Summary
The American Film Market® (AFM®) is one of the most important events in the global film industry. Every November, thousands of producers, distributors, sales agents, financiers, and industry professionals gather in Los Angeles to showcase, buy, and sell films, secure distribution deals, and forge connections that can transform careers. Thousands of production and distribution deals are closed at AFM each year, making it one of the premier destinations for anyone serious about the business of film.
With its dynamic marketplace, acclaimed conference series – The AFM Sessions – screenings, and unparalleled networking opportunities, AFM is bustling with activity whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned professional. The landscape is constantly evolving—new players, new deal structures, and new opportunities are emerging every year. To truly make the most of AFM, you need to know how the market works from the inside.
That’s why Stage 32 is proud to partner with the American Film Market to bring you this exclusive webinar featuring industry leaders whose expert voices will guide you through what to expect, how to prepare, and how to navigate AFM so you can maximize your time, build real relationships, and take advantage of the incredible opportunities this market has to offer.
In this webinar, you’ll hear directly from the people at the forefront of AFM on how the market operates and how to maximize your goals.
Whether you’re a producer looking to secure financing, a filmmaker with a script, or an industry professional seeking to expand your network and meet potential partners, this session will give you the insights and strategies you need to thrive at AFM.
Speakers include:
-
Jean Prewitt (President & CEO, Independent Film & Television Alliance, producer of AFM)
-
Clay Epstein (President, Film Mode Entertainment; former IFTA Chair)
-
Richard “RB” Botto (Founder & CEO, Stage 32)
What You'll Learn
- The role and history of the American Film Market (AFM) in the global industry
- How AFM works: badges, screenings, conferences, and dealmaking opportunities
- What buyers, sellers, and financiers are looking for at AFM
- Best practices for pitching and building relationships at AFM
- How to prepare before you go—and how to follow up after AFM
- Q&A with Jean, Clay and RB
Executive
Jean Prewitt (President & CEO, Independent Film & Television Alliance, producer of AFM)
Jean M. Prewitt is President and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA®), the global trade association of independent distributors and producers of motion picture and television programming with Members in 20 countries and the producer of the American Film Market®. She joined IFTA after a decade as a senior U.S. government official with the U.S. Department of Commerce representing the White House and Executive Branch on international communications and information policy, and as a public policy specialist in Washington D.C. representing film and entertainment interests
and the high-technology community.
Prior to that time, she was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of United International Pictures (the international distribution entity formed by then-Universal, Paramount and MGM-UA studios) and managed legal and government affairs on a worldwide basis. She previously practiced federal antitrust, tax, and copyright law with the firm Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine.
Prewitt graduated from Harvard University and Georgetown University Law Center.
Clay Epstein (President, Film Mode Entertainment; former IFTA Chair)
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 has also just concluded serving two terms as the elected Chairperson of the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA ), lectures at UCLA Extension and film festivals worldwide. He’s a member of PGA, FIND, BAFTA LA, and the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts.
Richard “RB” Botto (Founder & CEO, Stage 32, Producer, WGA Screenwriter, Actor)
Richard "RB" Botto has created the online platform and marketplace designed to democratize the entertainment industry, Stage 32. By leveling the playing field for all film, television and digital content creators and professionals worldwide, Stage 32 provides networking and training opportunities as well as direct access beyond the gatekeepers.
Launched in 2011, the Stage 32 community has grown to over 1 million entertainment creatives and professionals worldwide. In addition, Stage 32 has curated the world's largest educational library with over 2,000 hours of webinars and classes designed to help all film, television and digital content creators and professionals hone their craft and navigate the industry.
RB is also a producer whose films have played at dozens of festivals around the world including the Sundance-award-winning feature Another Happy Day, written and directed by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. He was on the producing team of What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont and Rain Beau’s End starring Ed Asner and Sean Young. He is the Executive Producer on ALIX with Catalyst Studios and Paradise Falls: A Christmas Story with Cafe Cinema and projects with Gidden Media and National Lampoon. Through Stage 32 he has helped incubate Chick Fight, starring Malin Akerman and Alec Baldwin, produced by Ramo Law, Neighbhoorhood Watch starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid, No Address starring William Baldwin and 10-31, produced by Eli Roth and Orion Pictures and Crushed on Tubi.
As a working writer RB sold his original television series to a mini-major studio and attached an A-list showrunner from Apple at the helm. He works on active writing assignments and has sold two feature film scripts.
As an actor, he began his career as a theater actor in New York and his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the Raindance Film Festival. He recently finished filming A Good Fight starring alongside Academy-nominated actress Abigail Breslin.
Additionally, RB's #1 best-selling book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd, was published by Routledge under the American Film Market Presents banner, is available on Amazon and Audible, where it has garnered over 100 5-star reviews.
RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist all over the world at such festivals and conferences as the Cannes Film Festival (France), American Film Market (US), Tribeca Film Festival (US), Austin Film Festival (US), SXSW (US), Cinequest (US), Winston Baker (US), Hollyshorts Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), Hamburg Film Fest (Germany), Trinidad & Tobago Film Commission (Trinidad), Fest Festival (Portugal), Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia) and Harvard (US) on the business of the entertainment industry.
Moderated by:
Amanda Toney, Managing Director, Stage 32, Producer
As Managing Director for Stage 32, Amanda oversees operations and partnerships for the global business. She has produced over 3,000 hours of online education created exclusively for Stage 32, and works with hundreds of entertainment industry executives from around the world to serve as educators and mentors. She has spearheaded partnerships with such prestigious organizations as Netflix, the Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film, Canon, American Film Market, SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, PGA, WGA and DGA, as well as brands such as AT&T, Peerspace, Pond5, Mandy, Bondit Media Capital and her personal favorite partnership, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is the official vodka of Stage 32.
As a television producer she recently sold a scripted series to Amblin Television which she attached an A-list showrunner from an Apple show. She also sold a premium unscripted show to USA. As a film producer, Amanda has worked on Alix for Catlyst Studios filmed in Columbia, Paradise Falls: A Christmas Story filmed in Costa Rica, the psychological thriller What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont, Metaphorms, a Hungarian film, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival and Dolphin Girl which premiered at the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. She has also helped incubate Chick Fight, starring Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin and Bella Thorne and 10-31 which is being produced by Eli Roth and Orion Pictures. She is an Executive Producer on Vagic with Amy Baer at Gidden Media, as well as My Clone's an A*Hole with National Lampoon.
Amanda has spoken all over the world at the Cannes Film Festival (France), Venice Film Festival (Italy), American Film Market (US), Hollyshorts Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), Hamburg Film Fest (Germany), Trinidad & Tobago Film Commission (Trinidad), Fest Festival (Portugal), Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia) and Harvard (US) on the business of the entertainment industry.