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  Michael Barker

  Michael Barker

  Co-President & Co-Founder | Sony Pictures Classics

  As Co-Presidents and Co-Founders of Sony Pictures Classics, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Tom Bernard and Michael Barker have distributed (and quite often produced) some of the finest independent movies.  Previously they were executives at United Artists (1980-1983) and co-founded Orion Classics (1983-1991). Over the span of their career, their films have received 184 Academy Award® nominations including several for Best Picture. Their company’s 41 Academy Award® wins include Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, as well as 5 wins for Best Documentary Feature and 14 for Best Foreign Language Film.

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  Tom Bernard

  Tom Bernard
  Co-President & Co-Founder | Sony Pictures Classics

  As Co-Presidents and Co-Founders of Sony Pictures Classics, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Tom Bernard and Michael Barker have distributed (and quite often produced) some of the finest independent movies.  Previously they were executives at United Artists (1980-1983) and co-founded Orion Classics (1983-1991). Over the span of their career, their films have received 184 Academy Award® nominations including several for Best Picture. Their company’s 41 Academy Award® wins include Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, as well as 5 wins for Best Documentary Feature and 14 for Best Foreign Language Film.

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  Christian Bräuer

  Dr. Christian Bräuer
  Managing Director | Yorck-Kino GmbH
  
  Christian Bräuer ist promovierter Politikwissenschaftler und Geschäftsführer der Yorck-Kino GmbH in Berlin und der Programmkino Ost GmbH in Dresden, die in einem engen Verbund 17 Programmkinos und 49 Leinwände in Berlin, München und Dresden betreiben.

  Er ist zudem Präsident des internationalen Arthouse-Verbandes CICAE, Vorsitzender der AG Kino – Gilde e.V. sowie Generalsekretär von Europa Cinemas. Darüber hinaus vertritt er die deutsche Kinobranche im Präsidium der Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA).

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  Alex Brunner

  Alex Brunner
  Agent, UTA Independent Film Group

  Alex Brunner is an agent in the Independent Film Group at leading talent and literary agency UTA, where he focuses on the global finance, packaging, and distribution strategies for independent feature films. In this capacity, Brunner has been instrumental in the development and execution of a variety of acclaimed titles, including THE FATHER, HIDDEN FIGURES, HUSTLERS, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD, MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, THE REPORT, THE COURIER, THE EARTHQUAKE BIRD, FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER, PEPPERMINT and the FRAGGLE ROCK (TV) re-boot for Apple+.

   

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  Sasha Bühler

  Sasha Bühler 
  Director EMEA Film (DACH) | Netflix

  Sasha Bühler ist seit Dezember 2019 für den Filmbereich bei Netflix im deutschsprachigen Raum verantwortlich, den sie aufbaute.  Sie begann ihre berufliche Laufbahn in der Produktion, zuerst im Nachrichtenbereich, dann übergreifend im Bereich Dokumentationen, Animationen und Spielfilme. Es folgten Stationen bei SquareOne Entertainment als Head of Acquisitions und an der Münchener Hochschule für Fernsehen- und Film (HFF). Zuletzt war sie rund 9 Jahre Head of Acquisitions und International Co-Productions bei Constantin Film. 

   

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  Stephanie Candinas

  Stephanie Candinas
  Co-Managing Director | Arthouse Commercio Movie AG

  Stephanie Candinas ist seit 2013 Geschäftsführerin der DCM Film Distribution (Schweiz) GmbH (DCM), dem Inhabergeführten Schweizer Filmverleih mit Mutterhaus in Berlin, und fungiert seit zwei Jahren auch als Co-Geschäftsführerin der Arthouse Commercio Movie AG (ACM), der grössten Arthouse Kino Kette in Zürich. Sie kann auf einen Marketing- und Kommunikations-Background zurückgreifen und hat ihre Erfahrungen in verschiedenen Agenturen sowie Unternehmungen unter Beweis gestellt.

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  Kristen Figeroid

  Kristen Figeroid 
  Managing Director & EVP | Sierra/Affinity
  
  Kristen Figeroid has over 20 years of experience in independent feature film. Before her current role at Sierra/Affinity, Ms. Figeroid was the Senior Vice President of International Sales & Distribution at Endeavor Content working on features such as The Lost Daughter, Monkey Man, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Book Club, and Assassination Nation. Prior to Endeavor Content, Ms. Figeroid was Vice President of International Sales at The Film Department where she sold Law Abiding Citizen starring Gerard Butler, Vice President of International Distribution at Media 8 Entertainment, and Director of International Sales for Mainline Releasing and Lightning Entertainment. Before joining Mainline, Ms. Figeroid was employed by Franchise Pictures where she served as Post-Production Supervisor on City by the Sea starring Robert De Niro and Production Associate on the Steven Seagal action flick The Foreigner.
  
