The FiForum was back at the DGA for its 2023 edition, and SAGindie was back as a Premier Sponsor. Film Independent’s annual forum took place September 29 – 30, and featured talks, case studies, networking, screenings, and more. Attendees were greeted with an Opening Night Screening of Frybread Face and Me (accompanied by a conversation with director Billy Luther, producer Chad Burris, cinematographer Peter Simonite, editor Fred Koschmann, and actors Martin Sensmeier, Kahara Hodges, and Charley Hogan). The inaugural Changemaker Award was given to Film Independent Fellows Smriti Mundhra, Pamela Ribon, and Kim Yutani. Bad Hair and Haunted Mansion director Justin Simien provided the Filmmaker Keynote. And the Forum wrapped up with a Closing Night Screening of Fair Play, followed by a Q&A with executive producer Ram Bergman.
Film Independent has also provided video from select Forum programming, which we’ve featured below!
Film Independent Forum 2023 was sponsored by Premier Sponsors SAGindie and Directors Guild of America; and Principal Sponsors HieronyVision and Wrapbook.
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Film Independent Forum 2023 Opening Night Film Q&A: Frybread Face and Me Director Billy Luther
Film Independent Forum 2023 Filmmaker Keynote: Justin Simien
Film Independent Forum 2023 Panel: Financing Clinic – How Do You Package a Movie in Today’s Market?
- Ryan Broussard (VP, Sales and Production Incentives, Wrapbook)
- Jenny Jue (Casting Director, Okja)
- Stephanie Meurer (Producer; Uncle Frank)
- Rahdi Taylor (Concordia Studio)
- Andi Wong (Agent, CAA)
- Moderated by Angela Lee (Director of Artist Development, Film Independent)
Film Independent Forum 2023 Panel: Drawing a Line in the Sand – IP in the Time of AI
- John August (writer; Aladdin)
- Lisa Callif (Partner, Donaldson Callif Perez)
- Alton Glass (CEO, GRX Immersive Labs)
- Jay Redd (VFX Supervisor; For All Mankind)
- William Swartout (Chief Technology Officer, USC Institute for Creative Technologies)
- Moderated by Billy Ray (writer/producer; Captain Phillips)
Film Independent Forum 2023 Closing Night Film Q&A: Fair Play Executive Producer Ram Bergman
- Ram Bergman (Executive Producer, Fair Play)
- Moderated by Josh Welsh (President, Film Independent)
THANKS TO FILM INDEPENDENT FOR ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT THE FORUM!
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