Hosted at the acclaimed Hotel Park City on Jan. 28, 2020, the Independent Filmmakers Day will feature a series of panel discussions, keynote addresses and debates on a wide range of timely topics of interest to independent filmmakers and content creators.

All panels are moderated by Corky Kessler, voted “Best Entertainment Lawyer in the United States.” Produced by Eric Vollweiler.

Register Here to Attend.

Schedule of Events:

9:00 am – Registration/Check in

9:35 am – Introduction to Independent Filmmaker Day

9:55 am – Introduction to Artists United

10:05 am – Introduction to Hayden Film Institute

10:10 am – Fireside Chat with Angela Lawson Ph.D from Northwestern Medical Group on the Topic of Challenges of Women in the context of the “Me Too” Movement.

 

10:15 am – Women in Film Panel (Discussing Current Issues Affecting Women in Film)

Featuring:

1. Carol Anne Shine – Award-winning producer who has produced over 50 titles for film and television. Highlights from her long list of credits include “Blackbird” starring Academy Award® winner Mo’Nique, I Am Legend starring Academy Award® nominee, Will Smith, the groundbreaking LOGO television series, “Noah’s Arc,” a Student Academy Award® national finalist, Waking Mele, Dirty Lies also produced by Catherine Hardwicke, and “Pastor Brown”, a critical and commercial hit on Lifetime.
2. Angela Northington – Angela most recently served as Senior Vice President, Content Acquisitions & Programming for UMC – Urban Movie Channel, a division of RLJ Entertainment, overseeing the company’s acquisitions, programming and development for the proprietary subscription VOD platform UMC (www.UMC.tv), launched by RLJE Chairman and BET founder Robert L. Johnson.
3. Nancy Puetz – Vice President of Women in Film & Television, International (WIFTI) and President of Tennessee Women in Film & Media (TWIFM). She is also the Founder/Executive Director of Franklin International Indie Film Festival (FIIFF).
4. Lilliana Kawase – Co-founder of an independent film production company Titanio Films, investor and influencer. Her last production is Kids & Glory, a Chinese co-production 55’ documentary.
5. Kym Jackson – Kym recently wrapped shooting the series regular role of Queen Neela in ABC Networks 2019 pilot ‘Triangle’ alongside Mike Vogel and Mallory Jansen. She has also played roles on American Crime Story, NCIS, This Is Us, ABC’s Ten Days in The Valley, and BET show, Rebel. Her latest feature film ‘Wishman’ recently screened at both Cannes and Toronto film festivals.

 

11:10 am – Screenplay and Beyond Panel (How to Get Your Film on the Big Screen)

Featuring:

1. Todd Hein, CPA – Senior Tax Manager at Stockman Kast Ryan +Company LLP. Todd works with clients in the entertainment industry, including film and television production, and television commercial production. He speaks frequently to film industry groups, specifically regarding the application of Internal Revenue Code Section 181 and 168.
2. Tina Treadwell – As president of Treadwell Entertainment Group, Ms Treadwell develops and manages the careers of groundbreaking talent. She also oversaw series casting for Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens and The
   Famous Jett Jackson with director Shawn Levy (through which she helped launch the careers of Shia LaBeouf, Hillary Duff and Lee Thompson Young).
3. Honnie Korngold – Producer and founder of CineVantage Productions, a film and television Production Company. With locations in Southern California, South Georgia and Colorado, CineVantage specializes in narrative films with true story origins combined with iconic directors such as Bruce Beresford and Andy Tennant.
4. Adam Fisher – Armed with a background in production and finance, Adam runs the day-to-day operations of Complete Production Group’s West Coast office in Los Angeles where he currently serves as the companies President & Managing Partner.
5. Andrew Steel – On screen Andrew has wowed audiences in the cult hit show’s “Home & Away,” “Wonderland” and his award-winning portrayal of Batman in two seasons of the wickedly sardonic hit comedy “The Justice Lease.” Upon moving to Los Angeles Steel landed his first leading role in the nationally released US feature film “Wish Man,” now available on Netflix.

