Reporter, NBC, CNET, Film and Video, DV Magazine, TV Technology, HD Video Pro, Engadget, Gizmodo, Millimeter, American Cinematographer, MacWorld, Post Magazine, Popular Science, and countless other publications.

Most recently, Ted worked as the Futurist in Residence with the leadership and technology teams across Paramount Global, including CBS, CBS Sports, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Plus, MTV, Nickelodeon, BET, PlutoTV and Comedy Central, exploring emerging tech for entertainment with an emphasis on Virtual and Mixed Reality, Web 3.0 and Advanced Themed Entertainment pursuits.

Prior to joining Paramount, Ted was the Futurist at 20th Century Fox, where he worked on the evolving art and science of advanced interactive visual storytelling. He was part of the creation team for the Martian VR and Wild VR experiences, which premiered at CES and Sundance. Ted helped lead creation teams for the Alien, Planet of the Apes and Predator VR experiences at
Fox, and at his most recent home at Paramount , he’s been instrumental in bringing the Grease MR experience, the SpongeBob MR experience, the Light as a Feather MR experience and the Quiet Place VR experience to life.

Ted was an integral part of the product development team at Red Digital Cinema as the company’s first employee. The Red One and Epic cameras have made significant impact on the Motion Picture Industry, winning a Sci-Tech Academy and technical Emmy award. Many of the world’s biggest movies are shot with these ultra high resolution digital movie cameras.

Ted is one of the founders of the G-Tech product line of advanced hard drive storage products. As the most recognized brand in that industry, they are implemented worldwide at the highest levels on cinema and television productions.

Before being part of the founding teams at Red Digital Cinema and G-Tech, Ted was on the team that developed and launched the Macintosh desktop video division of AJA Video in tandem with Apple. These products are used on a massive scale worldwide for video production on many of the world’s biggest movies, TV series and sporting events.

In 2019, Ted was honored at the Variety Hall of Fame with the Variety Innovation Award.

Patrick Sweeney is the founder of the Interactive Entertainment Law Group in Southern California. He is one of the leading attorneys in the video game industry, having served both as in-house and external counsel to a variety of companies in his career. The Interactive Entertainment Law Group is a boutique law firm with its primary office in Los Angeles. The firm also has an office in Colombia, servicing Latin American clients. Overall, the firm has represented over 400 clients from more than 30 different countries in the last 10 years. In his 25 years in the games industry, Sweeney has negotiated an array of game development agreements, resulting in the commercial release of more than 1,000 games across all distribution platforms and territories. In addition, he has represented clients with respect to the game rights for more than 50 major motion pictures and television properties, as well as negotiated numerous technology licenses, acquisitions, and other agreements inherent to the games industry for many of the most famous game titles and franchises. Prior to establishing the Interactive Entertainment Law Group in late 2013, Sweeney headed the Video Game practice for Reed Smith LLP and helped to grow the practice into the largest game-specific legal team in North America. Sweeney is a frequent speaker on legal issues pertaining to the games industry on behalf of organizations such as Law Seminars International, International Game Developers Association, American Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar. He is also a founding member and former president of the Video Game Bar Association, an invitation-only organization made up of the top legal practitioners in the games industry. Sweeney was previously an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, where he taught a course entitled Video Game Agreements. He has also lectured law students at UCLA, Vanderbilt University, Loyola Law School, USC, and George Washington University. Sweeney earned a BA from Vanderbilt University, and a JD from Whittier Law School.

Blake Rochkind leads Lyrical Games, a new publishing label championing bold and ambitious independent games. Lyrical Games recently announced their first title, Valor Mortis, to much interest at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live. Before launching Lyrical, Blake was Head of Business Development at Private Division (a label of Take-Two Interactive), working with some of the industry’s most acclaimed independent studios. Prior to that, Blake began his career as an agent at United Talent Agency (UTA), where he represented marquee creators and companies across the independent games landscape.

Amanda Kruse is the VP of Business Development at Blumhouse Games, where she helps shape the studio’s slate of original horror games by forging partnerships across the interactive entertainment space. She was previously Head of Business Development at Devolver Digital’s Big Fan Games, and has held leadership roles at Hivemind (The Witcher, The Expanse) and Lionsgate Games, where she co-founded the division and served as Creative Director on titles like Blair Witch, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, and integrations with Fortnite and Dead by Daylight.

A former entertainment journalist who interviewed over a thousand of the world’s leading creatives and gamechangers, Elliot has directed and produced impact films for the likes of AARP, Accenture, Aflac, Amgen, Campbell’s, CDC Foundation, Fair Labor Association, FIRST Robotics, Hyundai & the UNDP, JFF, LEGO, New Balance, Participant Media, Quest Diagnostics, Whirlpool & Habitat for Humanity.

A producer of multiple Oscar-qualifying documentaries (Queen Mimi, Black Boys, Little Miss Sumo), Elliot has one Emmy (from seven nominations), five Cannes Lions, five SxSW Innovation Awards, two Clio Awards, six Anthem Awards, plus AICP and One Show awards, Webbys, Shortys, SIMA’s Creative Impact Award, over 100 Telly Awards and has projects archived at MoMA and exhibited at the Barbican.

He is a member of the PGA, IDA, the Television Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. He is originally Australian, but not a Hemsworth.

Jarod Neece, a Senior Programmer at the Tribeca Festival, has extensive experience in film programming and curation. Formerly the Chief Creative Officer at CURIA and a 20-year partner, Senior Programmer, and Producer at SXSW, Neece played a key role in shaping the strategic direction and programming. He has served as a juror or panelist at several prestigious events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

He is also an accomplished author and television host. Neece co-authored the bestselling books Austin Breakfast Tacos and The Tacos of Texas, published by UT Press, and co-hosted and produced the PBS documentary series The Tacos of Texas and United Tacos of America on Univision’s El Rey Network.

Lourdes Diaz is the Chief Content Officer for AGC Studios, overseeing the company’s creative team and robust feature film and television slates from development through launch including recent hits such as Justin Kurzel’s The Order, Ron Howard’s Eden, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man and Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour, as well as Roland Emmerich’s first television epic Those About to Die. She was also recently elevated to partner with a seat on the AGC board. In addition to AGC Studios, Lourdes is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America, the Television Academy, and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She has also been awarded on the Imagen Foundation’s Influential Latinos in Media list for the past two years.

Diaz was most recently President of AGC Television, responsible for the company’s scripted, non-scripted, non-fiction and digital television content. Diaz has been with AGC Studios since its earliest days and has a had a huge impact on the company’s choices in material, in people, and on the dynamic, multicultural working environment. As President, she oversaw such projects as War of the Worlds, starring Gabriel Byrne and Daisy Edgar-Jones and the Australian crime series Troppo, starring Thomas Jane.

Prior to AGC, Diaz served as President of Entertainment for Univision Communications, Inc. (UCI), diversifying its entertainment content, and working closely with Televisa, Netflix, Globo, Endemol, and other partners. Prior to UCI, Diaz was Head of Global Production and Development at Viacom International’s Comedy Central where she oversaw their development across all Comedy Central International channels and was the Executive Producer of numerous international scripted and unscripted series and shows such as Threesome and Drunk History UK. Before Comedy Central, Diaz was Vice President, Primetime Programming at NBC and Universal Media Studios. She also served as an executive on multiple NBC comedies and dramas, including House, Parenthood, and The Office. Prior to NBC, Diaz founded Agua Entertainment Group (AEG) specializing in film, television, and new media, and was Head of Creative Affairs for Green Moon Productions, a company formed and operated by Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith. A graduate of Emerson College, Diaz began her career as an agent at ICM, representing over 50 writers and directors.

Kyle Bowser serves as the Senior Vice President of the Hollywood Bureau. In this capacity, Mr. Bowser is responsible for advancing NAACP’s Hollywood projects, relationships, and overseeing NAACP’s Image Awards production.

For nearly three decades, Kyle Bowser has worked as an entertainment industry executive. His experience spans film, television, music, theater, radio, and digital media. This immersion within a vast sphere of media interests has provided Bowser with unique insight into the intersecting parameters of the arts, culture, business development, and emerging technologies.

