A record 410 exhibitors will take part in the 2005 American Film Market (AFM) in Santa Monica November 2 to 9, making it the largest market in the event’s history.
Exhibitors will come from 33 countries, also a record.
The announcement was made lasy week by Jonathan Wolf, executive vice president of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) and managing director of the American Film Market.
The 410 exhibitors represent a 15% increase from the 356 companies that exhibited at the November 2004 AFM. The increase is across-the-board, with 24 countries showing an increase in exhibiting companies. Among exhibiting countries new to the AFM this year are Russia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Egypt and Greece.
“Records are great, but what’s truly exciting is the breadth of the increase.” said Wolf. “With first-time exhibitors coming from 24 countries, it’s clear that the global independent film industry is healthy and growing.”
Among the exhibiting companies are: 2929 International, CineTel Films, Inc., Focus Features, GreeneStreet Films, Lions Gate Films, Myriad Pictures, New Line Cinema, The Weinstein Company, ThinkFilm from the U.S.;
Celluloid Dreams, StudioCanal, Limelight Distribution, Gaumont (France); Bavaria Film International, Atlas International Film GmbH, Media Luna Entertainment (Germany); Capitol Films, Goldcrest Films International, Icon Entertainment International, Odyssey Entertainment Limited (United Kingdom); Arcadia Motion Pictures, Mortimer Produccions (Spain); National Film Development Corp, (India); Japan/JETRO, Pony Canyon Inc., TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) (Japan); CJ Entertainment, Show East, Tube Entertainment (South Korea); Fortune Star Entertainment Ltd, Mandarin Films Distribution Co. Ltd, Media Asia Distribution Limited (Hong Kong).
As announced earlier, to accommodate the growth, the AFM, which takes over the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel annually, and last year added a floor of offices at Le Merigot Hotel, has leased a second floor of offices at Le Merigot. All exhibit space has been sold.
Le Merigot also houses the AFM’s video screening rooms and seminars.
The American Film Market is the world’s largest motion picture trade event. More than $500 million in motion picture and television production and distribution deals are closed annually.
Each year, over 7,000 industry professionals converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal making, screenings, seminars, networking and hospitality. Participants include motion picture and television production company executives, distributors, directors, agents, writers, lawyers, bankers, festival directors, film commissioners and trade groups.
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.In 2004, the AFM moved to November and established a strategic alliance with AFI FEST, creating the only festival-market combination in North America. The AFI FEST runs November 3 to 13 this year. For more information on AFI FEST, please visit www.afi.com.
