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AFMA Announces Sixth Annual Production Conference
By Paul Nichols/Jennifer Garnick
Jun 8, 2004, 16:03

AFMA ANNOUNCES SIXTH ANNUAL PRODUCTION CONFERENCE

Top Industry Independent Film Companies And Major Guilds To Participate In June 17th Event

Los Angeles, CA – AFMA will hold its sixth annual Production Conference on June 17th at the Beverly Hills Hotel, it was announced today by Jean Prewitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFMA, and Pierre David, Chairman, AFMA Producers Committee. The event is targeted to entertainment industry development, production and postproduction executives as well as producers, attorneys and financial advisors.

“Our annual Production Conference has a well-deserved reputation for bringing together some of the independent industry’s most imaginative and prolific producers to share their perspectives on the marketplace and how they face today’s challenges. This year’s program is especially strong”, commented Ms. Prewitt.

The opening keynote speaker will be Bob Berney, President, Newmarket Films, the U.S. distributor of Monster and The Passion of the Christ. Two panels will be presented, “Getting It Done: Producing Against All Odds,” moderated by Mr. David, and “What Will It Take to Bring Production Back to the U.S.?” moderated by Paul Hertzberg, President, Cinetel Films, Inc. and including both production executives and representatives of the major creative guilds.

Added Mr. David, “Even with the increased commercial and artistic success of independent films, there remain numerous issues that affect our industry domestically and worldwide. This group is knowledgeable and opinionated – a great combination for a successful conference.”

The Production Conference schedule and participants follow:

8:00 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 AM Welcoming Remarks
Pierre David – Chairman, AFMA Producers Committee

Keynote Speaker
Bob Berney – President, Newmarket Films

9:30 AM Panel I – Getting It Done: Producing Against All Odds

Moderator: Pierre David – Chairman & CEO, Imagination Worldwide, LLC
Panelists:
Mark Amin – Vice Chairman, Lions Gate Films International
Robert Baruc – President, Screen Media Films
Mark Damon – Chairman & CEO, Media 8 Entertainment
John Dellaverson – Executive Vice President, Lions Gate Entertainment and Of Counsel to Loeb & Loeb
Lisa Hansen – Executive Vice President, Cinetel Films
Lawrence Mortorff – President, Great Entertainment
Clark Peterson – Producer
Lisa Wilson – President, International Distribution, Syndicate Films International

11:15 AM Panel II – What Will it Take to Bring Production Back to the U.S.?

Moderator: Paul Hertzberg, President, Cinetel Films, Inc.

Panelists:
Warren Adler – Associate National Executive Director, Directors Guild of America
Tom Berry – President, Reel One Entertainment
Amy Lemisch – Director, California Film Commission
Avi Lerner – Co-Chairman, New Image
Steven Paul – President & CEO, Crystal Sky
Vicki Shapiro – Assistant General Counsel, Screen Actors Guild
Charles Slocum – Assistant Executive Director, Writers Guild of America Andrew Stevens – President & CEO, Andrew Stevens Entertainment

The conference is sponsored by payroll company Axium Entertainment, Inc. and film laboratory CFI (a Technicolor company).

Cost of the conference is $40.00 per person for AFMA members and $60.00 for non-members.

AFMA is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 150 member companies from 15 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent of AFMA’s membership and thirty percent of the association’s board are from outside the U.S. Collectively, AFMA members produce more than 350 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year and generate more than $4 billion in distribution revenues annually.


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