  She is currently the Managing Director and Executive Vice President of Sales & Distribution for Sierra/Affinity, and has handled sales on such films as Atomic Blonde starring Charlize Theron, Academy Award nominated Whiplash starring Miles Teller, and Academy Award nominated Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

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  Scott Franklin

  Scott Franklin
  Producer | Protozoa Pictures

  Producer Scott Franklin was born and raised in New York where he has established himself as a well-respected veteran of the NYC filmmaking community. He is an Oscar nominee for his work on Black Swan and a two-time recipient of the Independent Spirit Award for Best Picture. Franklin most recently produced Tobias’ Lindholm’s THE GOOD NURSE. He is also Executive Producer on Darren Aronofsky’s THE WHALE starring Brendan Fraser.

  Some of Franklin’s previous films include Yann Demange’s White Boy Rick, Darren Aronofsky’s mother!, Jackie, directed by Pablo Larrain which received three Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe nomination.

  He also produced Aronofsky’s 2014 film Noah, as well as his 2008 film, The Wrestler, which received the Golden Lion award at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, won multiple awards at the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Picture, and earned Mickey Rourke the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. Other credits include W.E. directed by Madonna and Two Days in NY, directed by Julie Delpy, among others.

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  Émilie Georges

  Émilie Georges
  Co-Founder & CEO | Memento International/Paradise City

  Émilie Georges is the co-founder and CEO of Paradise City, a new production company and talent management venture formed with producer Naima Abed to produce premium content from strong international voices for the global audience across a multitude of platforms for TV, Film, and branded content, as well as representing a select roster of filmmakers and storytellers. Today, Georges runs Paradise City alongside her film sales company Memento International and production label La Cinéfacture. Among her credits are the 2018 Academy Awards Best Picture nominated film Call Me By Your Name. George has been devoted to promoting and supporting high-profile, director-driven independent films such as The Class (Golden Palm, Cannes International Film Festival 2008); A Separation (2012 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film), The Salesman (2015 Academy Award, Best Film in a Foreign Language) and Todos Lo Saben (2018 Opening Film in Competition, Cannes International Film Festival).

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  Bert Hamelinck

  Bert Hamelinck
  Head of Films & Global Managing Director | Caviar

  Hamelinck began his career in the film business in the early 1990s as a camera assistant, electrician and other positions on film sets. In the 2000s, he moved into the field of film production. Initially he was active in the Belgian film industry here, later moving to Los Angeles. He is a co-founder of Caviar Group and serves as its Managing Director. He also heads the Film & Television department. His work as a producer includes more than 40 productions, for example, he participated as a co-producer in Nymphomaniac (2013). The film The Rider, released in 2017, earned him and his colleagues nominations for the Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Debut Film and at the 2018 British Independent Film Awards. Furthermore, they won the Gotham Award. For Sound of Metal, he was nominated for the Oscar in the category of Best Film in 2021, together with Sacha Ben Harroche. In addition, there was a nomination for the Producers Guild of America Award. His recent production War Porny has been screened in Cannes.

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  Helen Hoehne

  Helen Hoehne
  
President | HFPA

  Helen Hoehne, President of the HFPA, was born in Hamburg, Germany, and relocated to the U.S. in 1994. She earned a BA in Psychology at UC Irvine in 1998 and followed up with an MA in Psychology from Pepperdine University in 2000. Continuing her education, Hoehne studied journalism at UCLA from 2000 to 2002. Upon completing her degree, she began working as a correspondent for Bauer Media Group, and in 2004 became a member of the HFPA. Hoehne served on the Board of Directors from 2012 to 2019 and was elected Vice President in 2020. Hoehne has written for various publications in Germany including national magazines such as Instyle and Empire, as well as Swiss Airlines magazine, Swiss. Currently, she is a contributor to TV Movie magazine as their US Correspondent, one of Germany’s highest circulated bi-weekly television and movie magazines through the Bauer Media Group. Pivoting to broadcast journalism, Hoehne can be seen regularly in her role as a contributor on German televisions channels RTL and ProSieben.