Bowser’s career began in theater management and concert promotion. His involvement in television began with NBC Business Affairs in New York City. He later moved to Los Angeles to join Fox, Inc., where he developed television programming of multiple genres and creatively managed primetime fare aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company. Bowser next served as Director of Creative Affairs for HBO Independent Productions, where he developed new programs and creatively supervised content licensed to primetime broadcast carriers. Throughout Bowser’s storied career, his producing talents have been engaged by countless media companies, including NBC, Fox, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Comedy Central, Lifetime, Cooking Channel, PBS, iNDemand, Facebook, Warner Bros., Harper Collins, AEG, the NFL, and more.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Kyle Bowser received his Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in Radio/Television Communications and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations and supports the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association and the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) – for whom he founded the annual Vision Awards and received its coveted Legacy Award.

RANDY GREENBERG is an entertainment entrepreneur, executive producer and C-suite entertainment and media industry executive but began his career in entertainment marketing.

Over the past 30 years, Greenberg has been involved in the green-lighting, marketing and distribution of 200+ films, and his strategies have produced over $6 billion in theatrical box office.

Greenberg has been at the forefront of entertainment marketing and technological changes including the explosion of international box office, the increase in worldwide publicity tours, the instantaneous worldwide distribution of entertainment marketing materials including video, the normalization of worldwide day and date releasing, the online advertising revolution and the rise of influencer marketing all hoping to reach a larger percentage of the target audience however increasingly more costly and inefficient.

Greenberg’s strategy, association and execution with entertainment marketing and publicity campaigns started with Field of Dreams and has continued for four decades through Meg 2: The Trench.

Greenberg has Executive Produced Meg 2: The Trench, The Meg (which is the #1 U.S/China Co-Production ever), Cowboys and Aliens, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, and Co-Executive Produced on the Netflix animated TV series A Tale Dark & Grimm.

In addition, to being an entertainment marketing executive, Greenberg has been the CEO of an entertainment roll-up venture, the COO and CMO at a NYSE publicly traded CTV for business/Digital Out of Home streaming platform, founded a start-up mar-tech app venture, co-founded a talent agency, was the EVP Marketing & Business Affairs for comic book entertainment company, was the Head of International Theatrical Marketing and Distribution at Universal Pictures and was the VP International Theatrical Marketing at MGM/UA Pictures.

Greenberg started his career at DDA after being an accounting intern at Warner Bros Pictures and an assistant manager for the Edwards Theatre chain (now part of Regal Cinemas).

Greenberg is currently developing and producing several film, TV and IMAX projects and has been an instructor at UCLA Extension for over two decades and is the Instructor for UCLA Extension’s The Business of Entertainment.

Brian Walker is CEO of Picture Motion, the leading impact agency for film and television, where he has overseen 150+ campaigns for award-winning projects including American Fiction (MGM), Origin (Ava DuVernay), and many other titles for clients including HBO, Disney+, National Geographic. Under his leadership, the company was acquired by Publicis Media US by their Content and Innovation Group. Previously, Brian led impact campaigns at Participant Media, launched the Hollywood Culture Project at Color of Change, and led enterprise stakeholder engagement efforts and advised senior leadership at The Walt Disney Company on DEI, and multicultural audience engagement. He currently serves on the boards of Color Congress and the Social Impact in Entertainment Society and holds both a B.B.A. and J.D. from Howard University.

Adriana Trautman is an accomplished film marketing executive with over two decades of experience designing and executing global campaigns across a wide range of genres and production scales. From tentpole theatrical releases to international streaming hits, she specializes in helping stories break through cultural barriers and reach passionate audiences around the world.

Adriana has led international marketing efforts for 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, overseeing campaigns for major films including Avatar, Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, Top Gun: Maverick, A Quiet Place 2, and global franchises such as Ice Age and How to Train Your Dragon. As Head of the OHC (Outside Home Country) program at Amazon Prime Video, she helped drive the platform’s success with international originals, including Culpa Tuya (Spain) and Maxton Hall (Germany), both record-breakers in their categories.

Now as the founder of AT Consulting Group, Adriana works directly with independent producers and production companies to shape marketing strategy from development through release—whether for theatrical or streaming distribution. Her work spans genre films, prestige dramas, and family entertainment, always with a focus on building authentic fan engagement and adapting to the evolving rules of global film marketing.

She is a member of the PR & Marketing branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a graduate of Georgetown University and ESEM Madrid.

Marina Kosten is a senior research and strategy executive with an extensive background in media, entertainment, and consumer packaged goods. She currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at USC Annenberg, where she advises on key trends in entertainment, data, technology, marketing and communication strategies. She is also an Adjunct Professor at USC Annenberg’s Graduate School for Communication and Journalism.

Previously, as Vice President of consumer research for 20th Century Fox International, she led consumer research for the studio’s annual theatrical portfolio in top 15 global markets. She worked on films and franchises such as Deadpool, X-Men, Planet of the Apes, Avatar, Die Hard, Bohemian Rhapsody, Titanic, Kingsman, The Greatest Showman, and Ice Age.

Before Fox, Kosten worked at Activision-Blizzard where she provided global consumer insights for Guitar Hero and Call of Duty video game franchises, as well as the company’s portfolio of licensed products.

Her background in psychology and early career as a consumer researcher at several Major Global Research Organizations drives Marina’s passion to understand human behavior and apply it to successful business outcomes. Marina’s career has been focused on ensuring that the voice of the consumer is represented in operating today’s businesses and innovating for those of tomorrow.

Amy is a tricultural (U.S.–China–Korea) media executive and producer whose career spans creative development, IP investment, and digital fandom innovation. She currently serves as a strategy executive and producer for RedRover, a Korea-based global content studio specializing in kids and family animation, and as CEO of PixelArc, a Los Angeles based entertainment company focused on global IP development, cross-border co-productions, and premium content strategy across the U.S., Korea, and Greater China. Amy also sits on the board of Global Interactive Technologies (NASDAQ: GITS), the company behind FANING, a global K-culture fandom platform that connects millions of fans through immersive content and community experiences.

As a producer, Amy focuses on culturally dynamic, commercially scalable projects that bridge markets and audiences. She oversees development, financing, and packaging for premium IP and genre-forward content, collaborating with creators and investors across Hollywood, Seoul, and Beijing to build stories that travel. Her portfolio spans narrative film, digital-first content, and cross-platform media, with an emphasis on emerging Asian talent and global distribution.

Born in Hunan, China, Amy began her career in finance and tech at JPMorgan Chase and Apple before transitioning full-time into entertainment. Over the past five years in South Korea, she has cultivated deep expertise across the Asian and U.S. media landscapes.

Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Korean, Amy brings a global perspective to every project she leads. Her mission is to champion emotionally powerful, globally accessible storytelling while building lasting creative bridges between East and West. She studied at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television.

Clay Epstein has over twenty years of experience as an Entertainment Executive. Since launching his own company in 2016, he is the President and Owner of Film Mode Entertainment, a worldwide sales and distribution entity with a producer friendly initiative. In addition to bringing films to audiences around the globe, Clay executive produces many of the company’s titles. As an Executive Producer, Clay is instrumental in working with filmmakers in the early stages of pre-production to help build the financing, and creative elements to achieve these successes worldwide. To better help producers and directors who may be less experienced, Film Mode has an active consultancy division, offering producers expertise and guidance on financial models, marketing, and distribution strategies. Film Mode represents over 70 independent feature films worldwide, with a client base that spans the globe. Recent successes include BREACH starring Bruce Willis, AS THEY MADE US starring Dustin Hoffman, and Candice Bergan, CRYPTO starring Kurt Russel, LITTLE PINK HOUSE starring Catherine Keener, and MONSTROUS starring Christina Ricci. Prior to launching Film Mode, Clay was SVP Sales & Acquisitions at Arclight Films. He was instrumental in representing high profile films such as Paul Schrader ’s DOG EAT DOG starring Nicolas Cage, and the Spirig brother’s PREDESTINATION starring Ethan Hawke. Earlier in his career, Clay represented prestigious titles such as TSOTSI (2006, Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language,) and THE LAST STATION (2010, Academy Award Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress.) Clay earned a BA in Fine Arts, from California State University, Northridge majoring in Film Production and minoring in Italian Language. Clay holds the elected position of Chairman of Independent Film and Television Alliance, lectures at UCLA Extension and film festivals worldwide. He’s a member of PGA, FIND, BAFTA LA, and the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts.