 

12:00 pm – Expert Roundtables (includes Catered Lunch)

Join interactive lunch discussions, moderated by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Experts include:

1. David Rubenstein – Business and Entertainment Attorney. Producer’s Consultant on Human Capital, starring Marisa Tomei, Liev Schreiber and Maya Hawke and recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.
2. Corky Kessler – Voted “Best Entertainment Lawyer in the United States”. Executive Producer on more than 20 films including Certifiably Jonathan starring Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters.
3. Marc Gold – An in-demand entertainment executive and producer of Fresh Cats Productions and currently oversees development, marketing, and finance for high quality independent films ranging from 500k to 15 million dollars.
4. Gil Aglaure – Gil Aglaure is the founder of Koan, an industry leader in the distribution of quality films and television programs worldwide, and Executive Producer of a number of feature films. Over the years, Koan has grown an impressive catalogue of films with casts such as Mila Kunis, Danny Glover, James Earl Jones, Christopher Reeve, Jon Heder, Denise Richards and many others.

 

1:00 pm – Pitch Competition

Your chance to pitch your idea to a panel of industry professionals – they are the people who matter. They are the ones who decide which films get made and which films get shown in cinema and on TV.

You have 2 minutes to convince the panel to read your script or fund your film. Limited Availability of only 15 Pitches. Winner receives over $20,000 in In-Kind Services for 2020.

Pitch Judges include:

1. Corky Kessler – Voted “Best Entertainment Lawyer in the United States”
2. Marc Gold – An in-demand entertainment executive and producer of Fresh Cats Productions and currently oversees development, marketing, and finance for high quality independent films ranging from 500k to 15 million dollars.
3. Josh Friedman – CEO of Crew Me Up, Inc. The first on-demand marketplace connecting the people making the movies. Gain direct access to Film Crews and Film Creators to form lasting partnerships through the Crew Me Up Network.
4. Jennifer Balliet – Jennifer served as Financial Advisor for First Line Films, via Writer/Director Coerte Voorhees (The First Line – Now on Netflix), and in production of his next film,Canyon Del Muerto.
5. Tom Hillery – Producer and writer, known for Ouija House (2018), Project Solitude (2009) and Bikini Kitchen: Best of Stormy (2011).

 

2:10 pm – Branding, Distribution, and Funding Panel (How to Market Your Film)

Featuring:

1. Ash Greyson – Digital Marketing specialist for over 65 films, including Oscar nominated Deepwater Horizon starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell, and Wonder starring Julia Roberts.
2. Tamara Bell – As Vice President of Koan, Tamara Bell oversees the acquisition and development of feature films, documentaries, series, and animation in genres ranging from sci-fi and action to romantic comedy and faith-based for an ever-growing worldwide audience.
3. Suzy Lenet – Branding Principal at Lightbulb, LLC. Formerly a Branding Director at Levy, a 2 Billion Hospitality and Catering Company in Chicago, Suzy is a branding guru with over 30 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies such as Disney, Microsoft, and ExxonMobil.
4. Dave Conlon – CFO and founding partner of EggPlant Collective and it’s group of companies. EggPlant was formed in 2001 and has two media facilities in downtown Toronto capable of handling all aspects of post production, from dailies to final deliveries. Through his extensive experience with Canadain tax credits and co-treaties, Conlon has executively produced and produced numerous projects.
5. Joe Ventura – With over 35 years of experience as a Registered Investment Advisor, Joe Ventura has helped his clients in all walks of life. His forte is helping individuals raise capital in both conventional and unconventional methods. Joe has mentored over 100 financial professionals to manage and raise capital.

3:00 pm – After-Party Sponsored by Artists United

6:00 pm – End

SEED Us Society is a concept of Being Investments, a global advisory board supporting impact funding initiatives. They believe each person plays a strategic role in developing ideas into action.

Located in the heart of historic Main Street, the SEED Us activation will be hosted in the  WELLHAUS Lounge at the brand-new Old Town Cellars (OTC, 408 Main Street) on January 25th 3:00 – 6:00pm during the festivals’ kick-off weekend.

SATURDAY, January 25:

3:00pm-4:00pm: SEED Mind/Body/Soul Empowered Storytelling– “Play is the New Currency!”

Be a part of the show with storyteller’s Master of Ceremony, Host, and Founder of SEED Brandi Veil and World Renown Vocologist Mister CoRey educating the audience on why “play is the new currency.”

4:00pm-4:30pm: Healing Sound Alchemy Sound Bath Activation : “Sound is Medicine” “Healing Sound Alchemy Is at the forefront of bridging the future of therapy music into the mainstream with Shamanic and Celestial Sounds.”

