The Forum Returns with a Global Twist This Friday!
Yes, the Film Independent Forum is back, happily in person again, and with a new global twist. With so much going over the two days, we wanted to highlight some of the panels and events we missed in our last post on the Forum.
Of course, there will still be the great screenings, networking and workshops that the Forum is known for. September 27 & 28, in person at the DGA in Los Angeles. Tickets are still available.
KEYNOTE BY HIRO MURAI MODERATED BY DANIEL KWAN
What: In case you missed it, our keynote speaker this year is Hiro Murai. With a very distinct voice and visual style, Hiro Murai has established himself as one of the most innovative artists working today. In particular, Murai’s ten-year artistic collaboration with Childish Gambino produced one of the most acclaimed shows of the century, Atlanta; garnered him a GRAMMY Award for the music video for This Is America; and continues with their latest show, Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
His additional list of credits as a television director includes Barry, Station Eleven, Snowfall and Legion. He is also an Executive Producer on the Hulu series The Bear, for which he won an Emmy in 2023 and a Spirit Award in 2024.
He’ll be in conversation with another heavy hitter, Daniel Kwan, Writer/Director of Everything Everywhere All at Once and Swiss Army Man. In a candid Keynote Conversation with Kwan, Murai will explore his trajectory from the ingenious low-budget music videos of his early career to his creative process and contributions to contemporary American film and television.
Where: Saturday, September 28 at 11:45 am. Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA: FROM MARKETS AND FESTIVALS TO DISTRIBUTION
What: This panel will take an international lens to investigate navigating film festivals and finding the right distribution channel for an independent film. Festival, market and distribution experts will provide insight on how to cultivate new opportunities, with a global perspective.
Who: Josh Braun (President, Submarine), Milan Chakraborty (Head of Film, Marginal MediaWorks), Javier Fuentes-León (Writer/Director; Contracorriente, The Best Families), Myriam Sassine (Producer, Costa Brava Lebanon), Ania Trzebiatowska (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival). Moderated by Mia Bruno (Distribution Strategist/Distributor, Fourth Act Film)
Where: Saturday, September 28 at 3:15 pm. Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
CREATIVE PRODUCING 101 WITH AVRIL SPEAKS
What: Talk about a do-it-all job. Creative producers not only guide a film’s story with its creative team, but they also end up using their creativity with financing and sales. This session featuring Avril Speaks (Producer; African America, Jinn), focuses on today’s best practices for the independent creative producer, with a particular focus on projects under $1 million.
Where: Friday, September 27 at 2:30pm. Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
GLOBAL TV: HOW DOES IT TRANSLATE?
What: Squid Game, Dark, Shōgun; whether its co-pros or direct imports, the small screen is broadening its perspective and going global. The current environment of “abundance” seems like a windfall for storytellers and audiences alike, but will appetite for cross-cultural stories increase? And what does all of this mean for creators?
Who: Maegan Houang (Writer; Shōgun, The Sympathizer), Jamie Lai (VP, Scripted TV for CJ ENM America and Studio Dragon Global), Jeremy Podeswa (Director; 3 Body Problem, Game of Thrones), Amr Salama (Creator, Paranormal), McKenna Stephens (Maria Farinha Filmes). Moderated by Wendy Calhoun (Writer/Producer; Justified, Prodigal Son)
Where: Saturday, September 28 at 3:15 pm. Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
FINANCING CLINIC + REAL-TIME FEEDBACK
What: The ever-popular Financing Clinic returns, asking the important question, ‘Where’s the money?’ A panel of producers, financiers and industry experts will provide a snapshot of financing today, and offer live feedback to a group of Film Independent Fellows as they pitch their projects. This will be great insight into how financiers are thinking right now, and will be indispensable advice for anyone trying to get something made. Supported by Mississippi Film Office
Who: The panelists will include:
Lisa Callif (Partner, Donaldson Callif Perez)
Christine Hsu (Agent, CAA)
Steven Adams (Founder, Alta Global Media)
Nina Parikh (Mississippi Film Office)
Datari Turner (Producer; They Cloned Tyron, Nine Days)
With pitches from Film Independent Fellows:
Nancy Degnan (Producer, Eternal Occurrence)
Moira Griffin (Producer, The Prince of Seventh Avenue)
Anas Khalaf (Writer/Director, The Photographer)
Moderated by Angela Lee (Director of Artist Development, Film Independent)
Where: Saturday, September 28 at 10:15 am. Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.