George Hamilton is the Chief Commercial Officer at leading independent sales, finance, and production outfit Protagonist Pictures. He specialises in the financing and representation of worldwide sales of independently financed feature films. He works closely with filmmakers, producers, production companies, and financiers to greenlight their films. Since 2020, he has been involved in the sales and/or financing of over 30 features, including Brady Corbet’s THE BRUTALIST, Nora Fingscheidt’s THE OUTRUN, Temple Hill’s CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD and ENCORE, Plan B’s H IS FOR HAWK, Bharat Nalluri’s FLAVIA DE LUCE and Protagonist’s first in-house production, THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT.

Steven C. Miller is a versatile filmmaker best known for his high-octane approach to action and horror films. He first made a name for himself with the indie horror film Automaton Transfusion, which was shot on a modest budget in just nine days. The film was purchased by Dimension Films and became a cult hit. Over the past decade, Miller proved to be a prolific filmmaker and continued to grow in his work as a genre specialist. He has collaborated with Hollywood heavyweights like Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Nicolas Cage, Dave Bautista, Malcolm McDowell and John Cusack. Miller’s ability to draw intense performances from his actors also shone through in his work with Aaron Eckhart in the gripping thriller Line of Duty, which was praised for its relentless pace and visceral action sequences.

His latest film, Werewolves, starred Frank Grillo and was released theatrically last December. The film continues Miller’s signature blend of action and horror, cementing his reputation as a director who can seamlessly merge genre elements while keeping audiences engaged.

Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine, a global leader in entertainment research and strategy, serving all the major film studios, television networks, and streaming services. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of Hollywood, having personally tested over 5,000 film titles, where his work significantly impacts how movies are made, marketed, and released. 



In 2024, Kevin received American Cinematheque’s prestigious Power of Cinema Award for his contributions to the film industry. He is the author of two books: the bestselling Audience•ology: How Moviegoers Shape the Films We Love (Simon & Schuster, 2021), offering an inside look at the power of audience pre-release movie test screenings, and How to Score in Hollywood (Simon & Schuster, November 2025), exploring the secrets to success in the movie business. Kevin brings his expertise to life as the host of the popular podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger (Apple Top 100), and continues educating the filmmaking community through keynote speeches and global presentations. He has produced twelve TV movies, including the Emmy-winning Wild Iris, and the upcoming 2025 documentary Children in the Fire.

A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy, and the Producers Guild of America, Kevin also serves on the boards of six nonprofit organizations. He currently resides in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, a producer and former creative advertising executive, and their labradoodle, Kasha.

Cybill is a veteran indie producer with a track record in elevated genre films. Best known for THE SILENCING starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Annabelle Wallis and Hero Fiennes Tiffin and directed by Robin Pront, the film was a smash hit across all platforms, a Global Top Ten Netflix film across 53 countries and opening in the US with four million views.

She recently produced upcoming horror/thriller THIS IS NOT A TEST starring Olivia Holt, Froy Gutierrez and Luke Macfarlane, directed by Adam Macdonald, based on a book by NYTimes bestselling author Courtney Summers. IFC is releasing in theaters 2026.

Other films include WARNING starring Alice Eve, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rupert Everett, and Thomas Jane, PAY THE GHOST starring Nicolas Cage, AFTER THE DARK, OLD 37. She’s a member of the PGA (Producers Guild of America), the CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association.)

Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is an American filmmaker, writer, film curator, and pop culture documentarian.

Sav’s debut feature Chasing Chasing Amy explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. In 2018, Sav gave a TED Talk on the subject, appropriately titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” The film had its World Premiere at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, and played at prestigious festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles, and the Palm Springs International Festival. Sav was awarded the Cleveland International Film Festival’s DReam Maker Award for pioneering LGBTQ+ filmmakers for his work on the documentary.

Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024, Sav’s experiences as a queer Midwesterner with a wild imagination have spurred the writing of scripts that center on highly specific, surprising stories about LGTBQ+ people. His screenplays have been recognized by GLAAD, Outfest, ScreenCraft, among others. He has scripted projects in development with Elliot Page’s PAGEBOY Productions and Lilly Wachowski’s Anarchists United.

Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit organization that helps trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. In 2024, the organization awarded $100K in funding to trans storytellers and is on track to grant $195K to trans artists in need in 2025. Additionally, in 2025, Sav and the Transgender Film Center were awarded SXSW’s Community Service Award for Film & TV.

Kathy coordinates operations for TFC’s festival and non-theatrical distribution program, spearheading TFC’s 2020 transition to virtual festivals, and served as the editor of How Not to Sign a Film Contract: Know What You’re Saying Yes To.

Kathy was the founding Director of Operations for the diversity initiative the Jane Bolin Project and consulted on the joint USC/Shoah Foundation film-based project Teaching Genocide Through Media.

She earned her Master’s in Cinema Studies from New York University.

Frank Jaffe is the founder of Altered Innocence, an LGBTQ and Coming-of-Age focused film distributor shining a light on young artists and transgressive pieces of arthouse cinema from around the world. Films released have included Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker, Yann Gonzalez’s Knife+Heart, Gaspar Noé’s Irreversible, and Iván Zulueta’s Arrebato (Rapture). Previous workplaces include Strand Releasing and Outfest Los Angeles. Passions include tacos, boys, and a good book.

Formerly of Alamo Drafthouse and Giant Pictures, Ahbra Perry joined Narrative Distribution as Vice President to run Chroma. Chroma is a US-based film and TV distribution label launched in 2025 to champion bold, independent voices in science fiction and horror. Ahbra also works for Fantastic Fest, where she programs Burnt Ends and the Fantastic Pitches, a first-of-its-kind micro-budget funding competition.

Jordan Bastian is the Screen Festival Director for SXSW Sydney, where she leads programming and industry engagement across film, television, and immersive storytelling. With almost two decades in exhibition, distribution, and festivals, she has worked with Palace Cinemas, Moving Story Entertainment, and Arcadia. Jordan focuses on connecting filmmakers, distributors, and audiences, championing bold ideas and distinctive voices. At SXSW Sydney, she builds a platform that celebrates creativity and encourages collaboration across the global screen industry.

Jake Carter is an agent at UTA in the Independent Film Group where he specializes in global film finance, distribution and marketing strategies for independent and co-financed features, helping the world’s most acclaimed independent filmmakers see their work reach global audiences. Recent notable films on which Carter helped structure financing and distribution include Oz Perkins’ LONGLEGS, THE MONKEY and Oliver Hermanus’ HISTORY OF SOUND. Carter joined UTA from 30WEST, where he worked from the company’s inception and helped found the New York office. Prior to 30WEST, Carter worked at Black Bear Pictures, and began his career at Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes LawCo, Cinetic and at FilmBuff—the sales and distribution company that was acquired by Gunpowder & Sky.

Jacob is the SVP of Production & Development for Wes Ball and Joe Hartwick’s Sony backed production company Oddball Entertainment. He is also the co-founder of Motel Mojave which he started with his partner Élan Klein Jaffke in 2020 and is in postproduction on Mark Heyman’s psychological cult horror Pendulum, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Dynevor, Norman Reedus and Jacki Weaver. He is also the producer of A24’s first original franchise; X (2022), Pearl (2022) and MaXXXine, (2024) all directed by Ti West and starring Mia Goth. In total, he’s a producer on eight films for A24 including Kristopher Borgli’s Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage (2023), Trey.

Edward Shults’ Waves (2019), The Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems (2019), Halina Reijn’s Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) and Lila Neugebauer’s feature debut Causeway (2022) starring Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry.

JD Lifshitz and Raphael Margules are the cofounders of Boulderlight Pictures whose films include Barbarian, The Vigil, Becky, Anna Kendrick’s Netflix thriller Woman of the Hour and Andrew DeYoung’s A24 comedy Friendship. As of 2023, BoulderLight Pictures entered a first-look deal with New Line Cinema where they produced Drew Hancock’s sci-fi thriller Companion and Zach Cregger’s horror epic, Weapons. Beginning 2026, JD and Raphael will spearhead a new label for Paramount Pictures specializing in ‘premium pulp’ genre movies. They are represented by Range Media Partners.

JD Lifshitz and Raphael Margules are the cofounders of Boulderlight Pictures whose films include Barbarian, The Vigil, Becky, Anna Kendrick’s Netflix thriller Woman of the Hour and Andrew DeYoung’s A24 comedy Friendship. As of 2023, BoulderLight Pictures entered a first-look deal with New Line Cinema where they produced Drew Hancock’s sci-fi thriller Companion and Zach Cregger’s horror epic, Weapons. Beginning 2026, JD and Raphael will spearhead a new label for Paramount Pictures specializing in ‘premium pulp’ genre movies. They are represented by Range Media Partners.

