Join us for the highly anticipated 14th Annual International Film Finance Forum, where top-tier executives and award-winning filmmakers from around the world explore emerging trends, innovative finance strategies, international partnerships, sales & distribution trends, and essential tools for staying ahead.
Our diverse panel discussions will offer invaluable insight into the ever-evolving world of entertainment finance as well as new content trends. The afternoon will also feature intimate fireside chats with industry VIPs, where they will share firsthand accounts of their journeys in the industry and their unfiltered advice. It has been an exciting, challenging, and revolutionary year for the Entertainment Industry, and we can’t wait to dive into it all on May 17th!

This Conference is now on-demand for $49.00 USD.

You will receive a link shortly after payment is completed.

AGENDA 2024

(subject to change)

2:00pm – 2:05pm
Welcoming Address
 

2:05pm - 2:45pm
Embracing International Partnerships: Unlocking the Potential of Co-Productions

In today's ever-connected entertainment landscape, the buzz phrase on everyone's lips is "International Co-Productions." As audiences crave boundary-breaking collaborations on their screens, the quest for new alliances has reached new heights.

Yet, navigating this collaboration and finding the perfect strategic partner can be a challenging endeavor.

Join us as we explore the exciting world of International Partnerships and Co-Productions, where executives from around the globe will share their invaluable advice.

Gain insight into how to identify the right partners for mutual growth, as well as a glimpse into emerging film locations and funding opportunities that are surging around the world.

Our esteemed speakers will provide expert advice and vital tips on how to successfully overcome challenges and reshape your approach to International collaborations. 

MODERATOR:

Karen Robson - Partner, Pryor Cashman

PANELISTS:

Wayne Borg - Managing Director Media Industries, NEOM

Will French, Head of Film & Television Finance, Fallbrook Film Finance

Simon Williams - Managing Partner, Ashland Hill Media Finance

Maria Soccor - Director, Writer, Actor and Founder, Maria Soccor Productions

2:45pm - 3:15pm
FIRESIDE CHAT: Short Form Content, Long Term Impact

Lida Bilokur - Amazon Live

Shermin Lakha - Founder - LVLUP Legal & Agency

Tyler Sabino - Senior Manager of Creative & Brand Strategy - Triller

3:15pm-4:00pm
State Of The Industry; State of Film Finance

The definition of a successful film is constantly evolving, both in major studios and independent settings, prompting filmmakers to reassess what will resonate with audiences and attract commercial success.

Today, filmmakers must strike a balance between staying authentic to their storytelling, appealing to a specific target audience, and satisfying investors. This delicate juggling act can be overwhelming. Plus, securing funding for film projects can be challenging, requiring a deep understanding of emerging funding options. How can filmmakers effectively tap into these resources? 

Join our panel of accomplished speakers from around the world as they discuss global trends, film financing, and overcoming obstacles so that important stories can get financed and delivered to international audiences. 

MODERATOR:

Jeff Bazoian - Managing Director, Head of Media & Entertainment, Fifth Third Bank

PANELISTS:

Jon Gosier - Founder and CEO, FilmHedge

Laura Grange - Commissioning Manager, Sky Original Film

Katie Irwin – Agent and Co-Head of International Sales, WME Independent

Christopher Woodrow - Founder and Chairman, Media Capital Technologies

4:00pm – 4:30pm
FIRESIDE CHAT with Justin Wilkes

Justin Wilkes, President of Imagine Entertainment + Academy Award and BAFTA nominated, Emmy and Peabody-Winning Producer

Moderated By:

Will French, Head of Film & Television Finance, Fallbrook Film Finance

We are thrilled to welcome Justin Wilkes to our program! With such a successful career in the industry, he is sure to offer invaluable insight, tips, and captivating stories from his own journey.

Justin is President of Imagine Entertainment, as well as an Academy Award and BAFTA nominated, Emmy and Peabody-winning producer. He is responsible for overseeing and facilitating the creative output and artistic strategy of the Imagine Entertainment.

Credits include: Emmy-winning films Lucy and Desi (Amazon), Ron Howard’s We Feed People (Disney+), Emmy-nominated Judy Blume Forever (Amazon), The Dynasty (Apple TV+). Upcoming projects include Jim Henson Idea Man, directed by Ron Howard.

4:30pm – 5:15pm
The Brave New World of International Sales & Distribution 
Sales & Distribution trends in the film industry are constantly shifting, driven by accelerated advancements in technology, evolving audience behaviors and an influx of more content transcending borders. 

As the landscape is rapidly changing, remaining flexible and knowledgeable is the key to success. This session will bring together international leaders in the field as they discuss emerging sales strategies, what films work and why, evolving distribution patterns and more. Embracing new industry trends allows filmmakers to remain creative, innovative, and appealing to the wider global audiences. 

Joining this session will allow storytellers from around the world to benefit from a global view of the sales and distribution marketplace and feel confident in taking their projects to the next level!

MODERATOR:

Diana Lodderhose - International Features Editor, Deadline

PANELISTS:

Maren Olson - EVP Film, 30West

Yale Chasin – Media Finance Agent, CAA

Kent Sanderson - President, Bleecker Street

Daniel Baur – CEO and Founder, K5 International/White Rabbit

5:15pm - 5:45pm
FIRESIDE CHAT with John Jacobs and Robin Bronk

John Jacobs, Film and Television Producer; Founder & CEO, Smart Entertainment

Robin Bronk - CEO, The Creative Coalition

Join us for a “fireside chat” for an insightful conversation with acclaimed film and TV producer, John Jacobs, the creative force behind blockbuster hits like Ricky Stanicky, Blades of Glory, Ted, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Family Guy. Discover firsthand how the entertainment landscape has evolved over the years, as Jacobs shares his experiences and insights. Moderating this engaging dialogue is Robin Bronk, CEO of The Creative Coalition (the nonprofit arm of the entertainment industry whose prominent membership uses the platform of entertainment for social cause) and indie producer (Showtime’s Poliwood, the Sundance darling, Before You Know It, and the upcoming Black is Beautiful) bringing her expertise and perspective to delve deep into the ever-changing dynamics of the industry.

Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and inspiration from two influential figures shaping the future of entertainment.

Speaking Faculty

Justin Wilkes, President of Imagine Entertainment + Academy Award and BAFTA nominated, Emmy and Peabody-Winning Producer

Justin Wilkes is President of Imagine Entertainment, responsible for overseeing and facilitating the creative output and artistic strategy of the company, working across divisions to create, enable, and foster creative opportunities for Imagine. As an Academy Award and BAFTA nominated, Emmy and Peabody-winning producer, Wilkes has produced a slate of notable projects including Emmy-winning films Lucy and Desi (Amazon), Ron Howard’s We Feed People (Disney+), Emmy-nominated Judy Blume Forever (Amazon), The Super Models (Apple TV+), Frida (Amazon), and The Dynasty (Apple TV+), the definitive story of the New England Patriots (Apple TV+). Upcoming projects include Jim Henson Idea Man, directed by Ron Howard.

John Jacobs, Film and Television Producer; Founder & CEO, Smart Entertainment

John Jacobs (Producer) is a film and television producer and the founder and CEO of Smart Entertainment, which produces content for global audiences. Jacobs is one of the industry’s most prolific producers, regularly working with acclaimed talents such as Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Lopez, Zac Efron, the Farrelly brothers, Seth MacFarlane, John Cena, Johnny Knoxville, Catherine Heigl, and numerous others.

Most recently, