Editor

 2012 AMERICAN FILM MARKET WRAPS WEDNESDAY WITH INCREASE IN BUYERS AND FILMS SCREENING, PACKED CONFERENCES AND STRONG PROJECTS 

The 2012 American Film Market (AFM^®) will conclude its October 31- November 7 run on Wednesday with an increase in buyers of 6% to 1,616 versus 1,523 a year ago and 35 more buying companies than 2011, an increase of 5%.  A total of 753 buying companies from more than 60 countries were present this year. The AFM Conferences, which launched in 2011, spoke to large audiences of more than 700 in attendance each day. Exhibiting companies at AFM were on par with last year at 357. 

“The healthy growth in new buying companies is the most important metric for us,” said AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf. “It shows that the global marketplace for independent film is continuing to expand.”

Regions with more buyers at the market included Asia (up 14%) and Latin/South America (up 17%). Among individual countries, Japan and Korea had the largest increase for buying companies, with Korea (up 26%) and Japan up (23%).

Attendance among exhibitor-affiliated participants (including their executives, producers, talent and guests) concluded at 3,069.

Industry attendees, the non-buyers/sellers that include Attorneys, Bankers, Directors, Festival Programmers, Film Commissioners, Filmmakers, Financiers, Government Officials, Post Production Facilities, Press, Producers, Studio Facilities, Trade Associations, Writers and IFTA Guests finished at 3,063. Overall, the market drew more than 7,749 people in attendance to date.

Additional AFM highlights included:

•           442 films screened

•           82 world premieres

•           327 market premieres

•           Films from more than 30 countries

•           More than 650 screenings

The popular five-day AFM Conference Series showcasing sessions on financing, production, marketing, distribution and pitching, featured global industry leaders including Nigel Sinclair, Bahman Naraghi, Alison Thompson, Michael Werner, Roger Corman, Lloyd Kaufman, Tatiana Kelly, Ry Russo-Young and many others.  Additionally, the Industry Conversations Series — intimate, interactive and informative discussions with visionaries, trendsetters and experts in the film industry — delivered many prominent speakers, including Directors Sacha Gervasi, Victor Levin and Josh Stolberg; Producer Bonnie Curtis, Jonathan Silverman, Pamela Adlon, “Harry Potter” franchise Executive Producer Michael Barnathan, Participant Media’s Courtney Sexton and Filmmaker Eddie Schmidt.

About the AFM

The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market, Oct. 31 – Nov. 7, 2012.  The global film industry converges in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making on films in every stage of development and production, as well as screenings, conferences, networking and parties.  

With 8,000 industry leaders from more than 70 countries, 700 screenings and the industry’s largest Conference Series, AFM is the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers, directors, distributors, financiers, industry executives, producers, talent, writers, the international media and all those who provide services to the worldwide motion picture industry.   

The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance®, the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry and the voice and advocate for the Independents worldwide.  Visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.comand www.IFTA-online.org for more information. 

About The Film Catalogue
Available in nine languages, The Film Catalogue lists more than 6,000 recent motion pictures and projects, making it the world's most extensive online resource for producers, distributors and buyers. The Film Catalogue’s advanced search tools allow users to browse or search for films by language, production status, year of completion, budget, director, cast, company, title and genre. Users can also track changes to the catalogue by searching new updates within the past day, week, month or quarter. The site operates year-round and includes market line-ups at AFM, EFM, Filmart and Cannes.