Alayna Glasthal works as the Director of Creative Production at Atomic Monster, overseeing development and managing production for the film team.

Alayna holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC) where she also took part in Dr. Stacy L. Smith’s Media, Diversity, and Social Change Research. After graduating, she worked as an assistant at Paradigm Talent Agency before becoming the assistant to Atomic Monster president, Michael Clear, in 2018.

Alayna has worked on the majority of Atomic Monster’s slate since then, including the television series ARCHIVE 81, THE CONJURING Universe, and M3GAN Franchise. Most recently, she was co-producer on THE CONJURING: LAST RITES and the upcoming film OTHER MOMMY, starring Jessica Chastain.

Imani Davis is film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. At the American Cinematheque, a 501c3 nonprofit boasting over 1,600 film screenings a year, Imani has worked to put on events with A-list filmmakers and talent such as Sofia Coppola, Spike Lee, Sean Baker, Jordan Peele, Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), Damien Chazelle, Christopher Nolan, and many more. Imani is also the founder and lead programmer of the American Cinematheque’s newest short film festival called PROOF, which is the only festival completely dedicated to proof-of-concept short films.

Hanna Mason is the PROOF Film Festival Manager, powered by the American Cinematheque. PROOF is a short film festival dedicated to showing the best in proof-of concepts and empowering the next generation of cinematic storytellers. Previously, Hanna was the Operations Manager and Associate Programmer at the BendFilm Festival in Bend, Oregon, where she oversaw all daily operations of the festival and the Tin Pan Theater. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in History and Cinema Studies. Hanna is originally from Denver, Colorado and currently based in Los Angeles.

Will French is one of the most prominent tax credit finance specialists in the film industry. He was among the first brokers and financiers of film tax credits in the nation, beginning in 2003 with the first-of-its-kind Louisiana transferable tax credit program. Through his network of operating companies, Mr. French has personally traded or financed more than $750MM of state film credits for more than 350 projects. In 2018, he joined a small start-up called The Forest Road Company, which he helped grow into the largest non-bank financier of tax credits in the United States and which ultimately purchased the market-leading Three Point Capital. In 2021, Mr. French left Forest Road and joined Fallbrook Financial Services, the largest trader of state tax credits in the country, where he leads the company’s film finance, tax credit administration, and tax credit consulting practices.

Scott Greenberg is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Othelia Technologies, the AI-native narrative design and management platform that assists content creators in the curation and control of story-driven IP. As a strategic investor and advisor, he oversees Othelia’s corporate strategy and industry partnerships.

Prior to Othelia, Greenberg was Co-Founder and CEO of the Emmy-winning animation studio Bento Box Entertainment, which was acquired by FOX in 2019. There, he managed all business and operational facets of the company that produces “Bob’s Burgers” for FOX and Prime Video’s “Hazbin Hotel,” among others. He also co-founded and was CEO of FOX’s next-gen unit Blockchain Creative Labs.

Before launching Bento Box, Greenberg was President and COO of Film Roman and Executive Vice President of Production at Starz Media, overseeing the day-to-day operations of Film Roman, which produced “The Simpsons,” “The Simpsons Movie” and “King of the Hill”; and Marvel’s “The Avengers” and “X-Men Evolution.”

Bryn Mooser is a two-time Academy Award–nominated filmmaker, Emmy Award winner, and entrepreneur who has consistently been at the forefront of new storytelling frontiers. Over the past decade, he has helped define and pioneer the language of immersive media—pushing early boundaries in virtual reality and augmented reality—and today is leading the charge in generative AI for film and animation.

In 2024, Bryn co-founded Asteria, an AI-driven film and animation studio, alongside Moonvalley, his AI visual intelligence company. Together, they built the first commercially safe professional-grade AI video model designed for Hollywood studios and global creators. By pairing Asteria’s creative leadership with Moonvalley’s technical breakthroughs, Bryn is demonstrating how cutting-edge AI tools can expand—not replace—the role of artists, empowering storytellers to create new worlds with unprecedented freedom while protecting intellectual property. His career has always fused creative vision with technological innovation. As co-founder of RYOT, he established one of the earliest and most influential immersive media studios, producing award-winning VR and AR documentaries that redefined how audiences experience global events. His work has earned two Academy Award nominations (Body Team 12, Lifeboat), ten Emmy nominations, five Peabody wins, and a Cannes Lion, among other honors.

Later, as founder of XTR and DOCUMENTARY+, he built a world-class documentary studio responsible for some of the most acclaimed nonfiction films of recent years. Now, through Asteria and Moonvalley Bryn is channeling his deep experience across film, documentary, immersive media, and emerging technology into shaping the future of storytelling—ensuring that the next revolution in cinema is driven by artistry, and imagination.

Todd Terrazas is the co-founder and CEO of FBRC.ai, a next-generation innovation lab, studio, and ecosystem at the intersection of AI, storytelling, and entertainment. They conduct research, build community, and partner with creators, startups, and executives to develop new tools, IP, and production workflows.

He also founded AI LA, one of the largest AI communities in the U.S. with 30,000+ members and partnerships across Fortune 500 companies, universities, and civic institutions.

A USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate, Todd began as a filmmaker and entrepreneur before becoming an ecosystem builder driving AI literacy, workforce development, and responsible innovation.

Through initiatives like AI on the Lot, Cinema Synthetica, and the LivingLab, FBRC.ai unites creators, technologists, and startups to prototype tools, develop IP, and reimagine media production for the AI era.

Rachel Joy Victor is the co-founder of FBRC.AI, a company focused on creating AI-supported tools for the future of content production. Rachel’s work as a designer, strategist, and worldbuilder for emerging technologies (XR/AI/web3) focuses on creating cohesive narrative, brand, and product experiences. She designs for a range of applications: from multiplatform narratives and immersive experiences, to tools and platforms, to spaces and cities. She draws from her education in computational neuroscience and spatial economics to support clients including Disney, HBO, Technicolor, Vans, Ford, Nike, Havas, Meow Wolf, Niantic, and many more.

Peter Leeb is the Vice President of Commercial at Veritone (NASDAQ: VERI), where he accelerates enterprise AI strategy, adoption, and product growth. An accomplished operator, he has a track record of managing over $1.2B in revenue across public, private, and post-acquisition environments. He also co-founded an AI applications platform utilized by many Fortune 500 companies. His expertise lies in complex dealmaking, corporate strategy, and scaling emerging technologies for large-scale enterprise adoption.

Tobias is a Co-Founder and the CEO The Cinelyic Group, the entertainment industry’s leading provider of AI-powered solu6ons, suppor6ng crea6ve and business teams’ success across the en6re content lifecycle. Tobias has a background finance, AI driven tech ventures and the entertainment industry. Prior to Cinely6c, Tobias worked 10 years in finance as an investment banker advising companies on complex interna6onal M&A deals and later co-founded and managed a global investment fund in London, which was acquired in 2013. That year Tobias founded Arc6c Pictures Limited, an interna6onal film produc6on company that focuses on development, financing, and produc6on of filmed entertainment. He is also a co-founder of Cosmo Media Labs, the innovate studio producing TV shows, games and Web 3 based brand experiences.

John K. Corser is a senior production executive with over 30 years of experience leading global television, film, and commercial productions. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Production and Production Technology at Universal Content Productions, where he oversaw physical production and drove innovation through data-driven workflows and emerging technologies. John has a strong track record managing large international teams and complex projects, including Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated content. He is recognized for pioneering scalable production solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and creative collaboration. He holds an M.A. in Telecommunication Arts and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan and is a member of the Producers Guild of America, Hollywood Professional Association and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

With more than ten years at The Asylum, Courtney Kensington has been central to this vibrant independent studio’s global growth. Founded in 1997, The Asylum is celebrated for producing high-concept, market-driven films and series.

In her role as Vice President of Sales & Finance, Courtney spearheads worldwide sales—connecting The Asylum’s diverse catalogue with audiences around the world, forging strategic partnerships and advancing the studio’s global footprint.

