American Film Market 2023
October 31st – November 5th, 2023
Le Meridien Delfina
The AFM 2023 concluded successfully despite the backdrop of two ongoing strikes
The 2023 edition of the American Film Market (AFM), the largest U.S. market dedicated to international cinema, has just concluded. This year, the event was held at the new location, “Le Meridien Delfina,” amidst a strike by hotel workers. More than 100 members of “Unite Here Local 11” have joined the picket line since day one, creating challenges for market attendees. The strike persisted throughout the week, with the constant sounds of banging drums and vuvuzelas affecting those staying at the hotel. It’s unclear whether an agreement could have been reached before the AFM, as the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) had already signed a multi-year deal to relocate the market from the Lowes Hotel to Le Meridien Delfina in March before the strike by Unite Here Local 11 began.
During this AFM, sellers faced additional challenges when presenting their film slates. Although the writers’ strike has ended, producers and agents did not see the anticipated influx of new scripts due to a significant decline in production during the writers’ strike in May. Furthermore, as actors are still on strike, packaging projects with attached talent have been negatively impacted. Without a cast, many packages struggle to secure financing or attract other talent elements.
While agents aren’t optimistic about big deals going down, many sellers reported the number of attendees remained strong, and they still enjoy the chance to meet with their key buyers face-to-face rather than over zoom.
In the list of high-value projects are Lionsgate’s Highlander reboot, which exceeds $100 million, and Kevin Costner’s Horizon Westerns. AFM has traditionally been recognized as a genre market, and this edition confirmed that, as many companies have a lineup of lower-budget action, thriller, and horror.
Many buyers have expressed their astonishment at the increase in license fees. Independent producer and distributor Alexia Melocchi (Little Studios Films) who buys for the Russian territories, reported that movies she used to buy for 300k are now priced at 1.5 million.
The official Italian delegation at this AFM – coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture/Cinecittà, including 10 companies comprising producers, distributors, film commissions, and sales agents were brought together to represent the best of the Italian entertainment industry. They showcased locations with a wide range of content, including movies, documentaries, TV series, original IPs, as well as TV specials focused on educational and cultural themes.
Here you can view this year’s catalogue.
This year, the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office hosted a Networking Event titled “Cappuccino with the Italians” on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM at the Sandbox Room. Italian and international audiovisual delegations had the opportunity to network over cappuccino and pastries. The event was introduced by Alessandra Rainaldi, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office, and Raffaella Valentini, the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. Both have pointed out the Renaissance phase the Italian audiovisual industry has been living over the past few years.
Will the AFM return to the Delfina in 2023? Many attendees working at the hotel expressed concerns about the location and structure of the hotel. The combination of hotel staff strikes, sluggish elevator services, and an intricate corridor layout of the hotel created a challenging navigation experience for buyers who preferred a beachfront location. However, IFTA has closed a multi-year contract with that location.
Read the article on the Italian audiovisual Renaissance on The Hollywood Reporter
October 31st – November 5th, 2023
Le Meridien Delfina
The AFM 2023 concluded successfully despite the backdrop of two ongoing strikes
The 2023 edition of the American Film Market (AFM), the largest U.S. market dedicated to international cinema, has just concluded. This year, the event was held at the new location, “Le Meridien Delfina,” amidst a strike by hotel workers. More than 100 members of “Unite Here Local 11” have joined the picket line since day one, creating challenges for market attendees. The strike persisted throughout the week, with the constant sounds of banging drums and vuvuzelas affecting those staying at the hotel. It’s unclear whether an agreement could have been reached before the AFM, as the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) had already signed a multi-year deal to relocate the market from the Lowes Hotel to Le Meridien Delfina in March before the strike by Unite Here Local 11 began.
During this AFM, sellers faced additional challenges when presenting their film slates. Although the writers’ strike has ended, producers and agents did not see the anticipated influx of new scripts due to a significant decline in production during the writers’ strike in May. Furthermore, as actors are still on strike, packaging projects with attached talent have been negatively impacted. Without a cast, many packages struggle to secure financing or attract other talent elements.
