MARCH 2019 PROGRAM
FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCREEN FORUM
AND THE
NEW YORK AUSTRALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
PUBLIC SCREENINGS --- MARCH 19-22, 2019
March 19 - 6:30pm: Opening Night Screening
THE NIGHTINGALE with a Q&A with producer Bruna Papandrea and actors Aisling Franciosi and Damon Herriman
Francesca Beale Theater, 144 West 65th Street
Followed by an invitation-only after party
March 20 - 7:00pm
LADIES IN BLACK with a Q&A with producer Allanah Zitserman and actor Alison McGirr
Francesca Beale Theater, 144 West 65th Street
Preceded by the short film LIBRARY OF LOVE by Khrob and Miranda Edmonds
Followed by an invitation-only after party
March 21 - 6:30pm
MURIEL'S WEDDING 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH TONI COLLETTE
Q&A with Toni Collette and Dan Wyllie
Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street, upper level
Preceded by the short film HABITS by Kathy Sarpi
Followed by an invitation-only after party
March 21 - 6:45pm
JILL BILCOCK: DANCING THE INVISIBLE with a Q&A with director Axel Grigor and Jill Bilcock
The Amphitheater, Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street
Preceded by the short film A WRITER AND THREE SCRIPT EDITORS WALK INTO A BAR by Matthew Saville
March 22 - 6:30pm
TOP END WEDDING with a Q&A with director Wayne Blair and lead actor and co-writer Miranda Tapsell
Francesca Beale Theater, 144 West 65th Street
Preceded by the short film HICCUP by Gerald Lepkowski
Followed by an invitation-only after party
PRIVATE INDUSTRY EVENTS --- MARCH 20-22, 2019
All at the Amphitheater, Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, 144 West 65th Street
March 20
1:00pm -1:50pm
Maximizing Networks & Relationships in the Entertainment Industry
Description: As the maxim goes. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Relationships remain the ultimate currency in the screen trade. New York-based agents and managers discuss networking within the U.S. ecosystem, informing audiences on how to connect with the right people for your career and project. This discussion focuses on the importance of a community of peers and how to network with influential industry members, with a specific focus on the New York industry.
Moderator: Jess Mills (Director, Communication and Marketing, Breaker)
Speakers include: Anna Dokoza (Producer, Director, SPECIAL, BASKETS, INSECURE, LADY DYNAMITE, FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS), Samantha Chalk (Talent Agent, Gersh), Jamie Pillet (Talent Agent, Abrams Artist Agency), Jamie Hughes (Talent Agent, Paradigm),
2:00pm - 3:00pm
HBO UNITED SKATES Case Study
Description: UNITED SKATES filmmakers discuss the Tribeca award-winning documentary, now screening on HBO. The conversation explores the creative genesis and development of the project, including its highly successful grassroots marketing campaign, thereby providing fundamental learnings for up-and-coming and established filmmakers on both the artistic and production processes of documentary production and storytelling to targeted audiences in the United States.
Moderator: Tamir Muhammad
Speakers: Directors Tina Brown, Dyana Winkler
3:10pm - 4:10pm
Women in Television
Description: Female leaders in global television discuss their role within the industry, how they've paved the way for themselves and other women in TV, and share what it takes to lead a team in producing stories for the small screen. This women in focus panel shares insight into how female producers, writers and showrunners have transformed the global medium of television into the elevated platform that it is today.
Moderator: Meggie Palmer (Journalist and Founder of PepTalkHer)
Speakers: Anna Dokoza (Producer, Director, SPECIAL, BASKETS, INSECURE, LADT DYNAMITE, FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS). Laura Eason (Writer, HOUSE OF CARDS, HERE AND NOW), Kathryn O’Kane (Showrunner, SALT FAT ACID HEAT), Keayr Braxton (Executive Producer, RELEASED, HOUSE OF DVF).
4:20pm - 5:20pm
HOTEL MUMBAI Case Study
Description: HOTEL MUMBAI represents the Australian film industry working at its highest level, from originating the IP with a defined audience, to securing a mix of State and Federal funding, which provides the momentum to set the project up at the international level. HOTEL MUMBAI is perhaps the poster child Australia’s remarkable screen subsidy programs. Join producer Mike Gabrawy in the case study chat, moderated by Ausfilm executive Kate Marks.
Speakers: Mike Gabrawy (producer)
Moderator: Kate Marks, SVP International Production, Ausfilm
5:00pm - 6:45pm
Screen Australia/Ausfilm Industry Networking Reception
Indie Food + Wine, invitation only
March 21
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Accessing Capital: Who's Who?
A handful of sales companies, law firms, production companies and finance companies hold the keys to equity financing in New York. This moderated discussion with entertainment lawyers, investors and executive producers, seeks to unpack the seemly opaque work of equity film finance. An emphasis is on who these players are and how to reach them. Participants will come away with practical learnings on what investors are looking for and tactics about involving them in the finance and funding stages of your independent project.
Moderator: Alan Sacks (Lawyer, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz)
Speakers : Doug Schwalbe (SVP International Co-productions Animations, Dreamworks), Alison Cohen (EVP, Business & Legal Affairs, Filmnation), Jake Carter, (Executive, 30West), Gary Raskin (Principal, Sherborne Media Capital), Matthew Rosenberg (Director, Entertainment Finance, Union Bank
2:10pm - 3:00pm
Equity Financing: Exploring Indie Models
In an industry without government support for film, U.S. indie filmmakers rely on various combinations of equity and debt to finance projects. This moderated discussion looks at case studies from New York’s independent film producers, particularly how their experiences and techniques deliver results.