4:30pm-5:30pm: “Not Panel” Learn About Impact Funding and How Member Groups Can Support Your Projects

Amanda Manares Founder, MindAstronaut, Venture Partnerships, and SEED Advisory

5:30pm-6:00pm: muSIC House Live Music Performance & Networking Social. MusicHouse a Social Intelligent Collective presents performers Monique Benabou, NBC’s The Voice alum & Angus Wilson, Executive Producer & MH Co-founder.

For information on how to nominate your project, co-host to support the current project email: seedussociety@gmail.com

 692 Main Street, Park City (at 7th Street)

Friday, January 24 – Sunday, January 26: 10:30am – 4:00pm & Monday, January 27: 10:00am – 3:00pm

*Speakeasy will close promptly at 4:00pm (Jan. 24-26) for RSVP-only private events

  

Daily Public Programming:

9:00 – 10:00am: Sound Bath with Sara Auster (RSVP required at audible.com/sundance2020)

Afternoon: Audible In Conversation and Los Angeles Times Panels (Jan. 24-26)

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

 

2:30 – 3:30pm:               “How We Made It” Panel, hosted by the Los Angeles Times 

                                        Moderator: Alison Brower, Los Angeles Times Deputy Editor, Arts & Entertainment

Panelists: Heidi Ewing, filmmaker (I Carry You With Me, Love Fraud), Rebecca Hall, actor (The Night House), Ron Howard, filmmaker (Rebuilding Paradise), Sasheer Zamata, actor (Spree) and Amy Ziering, filmmaker (Untitled Russell Simmons documentary)

Los Angeles Times deputy editor Alison Brower will lead a conversation about practical and artistic challenges across genres, how documentary and narrative storytellers respond to character and production hurdles, and the themes that unite great stories.

 

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

 

1:15 – 1:45pm:                In Conversation With Rufus Wainwright

                                        Moderator: Kate Navin, Audible Artistic Producer

Legendary Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright will join Audible’s Artistic Producer Kate Navin in a spirited conversation about the creative process in which powerful music and stories are born. Wainwright will explore his upcoming original project “Road Trip Elegies: Montreal to New York” which covers a journey he took many times with his beloved late mother, Canadian folk singer, Kate McGarrigle, from Montreal to New York City. The route represents both a physical and metaphorical life journey for him, one that oscillates between the emotional poles of his divorced mother and father living in Canada and New York, respectively.

 

2:00 – 3:00pm:               “Music and Storytelling” Panel, hosted by the Los Angeles Times

                                        Moderator: Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Panelists: Eugene Ashe, writer-director (Sylvie’s Love), Alison Ellwood, filmmaker (The Go-Go’s), Belinda Carlisle, musician (The Go-Go’s), and additional participants to be announced

Los Angeles Times writer Amy Kaufman will lead a conversation about the intersection of music and storytelling — how to capture the magic of great performers and performances, how music drives narrative, and the art of creating songs that tell stories and stories that amplify musicians’ craft.

  

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26  

2:30 – 3:30pm:               “Transcendence of Narrative” Panel, hosted by the Los Angeles Times

Moderator: Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Participants: Tessa Thompson, actor (Sylvie’s Love), Nnamdi Asomugha, actor and producer (Sylvie’s Love), Colman Domingo, actor (Zola) and Justin Simien, writer-director (Bad Hair)

Los Angeles Times writer Mark Olsen will lead a conversation about how great narratives can be told and retold, exploring how different storytelling formats inspire and inflect creation and provide new opportunities and challenges.

 

WarnerMedia Lodge: Elevating Storytelling with AT&T programming includes:

• Variety Studio presented by AT&T – January 24-27: WarnerMedia together with AT&T will host Variety Studio, featuring interviews and portraits with the festival’s top A-list actors and filmmakers.
• Jon & Vinny’s Pop Up – January 24-27: AT&T and WarnerMedia will partner with Jon & Vinny’s Italian Restaurant for a pop-up culinary experience from the famed Los Angeles restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo.