Known for her adaptability, creative resilience, and strategic acumen, Courtney has helped maintain the studio’s trademark speed, efficiency and engagement—delivering entertainment that resonates across markets.

Jeff Chao is a seasoned media professional and Executive Producer who has dedicated his career to bridging cultures and social impact entertainment, including during his tenure as Senior Director, Finance at Participant Media. While there, he managed film investments for a $250 million film fund between Participant Media and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, producing hits such as Lincoln, The Help, Hundred Foot Journey, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I & II, Contagion and Snitch.

Previously as Vice President of Finance and Business Development for the world-renowned visual effects studio, Digital Domain, Jeff connects content strategy, business affairs and finance to identify new and innovative business opportunities that accelerate the growth of Digital Domain’s global studio. Emerging technologies such as virtual production, extended reality, virtual humans and the evolving cooperation between China and Hollywood fall within Jeff’s scope of work at DD.
Jeff currently advises Toei Animation on film finance and franchise strategy, Toei Animation is the top Japanese Animation company that produced Anime franchises such as One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Digimon, Slam Dunk and Saint Seiya Knights of the Zodiac.

In addition, Jeff serves as the Head of Finance of the Social Impact Entertainment Society (SIES), where he can bring together all of his skill sets in order to accelerate the growth of the Society and its global community of members. He was also Treasurer and a board member of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) which champions diversity by educating, connecting, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and leaders in entertainment and media and the Director of Finance & VP of Operations for the Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan community based organization that serves as a medium to bring increased awareness about and to Asian Americans through community service, fellowship, charitable fundraisers, cultural events, professional networking and educational seminars.

Brian Beckmann serves as CFO/COO at Arclight Films, the leading international sales and production company for theatrical, television, and home entertainment media. Beckman’s prolific career includes over 30 years of experience as a CFO/COO, including 18 years at Arclight. He has worked in a variety of industries from film/entertainment, media/advertising, to advanced technology.

He is well versed in all aspects of film finance, distribution, tax incentives, and production operations. Beckmann has financed and produced over 25 successful and critically acclaimed films, with financing exceeding $300M. The films he has financed include First Reformed, Hotel Mumbai, Portable Door, Poker Face and Oh’ Canada.

In 2018, Ms. Dilley was hired by Concord to build their content strategy. In 2021, she launched “Concord Originals,” Concord’s Film and TV division. Ms. Dilley and her team collaborate with all teams under Concord’s banner to identify, develop, and produce various screen projects related to Concord’s library of artists, compositions, plays, and musicals. Since the division’s launch, Ms. Dilley has overseen projects such as the Billie Holiday documentary “Billie,” the Emmy-Nominated 20/20 special on Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Little Richard: I am Everything on CNN, Creedence Clearwater Revival: Live at the Royal Albert Hall film on Netflix, Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing which premiered at Tribeca in 2023, and more.

Under Dilley’s stewardship, Concord Originals has a diverse list of active projects in production and development, including a docuseries at HBO on Stax Records, a TV series adaptation of the book “B as in Beauty” with Telemundo, a documentary on Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop, a documentary on Billy Preston, a feature film remake of The King and I at Paramount and a slate of TV musicals with Skydance TV and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions, starting with an series adaption of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Ms. Dilley also manages the distribution of Concord’s existing film library.

Prior to joining Concord, she worked at Route One Entertainment and Not Impossible Labs, producing various films, TV shows, commercials, and documentaries. Ms. Dilley holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Loyola Marymount University and a Master of Science degree in Project Management from Boston University.

Amos Newman is the founder of Word Is Bond, a film and television production company dedicated to protecting and amplifying the legacies of artists and cultural icons through storytelling. A former partner at William Morris Endeavor, he founded the agency’s Music for Visual Media division, working alongside artists such as Trent Reznor, Pharrell, Janelle Monáe, Jack White, and Bruno Mars. Newman later joined Endeavor Content (now Fifth Season), where he built a thriving music division behind acclaimed projects including Severance, McCartney 3,2,1, and Kiss the Future.

Zach Garrett is AGC Studios’ Executive Vice President of Production, where he sources material across all the company’s film divisions while overseeing the development, packaging, production and post-production AGC’s productions.

After beginning his career in independent production and short-form content, Zach held positions in the acquisitions departments of eOne, Broad Green, and EuropaCorp.

Felicity Wren is the VP of Development at the ISA and the VP of Development for Creative Screenwriter Prods. An award-winning actor, originally from London, she studied all areas of Performance for her Honors and then Masters degrees. She then formed a Production Company: Unrestricted View and they run a comedy and new writing theatre in London, now in its 25th year, and curate three BIFA accredited film festivals annually.

Since moving to Los Angeles over a decade ago, she has continued acting and producing, winning five performance awards, and producing eighteen film projects to date. She splits her time between Creative Screenwriter Productions and the management of the ISA Development Team, working directly with the Development Slate Writers, ISA Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch, and the ISA community. The Development Team has fostered enduring relationships with many of the industries finest. Through her and her teams’ efforts they have successfully paired several writer/director partnerships with productions underway, introduced writers to their managers and been instrumental in facilitating screenplay options.

Most recently, Felicity founded A Wren Bird Company—a collective of creatives dedicated to innovative storytelling—to work on the adaptation of the evocative book A Thousand Paper Birds, set in London’s iconic Kew Gardens. Through her diverse work across acting, producing, and development, Felicity champions fresh, authentic voices and pushes the boundaries of creative expression in film and theatre.

Shayna Weber is a screenwriter, producer, and director who writes about defiant characters who refuse to be put in a box. Shayna and her writing partner recently sold their first horror feature, Bruha, which is in post-production. She produced the award-winning horror-comedy short, Lunch Ladies which has been in more than 100 festivals around the world with forty-six wins, and she directed its follow-up short, VIF (Very Important Film).

Shayna has over twenty years of experience in production, having worked on unscripted shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, So You Think You Can Dance, and VH1’s Bands Reunited among others. Besides a lot of problem solving, her years on reality shows have given her a plethora of weird knowledge about weird things. She is currently a Creative Executive at The International Screenwriters’ Association and in her free time loves playing tennis, taking self-defense classes, and lightsaber battling with her son.

Diallo Riddle is an award–winning director, writer, actor, and television producer, best known for creating and starring in the TV shows South Side and Sherman’s Showcase. He also starred on NBC’s Marlon opposite Marlon Wayans and has appeared on shows including Silicon Valley, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Insecure. Recently, Diallo has been the co-creator and co-host of the One Song podcast, which is produced by Kevin Hart for Hartbeat Productions. The podcast blends his passions for music and comedy.

Lise Romanoff has been in the distribution business for nearly 30 years. Under Lise’s leadership, today, Vision Films is a worldwide Distribution company and a direct VOD Aggregator with a library of over 800 independent feature films and documentaries. The company has deep relationships across all of the premium Cable VOD services and Digital Streaming Platforms around the world and releases 2-4 New Release titles each month, for which it manages all windows.

Lise is a long-time IFTA member who has served on its Executive Committee. She is currently active on the Legal Committee and is especially helpful on the definitions of TVOD, SVOD, AVOD/FAST, Content ID, etc. in this fast-pasted changing landscape. 

Shaked Berenson is the CEO of Entertainment Squad, a distribution company and foreign sales agency. He also oversees Studio Dome, a streaming technology and content operations company, and serves on the Board of Advisors of INCANTOR AI—an AI platform built by creatives to combat copyright abuse and ensure transparent royalty tracking.

Over the past 15 years, Shaked has financed, produced, and distributed hundreds of films, including cult favorites like Slaxx, Turbo Kid and Big Ass Spider!. A former IFTA Board member and UCLA Anderson MBA, he brings deep expertise in global sales, digital rights management, and innovation across the entertainment supply chain.

Yolanda Macias was recently appointed Chief Motion Pictures Officer at Cineverse to lead, build and oversee sourcing and execution of the Company’s theatrical slate and its global strategies. Ms. Macias joined the Company in 2013 and served as the Chief Content Officer for Cineverse Entertainment Group between 2020 and 2025. As CCO, she was responsible for acquiring global content rights for all distribution and streaming platforms and oversaw marketing. During her leadership in this role Ms. Macias sourced and secured over 70,000 movies and series including TERRIFIER 2 and 3, Crown Media: Hallmark, NFL and Konami Cross (Yu-Gi-Oh).

