2012 American Film Market Officially Kicks Off

The 2012 American Film Market (AFM®) kicks-off today with more than 120 new buying companies and a 10% increase in buyers, according to AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf. Additionally, a significant number of high profile projects with top talent attached will also be unveiled for pre-sales at the market.

The 2012 Market will screen 442 motion pictures, including 82 world premieres and 327 market premieres for thousands of film buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries over the eight-day event. A complete list of films and the screening schedule is available at www.TheFilmCatalogue.com.

The Market also opens with national organizations exhibiting from Australia, Dominican Republic, Panama, Russia and Thailand making their AFM debut.

The AFM Industry Conversations program will take place at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in the AFM Studio. The sessions present intimate, interactive and exclusive conversations spotlighting many of the film industry's prominent players, giving AFM attendees an opportunity to hear directly from key Hollywood and global players. To see the full schedule, please visit: http://www.americanfilmmarket.com/industry-conversations
As previously announced, the AFM Conference Series gives attendees tremendous knowledge, insight, access, and a rare opportunity to hear from the industry's global thought leaders, prominent filmmakers, financiers and industry executives. The AFM Conference Series consists of a range of timely and valuable topics including a Finance Conference, Pitch Conference, Marketing Conference, Video-on-Demand Conference and Micro-Budget Conference. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Entertainment Partners Financial Solutions will serve as the presenting sponsors.

Scheduled speakers include: Nigel Sinclair, Exclusive Media, Tom Ortenberg,Open Road Films, Bahman Naraghi, GK Films, Cassian Elwes, Independent Producer/Agent, Alison Thompson, Focus Features International, Charlotte Mickie, Entertainment One, Bruce Eisen, Dish Network, Jason Janego, RADiUS-TWC, Todd Green, Tribeca Film, Paul Hertzberg, CineTel Films, Roger Corman, New Horizon Picture Corp., Lloyd Kaufman, Troma Entertainment, Jonathan Schwartz, Super Crispy Entertainment, Liza Foreman,The Wrap, Tatiana Kelly, "Sunset Stories," and Ry Russo-Young, "Nobody Walks."