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  Benjamin Kramer

  Benjamin Kramer
  Co-Head of the Media Finance group | Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
  
  Benjamin Kramer is Co-Head of the Media Finance group at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  He has been deeply involved in the packaging, financing, and sale of over a hundred films, including WIND RIVER, I TONYA, AMERICAN HONEY, THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI, JOHN WICK, THE REVENANT, HACKSAW RIDGE, BIRDMAN, SICARIO, BROOKLYN, MUD, END OF WATCH, THE SESSIONS, BEGIN AGAIN, DUMB & DUMBER TO, BAD WORDS, and SING STREET among many others.
  Ben began his career at the William Morris Agency.  He joined CAA in 2005. In 2012, Kramer was named one of “Hollywood’s New Leaders” by Variety.  He is a graduate of Wesleyan University, with degrees in Political Science and Film Studies.

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  David Laub

  David Laub
  Acquistions & Distribution | A24

  David Laub is a distribution executive for film and television studio A24, where he works in all aspects of film distribution including acquisitions, marketing, publicity, and exhibition.  David oversees a slate of films for the company that includes the upcoming acclaimed and award-winning Cannes films Close and Aftersun, Kelly Reichardt's Showing Up, and Joanna Hogg's The Eternal Daughter; previously he orchestrated the releases of Reichardt’s First Cow, Hogg’s The Souvenir and The Souvenir 2, Claire Denis’ High Life, and Paul Schrader’s First Reformed. David also works on the campaigns A24 releases as Daniels' Everything Everywhere All At Once, Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar, Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, Josh and Benny Safdie’s Uncut Gems and Good Time, Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade, Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight, Robert Eggers’ The Witch, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, and Asif Kapadia’s Amy. Prior to A24, David served for over 3 years as Co-President of NY-based independent distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, where he oversaw all elements of distribution for the Oscilloscope's slate.  For the 2 years prior to that position, David was the company's Head of Acquisitions. Oscilloscope's releases during David's tenure included Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk About Kevin, Oren Moverman's The Messenger, Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy and Meek's Cutoff, and Banksy’s Exit Through the Gift Shop. David was an executive producer on two of Oscilloscope’s releases, Omar Mullick and Bassam Tariq’s These Birds Walk and Lotfy Nathan’s 12 O’Clock Boys. David previously worked for 5 years at the distributor THINKFilm, where he was involved in the acquisition and distribution of such films as Half Nelson, Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, The Aristocrats, Murderball, Spellbound, and Taxi to the Dark Side.  He has a BA in Film Studies and English from Wesleyan University, and an MA in Film Studies, also from Wesleyan.

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  John Lesher

  John Lesher
  Producer and Founder | Le Grisbi Productions

  John Lesher, founder of Le Grisbi Productions, is the Oscar-winning producer of BIRDMAN, FURY, HOSTILES, BLACK MASS, END OF WATCH, THE BEACH BUM, WHITE BOY RICK, MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON, MEDITERRANEA, and BLOOD TIES. Formerly the president of Paramount Vantage, Lesher was responsible for overseeing BABEL, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. In his next position as the president of the film group at Paramount Studios, he supervised such pictures as BENJAMIN BUTTON, STAR TREK, and the reboot of the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE franchise. Prior to producing, Lesher was one of the top agents in the business, with clients including Martin Scorsese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Harmony Korine, and Alejandro González Iñárritu.

  Up next, Lesher will reteam with Michael Mann to produce his passion project FERRARI starring Adam Driver and is currently in post-production on Scott Cooper’s THE PALE BLUE EYE for Netflix starring Christian Bale. Le Grisbi Productions also has a first look deal with Amazon Studios and will produce Lynne Ramsay’s STONE MATTRESS starring Julianne Moore. On the TV side, Lesher and Le Grisbi recently produced BJ Novak’s THE PREMISE anthology series for FX and is gearing up to shoot second season of HBOMax’s hit series TOKYO VICE.