Adjacent to the main space is Lateral, a new chic, underground hotspot hosted by WarnerMedia featuring panel discussions, receptions, live entertainment and late-night programming. Activations at Lateral, located at 600 Main St., include:

• TNT Presents Snowpiercer Featuring Sneak Peek Footage and a Conversation with Stars – January 25: A panel with Daveed Diggs, Lena Hall, and Showrunner Graeme Manson, moderated by JD Heyman (Editor-in-Chief, Entertainment Weekly).
• TBS Presents Miracle Workers: Dark Ages Screening & Panel with Cast and Creators – January 25: Screening followed by a panel with Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni and the show’s creator Simon Rich, moderated by Rachel Handler (Vulture). 
• Career Conversations hosted by WarnerMedia’s Talent Acquisition Diversity Outreach – January 25: As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, WarnerMedia invites festival participants to stop by the lounge to view content, better understand our work culture and discuss current or future professional aspirations. View https://www.warnermediagroup.com/careers for a list of potential opportunities.
• “The Impact of Innovation on Today’s Connected Consumer” Panel – January 25: from 5-7pm at LATERAL. Cross-industry leaders in content, technology and innovation will detail the ever-growing demand to connect on multiple platforms and devices, and how companies of any size can scale innovation efforts while measuring success, sentiment and smiles, during an era of ongoing change. Moderated by Jesse Redniss (EVP Data Strategy, WarnerMedia & GM, WarnerMedia Innovation Lab), panelists will include Tony Driscoll (SVP, Emerging Technology & Innovation Strategy at Warner Bros.), Jacee Scoular (Director, Brand Marketing Strategy at Hollister Co.) and Sarah Vick (Executive Producer, Intel Studios).
• Particular Crowd Celebrates Latin America at Sundance Lunch – January 26: A few days after its official launch at NATPE, Particular Crowd, Turner Latin America’s film division, will participate for the first time at Sundance with a lunch to celebrate Latin America. This is following the premiere of one of its movies POSSESSOR the night before.
• HBO Presents Welcome to Chechnya – A Conversation with Filmmaker David France and Film Subjects – January 27: In the present-day Russian republic of Chechnya, gay and transgender citizens are targeted as part of a deadly “cleansing” campaign. This searing documentary shadows a group of brave LGBTQ activists risking their lives to confront the ongoing persecution, working undercover to rescue the victims of this aggression. HBO will host a panel with Filmmaker David France, Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign, subjects featured in the film and moderated by Rashad Robinson, President of Color of Change.

 

“We are excited to kick off 2020 by bringing Our Stories To Tell to the Sundance Film Festival. The creativity and powerful discussions this space has inspired since its inception in 2017 is truly impactful and we look forward to continuing to champion the diversity of our culture and community in all aspects of our programming both on and off screen.” said Jackie Gagne, Vice President, Multicultural Marketing at HBO.

Programming highlights during Sundance include: an exclusive dinner honoring Black Women in Hollywood with participating talent Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Robin Thede, and Lena Waithe; a dinner and conversation with the stars of Insecure to discuss the upcoming fourth season, and much more.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

2PM – 4PM / Après Ski – Human By Orientation, HBO’s platform that celebrates all orientations and gender identities, will be hosting an après ski happy hour. Offering Sundance attendees a decidedly queer mountain-top experience, all are welcome to ease into the weekend. EXPECTED TALENT: Shangela Laquifa Wadley (We’re Here, HBO)

4PM – 6PM / Unfolding Narratives (HBO & TBS) – In partnership with Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience, we will host an intimate discussion with talent from HBO and TBS sharing their perspectives on visibility and diversity in front of and behind the scenes within the entertainment industry. EXPECTED TALENT: Suzy Nakamura (Avenue 5, HBO), Alexander Hodge (Insecure, HBO), Geraldine Viswanathan, Karan Soni (Miracle Workers: Dark Ages, TBS), Minji Chang (Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience), Kimmy Yam (moderator)

9PM – 11PM / ¡Pa’ lante! Empowering the NextGen of Storytellers – An exclusive conversation and reception celebrating the current leaders in Latinx storytelling, the new generation of voices and what comes next in partnership with Remezcla. EXPECTED TALENT: Sara Rodriguez (SVP of HBO Documentary Films), Brian Lazarte (Filmmaker, ​McMillion$, HBO), James Lee Hernandez (​Filmmaker, McMillion$, HBO), ​Manuel Betancourt (Remezcla, Moderator)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

9AM – 11AM / The Grind – Drop in, grab a cup of coffee and mingle.

12:30PM – 2:30PM / Convos & Cocktails with TNT’s Snowpiercer – Join us for a candid chat and mixer with TNT’s Snowpiercer cast moderated by April Reign. EXPECTED TALENT: Graeme Manson (Showrunner), Daveed Diggs, Lena Hall

10PM – 2AM / The Let Out – When the screenings end, The Let Out begins. Come toast to another year on Main Street.