She has over 25 years of entertainment distribution experience, including executive positions at Vivendi/Universal from 2004 to 2012, DIRECTV from 1996 to 2003, and The Walt Disney Company from 1992 to 1995. Ms. Macias built sustainable and profitable subscription platforms at DIRECTV and Vivendi/Universal’s digital distribution services. In 2022, 2023 and 2024 Media Play News selected Macias as one of the Captains of Industry driving and leading home entertainment.

Macias serves as vice chair for C5LA a non-profit organization supporting under resourced and high potential teens, and is a board director for Skechers USA, Inc. Macías received her MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and her B.S. degree in Finance from California State University, Northridge.

Jay Torres is an award-winning producer and director known for blending innovation, storytelling, and advocacy. With expertise in VFX, action, and commercial filmmaking, he has collaborated with top talent such as Dwayne Johnson, Eva Longoria, and Christopher Walken, and worked with major brands and studios including Walmart, Tubi, Vudu, and DirecTV. Jay’s career spans from editing MTV Award-nominated music videos for Aerosmith and Metallica to directing acclaimed episodes of Alias and Desperate Housewives, earning ALMA Award nominations.

As Founder and CEO of Collectivo, a Latino-owned entertainment studio, Jay is championing a new creative ecosystem that develops universally appealing stories powered by Latino talent. His studio aims to replicate the success of Tyler Perry Studios and MACRO Media—focusing on genre-driven films that resonate globally while reflecting authentic Latino perspectives.

A four-time Co-Chair of the DGA Latino Committee and U.S. Army veteran, Jay has a proven ability to identify and elevate emerging filmmakers who have yet to be given a platform. As moderator, he bridges mainstream and multicultural audiences, spotlighting the creative and financial opportunities that come from investing in Latino storytellers—a growing force in the future of global cinema.

Anthony Nardolillo, a Puerto Rican native from New York, left a finance career to become a Film & TV director. His films (Shine, 7th and Union, Righteous Thieves) were acquired by Disney, Amazon, and Lionsgate. He’s directed 5 TV episodes, including Chicago Med, and is currently directing the Albert Pujols baseball documentary and also is developing a historical war drama with Oscar-winner Lesley Paterson starring Anthony Ramos.

Patricia Riggen is recognized as one of America’s leading Latina directors, known for her ability to move seamlessly between film and television across genres. Her work spans from the action thriller G20, starring Viola Davis, to her Sundance breakthrough La Misma Luna, and the Sony Pictures box-office hit Miracles from Heaven, starring Jennifer Garner.

In addition to her feature films, Patricia has directed high-profile pilots and episodic television for major networks and streamers. She helmed multiple episodes of the Emmy Award–winning drama Dopesick, starring Michael Keaton, as well as episodes of the first season of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.

Patricia earned her MFA in film at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Her first short film won a Student Academy Award, a Student Emmy, and a Mexican Academy Award. Her second film, a documentary about photographer Gordon Parks, won the Jury Prize at Sundance. In 2011, she directed Lemonade Mouth for Disney Channel, which earned her a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award nomination.

She went on to direct The 33, the gripping drama about the Chilean miner rescue starring Antonio Banderas and Juliette Binoche, which required her to spend 30 days filming underground in real mines.

Originally from Mexico, Patricia is one of the few women of color to have directed top- grossing studio films in the past decade.

Rafael Agustín was a writer on the award-winning TV show Jane The Virgin, is the author of the bestselling memoir Illegally Yours, and is an Executive Producer of the upcoming rock documentary Los Lobos Native Sons. Besides his work in film and TV, Rafael was also the founding Executive Director of the Youth Cinema Project, and the founding CEO of the Latino Film Institute for Edward James Olmos. In 2018, the United Nations invited Rafael to speak at their 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; in 2022, the LA Times declared Rafael a “Power Player” in their inaugural Latino trailblazers list; and in 2024, Rafael received the Latino Spirit Award for Achievement in Cinema & Literature from the California Latino Legislative Caucus. Rafael received his BA and MA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television and is a proud member of the National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress.

Robert Muñoz is a business and strategy executive with deep expertise in film & TV financing, distribution strategy, content development, and corporate leadership. As President of Mucho Mas Media, he oversees finance, distribution, legal, operations, and human resources, working alongside CEO and founding partner Javier Chapa to expand the company’s Latino-led film and television slate. Since joining Mucho Mas Media in 2023, Muñoz has been instrumental in structuring financing deals and strategic partnerships to ensure sustainable, high-quality Latino representation both in front of and behind the camera. Prior to Mucho Mas Media, Muñoz served as CFO for Amblin Partners, working alongside Steven Spielberg and CEO Jeff Small to produce films for global audiences. He also held key leadership roles at 20th Century Fox (2016-2019), where he drove revenue strategy, led content development, and managed film slate analytics, and at Redbox (2015-2016), where he integrated content strategy with consumer analytics to maximize revenue. At HBO (2010-2014), he served as Vice President of Planning for HBO West Coast Finance, where he managed multi-billion-dollar investments for HBO & Cinemax Original Programming, overseeing slate management and deal analysis across series, films, and miniseries. Muñoz began his career in Strategic Planning & Business Development at William Morris Endeavor (WME), where he provided consulting services for corporate clients like Hasbro and HSN and helped close major Hollywood talent deals for Michael Bay, Tim Burton, Tyler Perry, and Robert Rodriguez. He holds a B.S. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Southern California. Through his strategic leadership and industry expertise, Muñoz is helping Mucho Mas Media redefine Latino representation in Hollywood, ensuring that Latino-led stories are both commercially viable and globally impactful.

Molly Kasch is the Chief Operating Officer at The ISA (International Screenwriters’ Association), where she plays a crucial role in overseeing operations, staff, partnerships, and events. She has been with the organization since 2013, serving as the Director of Operations before her current role.

A Babson College graduate in Marketing/Communications and Entrepreneurial Studies, Molly’s business background spans restaurants, beauty products, consumer games, and the entertainment industry. She is also an award-winning producer and actor whose body of work includes documentary films, shorts, and a TV pilot, and roles on House, General Hospital, and All My Children.

Molly is thrilled to be an integral part of the ISA, a company that is inspiring and encouraging emerging screenwriters and helping launch careers. It has been her honor to assemble table reads for many immensely talented writers over the years.

Drew Ann Rosenberg began her career in the arts working in off-Broadway theatre in New York City and as a classically trained singer. She was Assistant Director on 6 academy award-winning films, and has worked alongside such acclaimed directors as
Sidney Lumet, Arthur Penn, Woody Allen, Paul Newman, Jonathan Demme, Rob Reiner and Abel Ferrara. She’s also First ADed 7 movies for HBO and multiple TV series and limited series.
Drew’s directorial debut, SEX AND A GIRL aired on Showtime and Lifetime Networks. FOLLOW THE PROPHET was released theatrically. She directed second unit on THE RETURNED, STARKID and NOW AND THEN.
Drew wrote and directed the short film, DAYBREAK, which received an LA Emmy. Her short film, AMY’S GIFT, won 5 awards at festivals. DADDY’S EYES, her latest short, won Best in Fest and Best Narrative Short at The Lake Placid Film Festival and the Rome Film Festival.
Drew co-produced the feature NINE BULLETS, for Writer/Director Gigi Gaston, starring Lena Headey, Sam Worthington and Barbara Hershey. Recently, Drew stepped up to direct on the limited series, American Sports Story, Gladiator for FX networks. She’s currently in development on two independent features, KINGS ROAD and OUR CLASS, as well as a series derived from her short, DADDY’S EYES.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sari was a tax attorney who worked for Delta Air Lines before a passion for writing inspired her to shift careers. She is a published author of ten books, seven under the pen name Sari Robins and three under her own name. She also wrote and helped create a documentary short.

Now Sari is focused on her most personal story yet, making a film inspired by her father who lived with ALS for over twenty years. The screenplay, Do Over, is a comedy that reflects her dad’s indomitable spirit, his humor, and his love of family. Do Over is the Grand Prize Winner of the Table Read My Screenplay Competition Hollywood 2025 and won Best Comedy Screenplay at the Atlanta Women’s Film Festival 2025, among others.