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  Kim Magnusson

  Kim Magnusson
  Founder and Producer | M&M Productions

  In 1995 he founded M&M Productions with his father, Tivi Magnusson. Headhunted to run Nordisk Film’s Film Division as CEO from 2003 – 2009. In the years 1995-2021 he has produced or EP’ed more than 140 films such as:, I KILL GIANST, MEN&CHICKEN, THE GREEN BUTCHERS, ADAM’S APPLES, HEADHUNTER, TERKEL IN TROUBLE, WORLDS APART, R, PUSHER II &P III. He has been Oscar® nominated in the category “Live Action Short Film” six times, and won the coveted award 2 times, in 1999 for ELECTION NIGHT and in 2014 for HELIUM. Kim Magnusson has been the chairman of the Danish Producers Association for 9 years (most ever), as well as chairman of the Danish Film Academy for 20 yrs. Kim is a voting member of AMPAS® and as well as both The Danish and The European Film Academy. In 2010 he launched Dansk Film Kompagni to develop and produce high-end, commercial-driven film for the international market. In Los Angeles, USA, he has multiple projects in development incl. LAST WITNESS, optioned by 20th Century Fox. Lately he has been part of forming Scandinavian Film Funds, which has raised $16M to fund a New Pan-Nordic distribution company SCANDINAVIAN Film Distribution, where Kim is head of Creative & development, and latest launched Tales Inc. – together with Christian Bévort, who currently are in production with The Cake Dynasty (KAGEFABRIKKEN) by Christian Lollike

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  Alana Mayo

  Alana Mayo
  President | Orion Pictures

  As President of Orion Pictures, Alana oversees the label’s day-to-day operations, including development, acquisitions, physical and postproduction. Orion Pictures, a division of MGM, is dedicated to underrepresented voices and authentic storytelling in film with a focus on developing, producing, and acquiring feature films that amplify underserved voices, both in front of and behind the camera. A veteran industry executive and producer, Alana most recently served as Head of Production and Development for Outlier Society, a multi-platform production and media company led by actor Michael B. Jordan, where she oversaw the company’s slate of films (in partnership with Warner Bros Studios) and television series (in partnership with Amazon Studios). Before her time with Outlier Society, Alana worked with Vimeo as the company’s VP and Head of Original Development. Previously, Alana served as Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures. She began her career interning with independent New York filmmakers such as Lee Daniels, Tribeca Films and Warrington Hudlin. She serves on the board of directors of GLAAD and is a board member of Color of Change. Alana is the recipient of the NYWIFT Muse Award 2020 and the AAFCA Special Achievement Award 2018. Alana graduated from Columbia University in 2006 with a BA in English and film studies. She is a member of the 2022 Class of Henry Crown Fellows within the Aspen Global Leadership Network at the Aspen Institute.

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  Danny Perkins

  Danny Perkins
  CEO Elysian Film Group

  Danny Perkins, has more than two decades of experience in the international film business. Spanning across all facets of the industry from development, production and IP acquisition to marketing and distribution in all of its forms.

  He co-founded UK indie Optimum Releasing in 1999, which was acquired by Vivendi-owned Studiocanal in 2006. He assumed the role of UK CEO for the company in 2010 and departed in 2018 to form new venture EFG – Elysian Film Group.

  Throughout his career, Perkins has overseen the production and distribution of critical and box office hits such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Paddington 1 & 2, Legend, Macbeth, Early Man and the Shaun The Sheep Movie.

  His taste in local fare led to the acquisition and distribution of UK breakthrough hits such as This Is England, In The Loop, Four Lions, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and The Imitation Game.

  Perkins has also a proven track record for supporting the very best of U.S. independent production and talent with significant awards traction across titles such as Carol, Manchester By The Sea, Room, Hell Or High Water, The Wrestler and The Hurt Locker.

  He has long been an advocate for world cinema, having acquired and distributed prestigious titles such as Amores Perros, Pan’s Labyrinth, Spirited Away, Persepolis and A Prophet to name a few.

  Perkins has built a legacy across both companies for nurturing emerging and established filmmaking talent: Optimum backed writer-director Paul King’s first feature Bunny and The Bull and continued their collaboration through to the Paddington franchise. Filmmaking talent such as Ben Wheatley, Idris Elba, Rian Johnson, Paddy  Considine, James Marsh, Ron Howard, Guillermo del  Toro, Jacques Audiard, Kathryn Bigelow, Todd Haynes,  Chris Morris, Shane Meadows, Alejandro G. Iñárritu,  Tomas Alfredson, Garth Jennings, Philippa Lowthorpe,  Marjane Satrapi, Joe Cornish, Lynne Ramsay, Juan  Antonio Bayona and Hayao Miyazaki have all enjoyed a collaborative relationship with both Optimum and  Studiocanal UK, under Perkins’ creativity, guidance and leadership. During his tenure, Optimum/Studiocanal have generated £470m ($650m) at the UK box office since 1999 and received 114 BAFTA Nominations and 24 Wins. Films that Perkins is credited on have earned £175m ($260m) at the UK box office and $1.1bn worldwide. He leaves Studiocanal UK having developed strong personal relationships with all of the major UK production companies including Working Title Films, Heyday Films, Aardman, Blueprint Pictures, See-Saw Films, Warp Films and Big Talk Productions. A board member of Creative England, Perkins has delivered the keynote speech at the UK Film Production Finance Market and spoken at the BSAC conference, NFTS and BFI.