Moderator: Krysanne Katsoolis (Ceo and President, Viewpark, Film Finance instructor in the Producing Department at the New York Film Academy)
Speakers: Rachael Fung (Producer, LITTLE WOODS), Todd Labarowski (Producer, Dreambridge Films, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, BERNIE, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY), Shruti Ganguly (Producer, Honto 88), Alan Sacks (Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein + Selz), Tom Clark (Management Liability Practice Area Executive Vice President, Gallagher), Declan Baldwin (Executive Producer, STILL ALICE, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA).
3:10pm - 4:00pm
The Mystery Road Universe: Building an Indigenous Australian TV Franchise with Global Appeal
Bunya Productions has been responsible for some of the most awarded and critically acclaimed movies and television series made in Australia in recent years. From the successful standalone features such as GOLDSTONE and SWEET COUNTRY to the MYSTERY ROAD film and accompanying television series, producers Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey are establishing franchises that are increasingly connecting with the international marketplace. Producer Greer Simpkin joins us in a moderated discussion where we explore the unique history and methods behind this highly creative production studio, who are exporting Australian spun franchises to the world.
Moderator: Hannah Meagher
Speakers: Greer Simpkin, Kodie Bedford
4:10pm - 5:00pm
Marketing Strategies for the Indie Producer
Description: Join producers and distributors as they discuss the collaboration and unified vision needed to deliver impactful marketing campaigns that sell your story, while maximizing audiences and revenue on a global scale. This panel discussion looks at marketing strategies for the indie producer.
Moderator: Neal Weisman (Chair of Producing, New York Film Academy)
Speaker: Schuyler Weiss (Producer, PIERCING, GHOST TEAM, Head of Production & Development, Baz & Co), Sara Kiener (Head of Distribution, Cinereach), Keisha Salmon (Director of Communications and Audience Development, American Documentary | POV)
5:10pm - 6:30pm
Pitch Royale Round 1 and 2
How’s your elevator pitch? Industry delegates from Australia and the U.S. pitch film or series projects for 1-2 minute to a panel of screen development industry leaders. Judges, who aim to mirror the real world development process, will select the best pitches based on a selective criteria to continue onto the final round on March 22.
Judges for Round 1: Greer Simpkin (Producer, Bunya Productions), Deirdre Brennan (former General Manager, NBCUniveral Kids) and Krysanne Katsoolis (CEO and President, ViewPark)
Judges for Round 2: Jenny Halper (Head of Development and Production, Maven Pictures), Todd Labarowski (Producer, THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, BERNIE, THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY) and Schuyler Weiss (Producer, PIERCING, GHOST TEAM, and President of Development and Production, Baz & Co.)
March 22
1:00pm - 1:50pm
Screen Talks: Barry Levinson in Conversation with Kent Jones
Description: Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson (DINER, THE NATURAL, GOOD MORNING VIETNAM, RAIN MAN, BUGSY, WAG THE DOG, TOYS) joined a college acting class, became a comedy writer and screenwriter, and then a director and producer. He has also been extensively involved in television series. Hear him discus his career and dispense some advice to aspiring filmmakers in conversation with Kent Jones, Director of the New York Film Festival. (Kent's first narrative film, DIANE, was named best U.S narrative feature at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, with Kent winning best screenplay and with his cinematographer winning best cinematography. DIANE will be released on March 29 by IFC Films.)
Moderator: Kent Jones
2:10pm - 3:10pm
Screen Talks: Shane Brennan
Description: Executive Producer of NCIS, Shane Brennan will discuss the television writing and producing experience; transitioning to the U.S. television market, and how he navigated his career running the successful NCIS franchise. The moderated in-person discussion will look at his experience running a U.S. writer’s room and what it takes to executive produce a leading network's smash hit.
Moderator: Caroline Waxler
3:20pm - 4:20pm
Screen Talks: Jill Bilcock with Baz Luhrmann
Description: Jill Bilcock is one of Australia’s most celebrated film editors, responsible for cutting some of Australia’s most successful films. From landmark works such as STRICTLY BALLROOM and MURIEL’S WEDDING to ROMEO AND JULIET and MOULIN ROUGE!, Jill joins director and collaborator Baz Luhrmann in an intimate discussion about the editor’s craft as well as tales of Jill’s 30 year editing career.
Moderator: Jenny Cooney
5:00 - 5:45pm
Screen Talks: Jason Blum - venue moved to the Francesca Beale Theater
Description: Jason Blum is one of the hottest producers in Hollywood right now. The founder of Blumhouse Productions, Jason is best known for profitable low to mid-budget genre films including GET OUT, GLASS, SPLIT, HALLOWEEN, BLACKKKLANSMAN and THE PURGE. This screen talks discusses Jason’s career as well as his approach to story development, talent and film finance. This is unique opportunity serves as a sort of masterclass in the business of producing low budget films.
Speakers: Jason Blum
Moderator: Jenny Cooney
6:00pm - 6:30pm
Pitch Royale 3nd & Final Round
Description: Final round of Pitch Royale, with high-profile judges selecting one winner from both the U.S. and Australian participants.
Judges for the 3rd and Final Round: Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Shane Brennan and Jason Blum