While agents aren’t optimistic about big deals going down, many sellers reported the number of attendees remained strong, and they still enjoy the chance to meet with their key buyers face-to-face rather than over zoom.
In the list of high-value projects are Lionsgate’s Highlander reboot, which exceeds $100 million, and Kevin Costner’s Horizon Westerns. AFM has traditionally been recognized as a genre market, and this edition confirmed that, as many companies have a lineup of lower-budget action, thriller, and horror.
Many buyers have expressed their astonishment at the increase in license fees. Independent producer and distributor Alexia Melocchi (Little Studios Film) who buys for the Russian territories, reported that movies she used to buy for 300k are now priced at 1.5 million.
The official Italian delegation at this AFM – coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture/Cinecittà, including 10 companies comprising producers, distributors, film commissions, and sales agents were brought together to represent the best of the Italian entertainment industry. They showcased locations with a wide range of content, including movies, documentaries, TV series, original IPs, as well as TV specials focused on educational and cultural themes.
Here you can view this year’s catalogue.
This year, the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office hosted a Networking Event titled “Cappuccino with the Italians” on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM at the Sandbox Room. Italian and international audiovisual delegations had the opportunity to network over cappuccino and pastries. The event was introduced by Alessandra Rainaldi, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office, and Raffaella Valentini, the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. Both have pointed out the Renaissance phase the Italian audiovisual industry has been living over the past few years,
Take a look at this year’s catalogue.
Will the AFM return to the Delfina in 2023? Many attendees working at the hotel expressed concerns about the location and structure of the hotel. The combination of hotel staff strikes, sluggish elevator services, and an intricate corridor layout of the hotel created a challenging navigation experience for buyers who preferred a beachfront location. However, IFTA has closed a multi-year contract with that location.
Read the article on the Italian audiovisual Renaissance on The Hollywood Reporter
Share:
Related Posts
October 31st – November 5th, 2023
Le Meridien Delfina
The AFM 2023 concluded successfully despite the backdrop of two ongoing strikes
The 2023 edition of the American Film Market (AFM), the largest U.S. market dedicated to international cinema, has just concluded. This year, the event was held at the new location, “Le Meridien Delfina,” amidst a strike by hotel workers. More than 100 members of “Unite Here Local 11” have joined the picket line since day one, creating challenges for market attendees. The strike persisted throughout the week, with the constant sounds of banging drums and vuvuzelas affecting those staying at the hotel. It’s unclear whether an agreement could have been reached before the AFM, as the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) had already signed a multi-year deal to relocate the market from the Lowes Hotel to Le Meridien Delfina in March before the strike by Unite Here Local 11 began.
During this AFM, sellers faced additional challenges when presenting their film slates. Although the writers’ strike has ended, producers and agents did not see the anticipated influx of new scripts due to a significant decline in production during the writers’ strike in May. Furthermore, as actors are still on strike, packaging projects with attached talent have been negatively impacted. Without a cast, many packages struggle to secure financing or attract other talent elements.
While agents aren’t optimistic about big deals going down, many sellers reported the number of attendees remained strong, and they still enjoy the chance to meet with their key buyers face-to-face rather than over zoom.
In the list of high-value projects are Lionsgate’s Highlander reboot, which exceeds $100 million, and Kevin Costner’s Horizon Westerns. AFM has traditionally been recognized as a genre market, and this edition confirmed that, as many companies have a lineup of lower-budget action, thriller, and horror.
Many buyers have expressed their astonishment at the increase in license fees. Independent producer and distributor Alexia Melocchi (Little Studios Films) who buys for the Russian territories, reported that movies she used to buy for 300k are now priced at 1.5 million.
The official Italian delegation at this AFM – coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture/Cinecittà, including 10 companies comprising producers, distributors, film commissions, and sales agents were brought together to represent the best of the Italian entertainment industry. They showcased locations with a wide range of content, including movies, documentaries, TV series, original IPs, as well as TV specials focused on educational and cultural themes.