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  Tom Quinn

  Tom Quinn
  CEO & Founder | NEON

  Tom Quinn is the CEO and Founder of NEON, est 2017.  In just five years, NEON has grossed over $180M at the box office with 18 Academy Award®Nominations and 5 wins, including best picture for Bong Joon Ho’s record-breaking drama Parasite, which won a historic 4 Academy Awards® including Best Picture, the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Foreign Language. The critically acclaimed film broke multiple U.S. Box Office records including highest per screen average of 2019 and highest per screen average for a foreign language film of all time, amassing over $54M.  In 2022, NEON garnered 6 Academy Award® Nominations for Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s Flee, which made history as the first film to score an impressive trifecta of Oscar nominations in the categories of Animated Feature, Documentary and International; Joachim Trier’s The Worst Person in the World; and Pablo Larraín’s Spencer. In Cannes 2022, NEON will unveil Crimes of the Future from acclaimed director David Cronenberg and visionary filmmaker Brett Morgen’s experiential Bowie film Moonage Daydream. Other noteworthy NEON releases include: the 2021 Palme d’Or winner Titane from director Julia Ducournau; Golden Globe and WGA nominated Palm Springs starring Andy Samberg; Portrait of a Lady on Fire and Petite Maman from French writer-director Celine Sciamma; Todd Douglas Miller’s Apollo 11, the highest grossing documentary in the world of 2019; Tim Wardle's Three Identical Strangers, winner of the Sundance Special Jury Award for Storytelling, which surpassed $13M at the box office; and Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya, which garnered multiple Academy Award® nominations, one win for Allison Janney and amassed over $30M in box office in North America. Quinn is credited with having created a new distribution paradigm for such groundbreaking films as Snowpiercer, It Follows and Bachelorette, while simultaneously championing a traditional distribution model for back-to-back Oscar winners 20 Feet From Stardom and Citizenfour. Having acquired, produced and distributed over 275 films spanning a 25-year career, Quinn is responsible for launching 2 distribution labels: the boutique label RADiUS and the groundbreaking genre label Magnet for Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner. He also played a key role in pioneering the use of VOD platforms as the Senior Vice President at Magnolia Pictures. He also created the Oscar Shorts Program and oversaw its distribution for the first 6 years of its existence. Prior to Magnolia, he served as the VP of Acquisitions at Samuel Goldwyn, where he was responsible for Super Size Me. Quinn is the recipient of the Visionary Award alongside Eli Roth and Elijah Wood from the Stanley Film Festival, the Leading Light Award from the DOC-NYC Film Festival, and the Maverick Award at the Woodstock Film Festival.

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  Anna Rózalska

  Anna Rózalska
  Co-Founder, Producer | Match & Stark

  Anna is an experienced film & TV series producer, entrepreneur, lecturer, and strategist. In 2015 she co-founded Match and Spark, a production company and one of the leading talent agencies in Poland. Anna has many years of experience working on international co-productions. With a passion for working with outstanding filmmakers, she excels at combining her entrepreneurial thinking and business skills with the arts. Anna has been named Woman to Watch in 2022 on the Forbes Women Power Rising List. Anna serves also as a Board Member of Lodz Film School.

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  Sarah Schweitzman

  Sarah Schweitzman
  Media Finance Agent | Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

  Sarah Schweitzman is a Media Finance Agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Schweitzman is based in the Los Angeles office and specializes in feature film packaging and arranging financing for content across all media formats. She has been involved in the sales and financing of such films as LES MISÉRABLES, CAPERNAUM, and QUEEN AND SLIM, among others.

  Schweitzman also represents filmmakers, helping to package, source financing for and/or sell distribution rights to their films, including Academy Award nominated Nadine Labaki (CAPERNAUM), Academy Award nominated Ladj Ly (LES MISÉRABLES); Karim Ainouz (INVISIBLE LIFE) and A.B. Shawky (YOMEDDINE), as well as Sophia Takal (BLACK CHRISTMAS), among others.

