AFM CONFERENCE SERIES: FILM FESTIVAL CONFERENCE: Quotes from the session outlined below.
Navigating the Festival Circuit:
Audrey Delaney, SVP, Marketing & Acquisitions, Myriad Pictures: participates in a panel at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- “Getting your film to any one of these festivals can really help to separate your film from so many and put it on the map. It’s helpful in the positioning of the film, to get reviews in the trades and online it helps give that film a profile in the market place to help with the sales and distribution process.”
Judith Baugin, Head of International Marketing, Film Division, Content Media Corporation interacts with guests at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- “Some festivals aren’t right for all films. The top festivals aren’t necessarily relevant to any given films – and they can be very expensive. Some filmmakers don’t realise this, and if the festival isn’t quite right it can end up damaging their campaign.”
Creating a Successful Festival Strategy:
Glen Basner, FilmNation Entertainment participates in a panel discussion at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- “This year with “Room”, we had already sold the movie around the world – there weren’t many territories left so we didn’t need to rush to find a festival. We devised a festival strategy that worked, which included Telluride and Toronto. It’s about what is the best way to get the film in to the right theatres and get audiences compelled to go to that film. It’s all geared around theatrical distribution at that point”
Gary Michael Walters, Producer “Whiplash”, “Nightcrawler” participates in a panel discussion at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- “Ultimately everything we do is a function of mind share – how do we get people’s attention when we don’t have Ryan Gosling in our movie? I encourage people to get as much experience help early on in the process. Having the guidance of those that understand the market place is invaluable. You either play the inside game(the buyers), or the outside game (the 8 billion people in this world).”
AFM ROUNDTABLES: Quotes from the session outlined below.
Distributing and Monetizing Documentaries:
Richard Abramowitz, President, Abramorama participates in a panel discussion at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- 'It's simple: we look for tribal films - films that have easily identified audiences... we identify community leaders that can bring people into the theaters. We target people invested in the message.'
Jamie Carmichael, President, Film, CONTENT participates in a panel discussion at the American Film Market (AFM) conferences held at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo Richard Shotwell/Invision for IFTA/AP Images)
- 'Documentaries have to work around the world. When I'm picking a Janice Joplin movie, a Steve McQueen movie, I know they can be used everywhere'
- 'I think there is a trend now for documentaries - it's come back. We have more now than we did 5 years ago'.