Here you can view this year’s catalogue.
This year, the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office hosted a Networking Event titled “Cappuccino with the Italians” on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM at the Sandbox Room. Italian and international audiovisual delegations had the opportunity to network over cappuccino and pastries. The event was introduced by Alessandra Rainaldi, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office, and Raffaella Valentini, the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. Both have pointed out the Renaissance phase the Italian audiovisual industry has been living over the past few years.
Will the AFM return to the Delfina in 2023? Many attendees working at the hotel expressed concerns about the location and structure of the hotel. The combination of hotel staff strikes, sluggish elevator services, and an intricate corridor layout of the hotel created a challenging navigation experience for buyers who preferred a beachfront location. However, IFTA has closed a multi-year contract with that location.
Read the article on the Italian audiovisual Renaissance on The Hollywood Reporter
October 31st – November 5th, 2023
Le Meridien Delfina
The AFM 2023 concluded successfully despite the backdrop of two ongoing strikes
The 2023 edition of the American Film Market (AFM), the largest U.S. market dedicated to international cinema, has just concluded. This year, the event was held at the new location, “Le Meridien Delfina,” amidst a strike by hotel workers. More than 100 members of “Unite Here Local 11” have joined the picket line since day one, creating challenges for market attendees. The strike persisted throughout the week, with the constant sounds of banging drums and vuvuzelas affecting those staying at the hotel. It’s unclear whether an agreement could have been reached before the AFM, as the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) had already signed a multi-year deal to relocate the market from the Lowes Hotel to Le Meridien Delfina in March before the strike by Unite Here Local 11 began.
During this AFM, sellers faced additional challenges when presenting their film slates. Although the writers’ strike has ended, producers and agents did not see the anticipated influx of new scripts due to a significant decline in production during the writers’ strike in May. Furthermore, as actors are still on strike, packaging projects with attached talent have been negatively impacted. Without a cast, many packages struggle to secure financing or attract other talent elements.
While agents aren’t optimistic about big deals going down, many sellers reported the number of attendees remained strong, and they still enjoy the chance to meet with their key buyers face-to-face rather than over zoom.
In the list of high-value projects are Lionsgate’s Highlander reboot, which exceeds $100 million, and Kevin Costner’s Horizon Westerns. AFM has traditionally been recognized as a genre market, and this edition confirmed that, as many companies have a lineup of lower-budget action, thriller, and horror.
Many buyers have expressed their astonishment at the increase in license fees. Independent producer and distributor Alexia Melocchi (Little Studios Film) who buys for the Russian territories, reported that movies she used to buy for 300k are now priced at 1.5 million.
The official Italian delegation at this AFM – coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual at the Italian Ministry of Culture/Cinecittà, including 10 companies comprising producers, distributors, film commissions, and sales agents were brought together to represent the best of the Italian entertainment industry. They showcased locations with a wide range of content, including movies, documentaries, TV series, original IPs, as well as TV specials focused on educational and cultural themes.
Here you can view this year’s catalogue.
This year, the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office hosted a Networking Event titled “Cappuccino with the Italians” on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11 AM at the Sandbox Room. Italian and international audiovisual delegations had the opportunity to network over cappuccino and pastries. The event was introduced by Alessandra Rainaldi, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency’s Los Angeles Office, and Raffaella Valentini, the Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles. Both have pointed out the Renaissance phase the Italian audiovisual industry has been living over the past few years,
Take a look at this year’s catalogue.
Will the AFM return to the Delfina in 2023? Many attendees working at the hotel expressed concerns about the location and structure of the hotel. The combination of hotel staff strikes, sluggish elevator services, and an intricate corridor layout of the hotel created a challenging navigation experience for buyers who preferred a beachfront location. However, IFTA has closed a multi-year contract with that location.
Read the article on the Italian audiovisual Renaissance on The Hollywood Reporter