  Schweitzman began her career at CAA and rejoined the agency in 2017 from client Alex Kurtzman’s Secret Hideout. She previously held executive positions at 21st Century Fox and Vendôme Pictures.

  Schweitzman graduated from Smith College with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and French Literature.

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  Greg Shapiro

  Greg Shapiro
  Producer Kingsgate Films

  Greg Shapiro is the Academy Award-winning producer of The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, which received a total of six Oscars including Best Picture. Shapiro was also executive producer on
Bigelow’s Zero Dark Thirty, which received five Academy Award nominations, and Bruce Robinson’s The Rum Diary, starring Johnny Depp. Most recently, Shapiro was executive producer of Detroit, directed by Bigelow, written by Mark Boal, and released by Annapurna in August 2017. His upcoming films include Serenity, written and directed by Steven Knight, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Diane Lane, and Djimon Honsou; as well as Richard Says Goodbye, written and directed by Wayne Roberts, starring Johnny Depp, Rosemarie Dewitt, Danny Huston, and Zoey Deutsch. Currently in post-production is the independent film Weightless, starring Alessandro Nivola and Julianne Nicholson. Shapiro also produced James Gray’s The Immigrant, starring Marion Cotillard, Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Renner, which premiered at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival as part of the official competition and was released by The Weinstein Company in 2014. His other producing credits include Child 44 directed by Daniel Espinosa; The Conspirator, directed by Robert Redford; The Rules of Attraction directed by Roger Avary; and the popular Harold & Kumar franchise. For television, Shapiro is executive producer of “Graves,” a 10-episode, half-hour political satire produced by Lionsgate, which returns to EPIX on October 22, 2017 for its second season debut. “Graves” premiered in fall 2016 and promptly earned star Nick Nolte a Golden Globe nomination for his role as ex-President Richard Graves.

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  Frank Smith

  Frank Smith
  President & CEO | Walden Media LLC

  Frank Smith is President and CEO of Walden Media and Anschutz Film Group (AFG). Smith has been with AFG since 2003, and currently oversees all aspects of AFG’s operations. His most recent credits include the Netflix original series The Baby-Sitters Club, Seasons 1 and 2, as well as feature films including Finch on Apple TV+, Rumble on Paramount+, as well as theatrical releases Everest, A Dog’s Purpose, The BFG, and Wonder. He also works directly with The Anschutz Corporation on strategic planning and general operational issues. Prior to joining AFG in 2003, Smith was Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at New Line Cinema/Fine Line Features.

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  Ilya Stewart

  Ilya Stewart
  Founder & Producer | Hype Studios

  Ilya Stewart is one of the international film industry’s rising stars. After founding production company Hype in 2011 with Murad Osmann, the pair have rapidly grown the outfit into one of the hottest names in Russia across commercials, music videos, and feature films. Unsurprisingly, TV is also now in the company’s sights. Hype has amassed an impressive number of credits over its first decade of operation, but Stewart is largely recognized for his work with Kirill Serebrennikov. Their first film together, 2016’s The Student, won the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes, and they returned two years later with Leto, which was selected to screen in Competition. In 2022, Ilya Stewart has launched an independent studio based in Europe that will operate on a global scale, working with international talent and focusing on English-language feature films and television series. Among the co-productions with American and European partners currently on Hype Studios’ slate is Zach Wigon’s “Sanctuary,” starring Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott.