Motivated by her father’s ALS, Sari helped create and co-chairs the accessibility and inclusivity committee at her Temple where she also served as Vice President of Community, led the leadership program and served on the board. Sari also served as President of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the largest Jewish film festival in the world, and is a founding board member. Sari served as Vice President of Film, and Vice President of Leadership at American Jewish Committee, Atlanta, where she continues to serve on the board and is part of the Black-Jewish Coalition and community engagement efforts. Sari served on the board of a mental health non-profit and on the advisory board for an interfaith disability organization.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl

Cast member for ISA Presents the Staged Reading of: DO OVER the Award-Winning Comedy Feature by Sari Earl.

Lee Jessup is a career coach for screenwriters, specializing in guiding emerging and professional scribes toward long-standing and prolific screenwriting careers in both TV and feature writing. Additionally, she has provided consulting services to NBC International, the Universal Writers Program, the Final Draft Big Break Contest and Inevitable Foundation, and is an adjunct professor with the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts. Her one-on-one coaching clients include everyone from showrunners and studio writers to contest winners, TV writing fellows as well as writers just starting out. She is the author of the best-selling books Breaking In: Tales From the Screenwriting Trenches and Getting It Write: An Insider’s Guide to a Screenwriting Career.

Cassian Elwes is an expert in producing, arranging financing and finding distribution for independent films. He began his producing career with 1984’s “Oxford Blues” starring Rob Lowe and Ally Sheedy and quickly went on to make another 29 films, including “Men At Work,” with Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen, and “The Chase,” again with Sheen.

In 1994, Elwes joined William Morris and headed William Morris Independent Film for 15 years. He arranged financing for indie hits such as “Slingblade” and “The Apostle,” both of which were nominated for multiple Academy Awards. “Monster’s Ball” was their historic follow up as Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. In the end he had arranged financing and distribution for 283 films during his tenure at William Morris.

Since leaving William Morris 10 years ago, Elwes has either produced or executive produced more than 70 films such as David Lowery’s “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”, which was nominated for a Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature, Derek Cianfrance’s “Blue Valentine” starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, for which Williams was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, and the hit period drama “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” which featured an all-star cast headed by Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey.

He also executive produced J.C. Chandor’s “All Is Lost” starring Robert Redford and executive produced and arranged financing for the Academy Award winning hit “Dallas Buyers Club” directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto and Jennifer Garner.

Most recently, Elwes produced both the multiple Academy Award nominated “Mudbound”, directed by Dee Rees, which Netflix distributed, and Dee Rees’ latest film, “The Last Thing He Wanted,” starring Anne Hathaway, Ben Affleck and Willem Dafoe, which Netflix will distribute. “Dreamland,” starring Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly, and “Best Sellers,” starring Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza, are in currently in post-production.

Loni Rodgers is an independent producer and international executive passionate about amplifying stories with commercial appeal and cultural impact.

She began her career at Viacom before joining Scott Rudin Productions, quickly growing the ranks and contributing to critically acclaimed films including Uncut Gems, Causeway, Past Lives, and Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Rodgers then joined Amazon Studios’ Local Originals team during its Canadian expansion, helping shape the studio’s international slate with projects such as The Lake, the 2023 reboot of Kids in the Hall, and Three Pines, starring Alfred Molina. This expansion led to working with local talent across Asia, South America, and Europe to establish a program connecting emerging creatives with seasoned showrunners.

Building on her studio experience, Rodgers next served as Director of Development at Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions where her contributions led to the company’s first look deal with 20th Television.

She’s now committed to producing evergreen stories that reflect the evolving landscape of storytelling.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Adetoro Makinde is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, and industry advocate whose career bridges independent and studio-led productions. A first-generation Nigerian-American, she brings a vital perspective shaped by her commitment to equity, access, and impact in storytelling. As Founder of Backdoor Films and its social impact arm, Hyphenate Africa, Adetoro has written, directed, and produced multiple Sundance-premiered projects and impact-driven films.

Her upcoming projects includes THE AMERICAN CAN, an epic social justice and climate narrative biopic, and SUSTAIN, a feature documentary following Grammy winner Montell Jordan’s journey through prostate cancer, faith, and purpose. Named a “Producer to Watch” by IMDbPro, her recent honors include the 2024 Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color and the 2022 Women’s Fund from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Fellowships include Film Independent | Project Involve, Facebook SEEN Filmmaker, the Blackhouse Foundation Multicultural Producers Lab, Made in NY, Kodak Emerging Filmmaker and grants from Ford Foundation, IFP | NYSCA, and HBO Corporate and Social Responsibility.

An artivist, thought leader and educator, Adetoro holds a B.A. from Georgetown University, studied Authentic Leadership and Mindful Education, and earned a Certificate of Leadership Excellence in Management Development from Harvard University. She is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Women Independent Producers, former Chair of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Film Fatales, and former Program Director of the USC School of Cinematic Arts | Netflix Grow Creative Program.

Monica Levinson is a highly accomplished film and television producer known for her collaborative work with top innovators in the entertainment industry. Levinson is currently in a producing deal with the esteemed banner Color Force, recently Executive Producing the Peabody Award winning Hulu/FX limited series “SAY NOTHING,” based on the gripping portrayal of the Northern Ireland Troubles featured in the best-selling book by Patrick Radden Keefe. Additionally, she was the Co-Executive Producer on two other FX limited series: “CLIPPED” and “AARON HERNANDEZ: AMERICAN SPORTS STORY.”

Deniese Davis is a four-time Emmy-nominated producer and Founder/CEO of Reform Media Group. She began her career producing music videos and digital content, including Issa Rae’s acclaimed web series The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. Her credits include Sony/TriStar’s One of Them Days starring Keke Palmer and SZA, the upcoming indie film Hard Feelings, HBO’s Insecure and A Black Lady Sketch Show, and MAX’s Rap Sh!t. Deniese also co-founded ColorCreative, a management company empowering diverse creators across media. An alum of CUNY Brooklyn College and the American Film Institute, she serves on the boards of Black Public Media and The Blackhouse Foundation, and is a founding member of AFI’s Alumni Council.

CAROL ANN SHINE has produced films, TV movies and television series working with partners such as Showtime, Lifetime, BET, CBS, SONY, NHK, LOGO, TV ONE. A graduate of USC’s School of Cinema & Television, “SHINE,” has premiered “HOUSE OF CARDIN” and “AL GARIB” at the Venice International Film Festival, “PUNKS” at Sundance and other projects at over 50 festivals worldwide and received numerous domestic and international awards. Additional credits include: “BLACKBIRD” starring Academy Award® winner Mo’Nique, the LOGO television series “NOAH’S ARC” and film “JUMPING THE BROOM” both directed by Patrik Ian Polk, which premiered to SRO crowds at The Castro during The San Franciso Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and later around the world.

Her current projects include “MR. AVAROS” a Latino re-telling of “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”,,””GOOD FORTUNE” a series inspired by Agatha Christie with EP Michelle Yeoh, “THE CHICAGO 50” a story of an impactful WWII military event, “MEMPHIS BLUES” a TV Series with Sony Studios featuring a African-American ‘SUCCESSION’ storyline and finally “UNTITLED HOLLI DRAINES STORY” a celebration of a woman serving in the Secret Service and protecting the Presidential family, and a Lifetime MOW. Shine also was a Producer on an award winning short film “SUPERMAN DOESN’T STEAL” this past year. After competing in over 50 festivals globally and gathering a number of awards the film won an Image Award, a Telly Award and was a semi-finalist in the Oscar completion.

SHINE is also the co-founder of The Blackhouse Foundation, a non-profit established to expand diversity at film festivals around the globe. At 2026 Sundance Film Festival, Blackhouse will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

SHINE is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, Film Independent and Producer’s Guild of America.

Dr. Breven Warren passionately believes in the power of the independent filmmakers, storytellers and artists. She is currently working on her second doctorate on independent film finance and success strategies. She has contributed to new technologies in the entertainment industry, including leading blockchain and fintech solutions. She actively operates a mentorship filmmaker program, currently in its 17th year and has a wealth of experience working at prestigious filmmaker organizations including Sundance Institute, Film Independent, AFI and Outfest. She has built film mentorship programs and urban farming initiatives, founded in art and ecology. Breven also serves on film programming teams and juries throughout the year. Breven is a proud PGA Producer and is also honored to be a member of SAG-AFTRA since 1989. Breven’s passion for serving and supporting independent filmmakers, storytellers and artists is grounded in her ongoing efforts to be a more transparent and transformative leader with each opportunity. Breven hopes to add value to independent filmmakers and contribute to their personal success strategies.

