Meet the Decision Makers

Wednesday, September 18
The Furman Gallery at Walter Reade Theater (165 W. 65th Street, Mezzanine Level)

Meet the Decision Makers (MDM) finds the heads of some of the most respected and innovative organizations in film leading these exclusive roundtable discussions – helping filmmakers understand how their organizations work – and how they can help launch your film. Limited tickets are available – take advantage of this opportunity for face time with  those that can give valuable advice to further your career. Don’t hesitate, get your tickets now!

Tickets to MDM gets you five small group meetings with various industry professionals participating in any session of the day – those that can help you launch your project. Small group meetings are 20 minutes.

MDM ticketholders will be able to sign up for meetings with the specific organizations of their choice in early September. Details about meeting selection will be sent via e-mail to all MDM ticket buyers. Individuals must sign up for specific meetings in advance.

Questions? Email coordinator@ifp.org

Programmers & Funders (10am – 11:30am)
Attending:

Sean Elwood, Director , Programs & Initiatives, Creative Capital – connects innovative artists with career development services and direct funding.
Wendy Ettinger, Co-Founder, Chicken & Egg Pictures – supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose diverse voices and dynamic storytelling have the power to catalyze change.
Ryan Harrington, Director, Documentary Programming, Tribeca Film Institute – empowers filmmakers through grants and professional development, and is a resource for and supporter of individual artists in the field.
Adella Ladjevardi, Grants Manager, Cinereach – a not-for-profit film production company and foundation that champions vital stories, artfully told.
Dana Penrod, Manager, The Screenwriters Colony – a residence for writers to live and work together in Nantucket every October to generate and refine their screenplays and share work amongst themselves.
Rahdi Taylor, Film Fund Director, Sundance Institute – The Documentary Film Program provides vital resources for cinematic documentaries focused on human rights and contemporary-issue themes.
Katie Tuss, Grants Community Manager, Queens Council on the Arts - a must-do meeting for all Queens residents, they provide grants and professional development services

Artist Services Organizations (12pm – 1:30pm)
Attending:

Darrien Michele Gipson, National Director, SAGIndie – not just for actors! Have your questions answered about SAGIndie contracts and ultra low-budget assessments answered here.
Kristine Hsu, Staff Attorney, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts – provides individual artists and arts organizations with access to dedicated legal representation and advocacy to ensure that their voices are heard and that their interests are protected.
Ursula Lawrence, Lead Strategic Organizer, Writers Guild of America, East – provides vital professional support and opens the door to a vast network of fellow screenwriters.
Marcia Smith, President, Firelight Media Producer’s Lab – a mentorship program for talented and independent producers of color.
Juliana Steele, Program Specialist, Fiscal Sponorship, Fractured Atlas – essential services for all artists including access to health insurance, production & E&O insurance, and fiscal sponsorship.Â
Ethany Uttech, Grants Director, Brooklyn Arts Council - a must-do meeting for all Brooklyn residents, they provide grants and professional development services.
Jeffrey Winter, Co-Executive Director, The Film Collaborative – non-profit distributors and distribution advisors providing the resources to get your film out there.

Digital Distribution (2pm – 3:30pm)
Attending:

Jeremy Boxer, Creative Director, Film & Video, Vimeo – VimeoPro is the ultimate video solution for creative professionals – join their community.
Christine Kim, Entertainment Content Partnerships, YouTube - allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. Learn how to make the most of your page.
Adam Klaff, Business Development, VHX - understand how to share your work on this direct-to-fan distribution platform built for premium video.
Amanda Lebow, Director of Film Strategy, Bond Strategy and Influence – BOND360 empowers filmmakers to sell films directly to their fans by providing strategic consultation, marketing, public relations, financing , and technical support to help filmmakers connect their films and related products to fans.
Jonathan Marlow, Chief Content Officer, Fandor – a viewing platform with a rich library of hand-picked selections that capture stories from different cultures, time periods, and genres.
Daniel Parnes, Communications and Content Relations Director, Tugg - a web-platform that lets you brign the movie directly to audiences at local theaters nationwide.
Emily Rothschild, Director of Acquisitions, Cinedigm – this aggregator is your key to showing your film on digital platforms & VOD.Â

Distributors, Managers, & Advisors (4pm – 5:30pm)
Attending:

Peter Belsito, Co-Founder, Partner, SydneysBuzz – an insider’s guide to acquisitions, education, initiatives, and strategic planning in the international film market.
Arianna Bocco, SVP Acquisitions & Co-productions, IFC Films – a leading U.S. distributors of quality talent-driven independent film who pioneered the unique distribution model of releasing films in theaters the same day they are available on video on demand.
David Laub, Co-President, Oscilloscope Laboratories – produce and distribute unique independent films in theaters, on TV, DVD, and internationally.
Dylan Leiner, EVP, Acquisitions & Production, Sony Pictures Classics – an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment that distributes, producers, and acquires independent films from the United States and around the world.
Jan Miller, Head of Studies, Trans Atlantic Partners – top training program for internationally-focused producers including intensive, hands-on training with effective networking among potential partners.
Brooklyn Weaver, CEO, Energy Entertainment – a top lit manager for writer/directors.
Melissa Wells, Agent, UTA – Â a lit agent for one of the premier talent and literary agencies, representing many of the world’s most widely-known figures in every current and emerging area of entertainment

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IFP has many significant services for filmmakers, too! All Conference attendees are encouraged to reach out after the Conference with any questions about our programs.

Fiscal Sponsorship - a fundraising tool for filmmakers

2014 Independent Filmmaker Labs – a program for first-time feature directors with projects in post-production. Applications open February 2014

2014 Independent Film Week, with programs for completed screenplays and documentary works-in-progress seeking partners for production and distribution. Applications open April 2014

Check out our archive of videos from this year’s Conference and beyond on YouTube

Monthly free screenings for IFP Members keep you ahead of the curve and watching all the greatest independents. More about IFP membership & benefits here: http://www.ifp.org/membership

Sign up for the IFP newsletter on the bottom right of this page for calls for entries for the 2014 programs and other updates about IFP events!

For questions about IFP programs, reach out to Programs Producer Rose Vincelli Gustine at rvincelli@ifp.org

For questions about this IFP Conference Meet the Decision Makers program, contact Conference Coordinator Zach Mandinach, coordinator@ifp.org