• 

  Roeg Sutherland

  Roeg Sutherland
  Co-Head | Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

  Roeg Sutherland is Co-Head of the Media Finance department and Co-Head of the International Film Group at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Based in Los Angeles, Sutherland specializes in the packaging and representation of independently financed film, television, and digital content.  In addition, he consults with select class-leading producers and financiers on their media investments. In just the past 5 years, films packaged and/or sold by CAA Media Finance have generated approximately $5 billion at the worldwide box office. Sutherland also represents a global roster of filmmakers, helping to package, source financing for, and/or sell distribution rights to their films, both English and local language releases.  Clients include Ladj Ly (LES MISÉRABLES); Sam Mendes (1917); Rian Johnson (KNIVES OUT); Roland Emmerich (MIDWAY); Martin McDonagh (THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI); Alejandro González Iñárritu (THE REVENANT, BIRDMAN); Ana Lily Amirpour (BAD BATCH); James Gray (AD ASTRA, LOST CITY OF Z); Nadine Labaki (CAPERNAUM); Juan Antonio Bayona (A MONSTER CALLS); Claire Denis (HIGH LIFE); Dan Gilroy (ROMAN J. ISRAEL, NIGHTCRAWLER); Paul Thomas Anderson (LICORICE PIZZA); Kathryn Bigelow (THE HURT LOCKER, ZERO DARK THIRTY); Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER, BLACK SWAN); Gaspar Noé (CLIMAX); Terrence Malick (A HIDDEN LIFE), Yann Demange (’71), Jacques Audiard (THE SISTERS BROTHERS); Karim Aïnouz (INVISIBLE); Julian Schnabel (AT ETERNITY’S GATE); Joe Talbot (THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO); Khalil Joseph (BLKNWS); and Steve McQueen (12 YEARS A SLAVE), plus Arthur Jafa, Walter Salles, and Morten Tyldum among others. Under Sutherland’s leadership CAA Media Finance has become one of the largest suppliers of feature films into the U.S. theatrical marketplace, brokering more than 100 distribution deals per year for films with budgets ranging from $100K to more than $150M. In addition the films noted above, He has led the packaging, financing and sales of such projects as the Best Picture Academy Award-winning CODA, THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO SEVEN, BORAT SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM, PIECES OF A WOMAN, and THE FATHER, plus GREYHOUND, MALCOLM & MARIE, 12 YEARS A SLAVE, HER, SICARIO, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, and YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE; plus many others. In addition, Sutherland has led the expansion of the Media Finance department’s international activities.  Building on CAA’s more than 16-year presence in China, Media Finance serves as a bridge to and within the Chinese film market and, to date, has directed more than three-quarters-of-a billion dollars in Chinese capital into English-language content.  Sutherland and the Media Finance team have partnered Chinese financiers with U.S. and European sales agents and production companies, forging strategic partnerships across the globe. Media Finance’s long-standing work across the global entertainment arena includes extensive experience in architecting financing and distribution entities such as Elevation (Canada), Library Pictures International, Wild Bunch International (France), NEON (U.S.), FilmNation Entertainment (U.S.), AC Brazil, Elysian Film Group Distribution (UK), Wild West (France), UMA (Indonesia and Southeast Asia), and Asbury Park Pictures (U.S.). He joined CAA in 2001. Sutherland received his B.A. from Princeton University.

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  David M. Taghioff

  David M. Taghioff
  Chief Executive | Library Pictures

  David M. Taghioff is the Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles-based Library Pictures International (Library), a global local-language content financier focused on supporting industry-leading storytellers around the world by investing in local production slates. Library, which in 2019 announced an investment by Legendary Pictures, has a multi-year, multi-picture slate co-financing deal with CJ Entertainment covering local-language film productions in South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Turkey.  The company also has television and film financing deals in India, and is co-financing the thriller KILL with Great Point Media and Screen Scotland. Taghioff was previously Co-Head of Global Client Strategy at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he worked across the agency identifying new business opportunities for the agency’s clients, with an emphasis on the international marketplace. He advised corporate clients on their international initiatives, including Cirque du Soleil, Lionsgate, IMAX, QVC, Credit Suisse, Econet Media, Ivanhoe Media, the Indian Express Group, YES Bank, and Reliance Entertainment, among others. He also worked with film and television clients on cross-border opportunities, architecting and brokering multiple film slate deals for Blumhouse Productions and SK Global to produce local-language films in India and Korea. Taghioff came to CAA in 2011 from Octagon, Inc., where as Chief Operating Officer of its entertainment division, he oversaw all aspects of corporate operations, strategy, finance, and business affairs for the company’s management and production company, Octagon Entertainment.  Prior to this role, Taghioff served as the Co-Head of the then William Morris Agency’s London office, where he was responsible for managing the corporate, legal, and client service aspects of the office.  Taghioff also led its business development initiatives, working with digital media companies as well as international talent and consumer brands, and strategized plans for the expansion of the William Morris Agency’s core business into India and the Middle East. Taghioff graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California.  He received his Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University and is a member of the California State Bar.

