AFM launches with 306 market premieres

The 2010 American Film Market today announced updated screening numbers, with a total of 427 films appearing at the market. Of those, 43 are world premieres, 306 market premieres and 21 will be presented in 3D. Exhibitors from 36 countries will hold more than 700 screenings. AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf made the announcement today.

Many films are already generating Oscar buzz on the eve of the AFM, Nov. 3-10. Throughout its 30-year history, 18 films that have won the “Best Picture” Academy Award® were sold at AFM. A complete list of films and the screening schedule is available at www.TheFilmCatalogue.com or its mobile site, www.TFCgo.com.

AFM’s new private social networking site for AFM Attendees, MyAFM, is already very active. Thousands of registered attendees began communicating, promoting projects and services, and setting meetings weeks before the market opened. More information is available at www.AmericanFilmMarket.com/attendee.

Beginning Saturday, the AFM / People’s Choice Awards Favorite Film Pitch contest will give filmmakers a unique audience for their projects – the public. Submissions will be recorded live on an AFM mini-set. Pitches from five finalists will be posted on the official PCA website following CBS’ broadcast of the People’s Choice Awards and fans will vote online for the pitch they want to see turned into a film. More details and contest rules are available at www.AmericanFilmMarket.com/favorite-film-pitch.

AFM Conferences and Seminars will feature industry leaders, including Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman, The Weinstein Company; Nick Meyer, President & CEO, Sierra Pictures; Graham Taylor, Head of Global Finance & Distribution Group, WME; Stewart Till, Chief Executive, The Icon Group; Richard Gladstein, President, FilmColony; Cathy Schulman, President, Mandalay Pictures; Steve Bersch, President, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group; and Jeff Small, President & COO, DreamWorks. For more information, visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.com/conferences.

About the American Film Market
The business of independent motion picture production and distribution - a truly collaborative process - reaches its peak every year at the AFM when more than 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.

Founded in 1981, the AFM has become the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed — on both completed films and those that haven’t started shooting yet — making AFM the must-attend industry event.

The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade association representing the world’s producers and distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs. More information can be found at www.ifta-online.org.