Rahul Lakhwani is a strategy and marketing leader who has built his career at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and data. As a Strategic Team Lead at Fever, he oversees investments and partnerships that expand Fever’s live event and theatrical businesses across North America, collaborating with major brands, creative partners, and IP owners to craft new experiential formats. Previously, Rahul helped shape marketing and growth strategies for some of the world’s most influential entertainment companies — including Activision Blizzard and Disney — where he led initiatives to expand product lines, elevate creative and digital capabilities, and deepen audience engagement. Earlier in his career at Deloitte, he advised global F500 executives on growth, customer, and pricing strategy. His work today continues that throughline: blending creativity, experimentation, and analytics to reimagine how audiences discover and experience entertainment.

Farah Khan is the Chief Operating Officer at Atom Tickets, a leading social movie-ticketing platform transforming the way audiences discover, plan, and experience movies. With extensive experience in operations and strategic partnerships, she oversees the company’s day-to-day business performance, drives platform scalability, and strengthens collaborations with major studios and exhibitors.

Emmy® winning producer and co-writer of Way of the Cobra Couples, Michele Kanan was living in the suburbs, carpooling and serving as administrator for a successful medical practice when she decided to step out of her comfort zone to make a movie. Fast forward, and Kanan found herself and her kids married to the ‘Bad Boy of Karate’ Sean Kanan, while beginning a Hollywood career as a producer, writer and director.

She has produced ten films including ’Til Death Do Us Part with Jason Patric, Orlando Jones and Cam Gigandet; Darkness of Man with Jean Claude VanDam; and a Cannes Film Festival sci-fi favorite, Colonials with Greg Kriek.

In 2021, Kanan was nominated for an Emmy® for writing and she won an Emmy® as producer for Outstanding Digital Drama for STUDiO CiTY (Amazon Prime, ROKU). STUDiO CiTY has received over 20 Emmy® nominations and garnered Kanan a 2019 Indie Series Award for Best Writing.

Currently Kanan is in post-production on the young adult television show, Pretty Little Gun and is set to direct the feature films, A Gift of Magic and Snipers. She has four projects in development, including one with Eric Roberts and another with Orlando Jones. In addition, Kanan is launching a web3 interactive game and token in conjunction with her show Pretty Little Gun, while running a flourishing e-commerce/digital marketing boutique agency.

In 2022, she received a star on Palm Springs prestigious Walk of Fame in recognition for her work in entertainment and philanthropy in the Coachella Valley and Hollywood. In her spare time, Kanan spoils Beatrix, her Pug and she adores spending time with her five grown children and international television star husband.

Kate Monroe is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, author, and powerhouse creator whose real-life courage inspired the feature film Bodyman. As its financier and lead actress, she brings to life a story drawn from her own encounters with danger, corruption, and survival—delivering a gripping thriller underscored by integrity and resilience. Beyond film, Monroe is the CEO of VetComm, which has helped America’s veterans secure over $7 billion in earned VA compensation, empowering thousands to rebuild their lives. A trailblazer both in and out of uniform, she’s made more than 600 national television appearances advocating for veterans and accountability. A former Congressional candidate in California, Monroe continues her mission to defend truth, uplift those who serve, and tell powerful stories of sacrifice and redemption—proving that courage and conviction are the ultimate forms of leadership.

Sean Kanan is a dynamic Hollywood veteran and Emmy-winning producer celebrated for his exceptional storytelling abilities. As a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), he created, co-wrote, produced, and starred in the acclaimed Amazon Prime series *Studio City*, which offers an authentic glimpse into the world of daytime television and has garnered multiple Daytime Emmy Awards. Alongside his wife and creative partner, Michele Kanan, he wrote and produced the feature film *Bodyman*, with Sean starring in front of the camera and Michele directing. Their multi-service production company, Flip Creative Media, exemplifies their commitment to high-quality narratives across various platforms. Additionally, Sean is a best-selling author and TEDx speaker who shares motivational insights and high-performance strategies, while mentoring emerging talent as an acting coach, leveraging his extensive industry experience.

Chris Gore is a comedian and writer who was a regular on G4TV’s Attack of the Show. He is also the founder of Film Threat, the author of several movie books including the Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide, writer/producer of the feature comedy My Big Fat Independent Movie.

Chris has appeared as a film expert on MSNBC, E!, CNN, Reelz Channel and has also hosted shows on FX, Starz, IFC as well as G4TV’s Attack of the Show.

As an author, Chris has written “The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made” (St. Martin’s Press) and “The Complete DVD Book” (Michael Wiese Publications). His book “The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide” (Random House) is considered the bible of the industry and is required reading at film school.

His stories have appeared in magazines, online and trades such as The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Video Business, Total Movie, Spin, Details, Men’s Health, ChinaShopMag.com, WaywardNerd.com and Playboy.com.

Tom Malloy has spent over two decades as a trailblazing multi-hyphenate in film—actor, writer, producer, and now director. He has raised millions for indie films, produced 28 titles, written and sold 25 screenplays, and starred in many projects.

His credits include After All (2025), McVeigh (Tribeca 2024), Dark Night of the Soul (2023), Ask Me to Dance (2021, directed by Malloy), Lansky (2020), Love N’ Dancing, The Alphabet Killer, and The Attic. Through his company Trick Candle Productions, Malloy has developed acclaimed indies like Trauma Therapy, #Screamers, Hero of the Underworld, and Fair Haven.

In 2016, he co-founded Glass House Distribution, now a leading international sales and distribution company with over 200 titles, multiple Emmy wins, and presence at AFM, EFM, and Cannes.

Malloy also authored the bestselling film finance book Bankroll and co-founded FilmMakingStuffHQ, a premier training platform for filmmakers.

Richard “RB” Botto is the visionary behind Stage 32, the largest online platform and marketplace launched in 2011 to democratize the entertainment industry. With over 1.3 million creatives and professionals worldwide, Stage 32 offers unparalleled networking, training, and direct access to industry opportunities, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. RB is also a producer whose credits include the Sundance-award-winning Another Happy Day, What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont, Rain Beau’s End with Ed Asner and Sean Young, and executive producer roles on projects like Alix (Catalyst Studios), After All starring Erika Christensen. He has also helped incubate films such as Chick Fight with Malin Akerman and Alec Baldwin, Neighborhood Watch with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid through Stage 32.

As a WGA screenwriter, RB has an original television series set up at a mini-major studio with an A-list showrunner from Apple attached, as well as feature film scripts set up at production companies. His acting career spans theater in New York to starring alongside Academy Award nominated actress Abigail Breslin in A Good Fight. RB’s #1 best-selling book, Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd (Routledge), has earned over 100 5-star reviews. A sought-after speaker, he has shared his expertise at global events like Cannes, Tribeca, SXSW, and the American Film Market.

Cecilia Brush is Head of Sales and Distribution at Raven Banner Entertainment, a leading Canadian company specializing in bold, genre-driven films. With over 10 years of experience in the film industry, Cecilia has built a reputation for her sharp market instincts, strategic sales approach, multilingual fluency, and deep passion for boundary-pushing storytelling. She oversees the global distribution of horror, thriller, and cult films, and is known for championing emerging talent and connecting distinctive films with international audiences. Cecilia is excited to be sharing insights on international film sales, creative development, and the evolving landscape of independent cinema.

Since 2006, Paul Bales has been the Chief Operating Officer and Partner at The Asylum, a production and distribution company based in Burbank, California.

The Asylum finances, produces and releases 25 films per year through its direct pipeline to the nation’s top streamers and its network of international partners. Since its founding in 1997, The Asylum has released more than 500 films and built a library of over 300 original productions, including top-rated series’ for Syfy and Netflix, and, the Sharknado franchise.

Prior to joining The Asylum, Bales was National Director of SAGIndie, the Screen Actors Guild outreach program for independent producers.

Martine Melloul, originally from France, was the Executive Vice President of the fashion house BCBG MAX AZRIA before dedicating herself to her passion for entertainment. She went on to establish her own production company, Kali Pictures, in Los Angeles. Melloul co-produces documentaries for Orange Studios and Arte in France and has produced several independent films, including “BEYOND THE SKY,” “BREAKING AND EXITING,” “THE MEAN ONE” and ‘SCREAMBOAT’. The latter was released globally in theaters in April 2025 and achieved considerable success.