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  Christine Vachon

  Christine Vachon
  Co-President | Killer Films

  Christine Vachon is an Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award winner who co-founded indie powerhouse Killer Films with partner Pamela Koffler in 1995. Over the past two decades, they have produced over 100 films, including some of the most celebrated American indie features: CAROL, FAR FROM HEAVEN, STILL ALICE, BOYS DON'T CRY, KIDS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, VELVET GOLDMINE, SAFE, I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, and I'M NOT THERE. In television, Vachon executive-produced the Emmy and Golden Globe-awarded miniseries MILDRED PIERCE for HBO as well as Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING for Amazon Studios. Recent releases include Janicza Bravo's ZOLA, distributed by A24, PRIDE, six-part documentary series produced with Refinery 29 for FX, the limited series HALSTON for Netflix, and Billy Porter's ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE for Orion Picture

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  Patrick Wachsberger

  Patrick Wachsberger
  Founder & CEO | Picture Perfect Federation

  30-year vet, who recently joined forces with French producer Federation Entertainment to create a production powerhouse Picture Perfect Federation. His efforts as a  top film producer earned him an Academy Award for “Best Picture” for Coda. Previously, he was Chairman of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate and steered the  company to huge global success. He oversaw all aspects of feature film acquisition, production  and distribution. Under his watch Lionsgate’s slate generated an average of nearly $2 billion at  the global box office each of the past four years, led by the mega-blockbuster Hunger Games  franchise, along with the critically acclaimed La La Land. Before joining Lionsgate, Wachsberger was Co-Chairman and President of Summit, the company he helped launch in 1993 and turned into one of the premier independent studios, with the blockbuster Twilight Saga franchise and Oscar winner The Hurt Locker. An  accomplished producer, his credits include: In the Valley of Elah, Step Up, which launched a $600 million franchise, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

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  Robert Walak

  Robert Walak
  Co-President | Anonymous Content Studios

  Robert Walak is the Co-President of Anonymous Content Studios,  the premium independent film and TV production studio that sits inside Anonymous Content. Here, he oversees development and production on projects across film, television, documentaries, doc series and podcasts. Walak was previously President at Focus Features, which acquires and produces specialty films for the global market and is a premier label with a library of iconic movies. He was Co-Managing Director at Universal Pictures International Productions, where he worked on internationally oriented productions, acquisitions and local-language product. Prior to this, Walak was Managing Director and President of Production and Acquisitions at The Weinstein Company. He was previously SVP of Production and Acquisitions at Alliance Films/Momentum Pictures. Earlier in his career, Walak worked in business development at Endemol and was a producer at MTV Europe. He graduated from the University of Amsterdam.

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  Sven Wälti

  Sven Wälti
  
Head of Film | SRG SSR

  Since 2012 Sven Wälti works as Head of Film for the Swiss Radio and Television Company SRG SSR based in Berne. He is in charge of the „Pacte de l’audiovisuel“, the national coproduction agreement between the SRG SSR and the independent swiss producers. The annual budget is 32.5 million to coproduce features films, documentaries, series, animation and short films in four languages for TV and the national streaming platform PLAY SUISSE. He also represents SRG SSR in the Program conference of ARTE.

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  Matthijs Wouter Knol

  Matthijs Wouter Knol
  CEO and Director | European Film Academy
  
  Since 2021, Matthijs Wouter Knol (1977) is the CEO and Director of the European Film Academy. At the helm of this historical institution, founded in 1989 by Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Claude Chabrol, István Szabó, Wim Wenders and many other European filmmakers, he is responsible for all programming of current and future new activities of the Academy, including brand new audience development and film education projects. The annual European Film Awards being its most well-known event, the scope of its impact will change: in the upcoming years, the Academy will initiate an annual Month of European Film programme, the European Film Club and numerous activities embracing European film heritage. This new portfolio is carried out in collaboration with major stakeholders all over Europe.

  Originally a historian, Matthijs read Contemporary History in Leiden, the Netherlands and Rome, Italy, and started working as an magazine editor and journalist. From 2001 onwards, he was involved as creative and associate producer in over 30 documentary films in Amsterdam. For ARTE, he co-produced a digital edition of 40 re-mastered works of Dutch documentarian Johan van der Keuken, which was awarded the Prix Cahiers du Cinéma (2006). For 12 years he formed part of the senior Berlinale team, first as Head of Programming of Berlinale Talents (2008-2014), then as Director of the European Film Market (2014-2020).

  Since 2017, Diversity and Inclusion have been an intrinsic part of Matthijs’s work. Gradually introducing D&I schemes, both at EFM and more recently at the European Film Academy, rethinking and diversifying organizational structures within the European film industry is a key element in his daily work. In 2020, he was one of the co-founders of the Anti-Racism Taskforce for European Film, an organization addressing systemic racism in European film culture and joined that year by 25 European film organisations. As a Board member of the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR), he works on advocacy and the support of filmmakers imprisoned or threatened by authorities in and outside Europe.