The Forum kicks off at the DGA on Friday, September 27 with our popular Industry Connect networking sessions beginning at 2:30 pm, followed by an Opening Night reception beginning at 6:00pm.
Confirmed 2024 Fi Forum panelists (with more continuing to be added) and speakers include:
Steven Adams (Founder, Alta Global Media)
Carmiel Banasky (Writer, Undone)
Allison Begalman (CEO, YEA! Impact; Founder, Hollywood Climate Summit)
Albert Berger (Producer, Election, Little Miss Sunshine)
Josh Braun (President, Submarine)
Mia Bruno (Distribution Strategist/Distributor, Fourth Act Film)
Moses Bwayo (Director, Bobi Wine: the People’s President)
Wendy Calhoun (Writer/Producer: Justified, Prodigal Son)
Lisa Callif (Partner, Donaldson Callif Perez)
Daniel Cardone (Film Independent)
Milan Chakraborty (Head of Film, Marginal MediaWorks)
Javier Fuentes-León (Writer/Director, Contracorriente, The Best Families)
Tati Gabrielle (Actor, You, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat)
Darrien Michele Gipson (Executive Director, SAGindie)
Set Hernandez (Director, unseen)
Christine Hsu (Agent, CAA)
Maegan Houang (Writer, Shōgun The Sympathizer)
James Ian (Actor, The Allnighter, Pugsley)
Chris Kaye (Producer, Thelma)
Jennifer Kent (Writer/Director, The Babadook, The Nightingale)
Daniel Kwan (Writer/Director, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Swiss Army Man)
Jamie Lai (VP, Scripted TV for CJ ENM America and Studio Dragon Global)
Angela Lee (Film Independent)
Mayan Lopez (Actor, Lopez vs. Lopez, Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie)
Josh Margolin (Director, Thelma)
Jordana Mollick (Producer, Hello, My Name is Doris; The Idea of You)
Richa Moorjani (Actor, Fargo, Never Have I Ever)
Hiro Murai (Director, The Bear, Atlanta)
Nina Parikh (Mississippi Film Office)
Blake Pickens (Filmmaker & Comedian, Rubble & Crew, The Land)
Jeremy Podeswa (Director, 3 Body Problem, Game of Thrones)
Diane Quon (Producer, unseen, Minding the Gap)
Amr Salama (Creator, Paranormal)
Myriam Sassine (Producer, Costa Brava Lebanon)
Cathy Schulman (Producer, Crash, The Idea of You)
McKenna Stephens (Maria Farinha Filmes)
Avril Speaks (Producer, African America, Jinn)
Ania Trzebiatowska (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival)
Datari Turner (Producer, They Cloned Tyron, Nine Days)
Jonathan Wang (Producer, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Legend of Ochi (2025))
Tre Wesley (Video Producer, IMDb)
Zoe Worth (Producer, Thelma)
Lisa Yamada (Actor, Little Fires Everywhere, Cruel Summer)
Ron Yerxa (Producer, Election, Little Miss Sunshine)
The 2024 Film Independent Forum is supported by Premier Partners Directors Guild of America, IMDbPro and SAGindie and Supporting Sponsors Mississippi Film Office and Plot Shift Media. Easterseals Disability Services is the Accessibility Partner. Getty Images is the Official Photographer. eTech Rentals is the Official Technology Rental Provider.
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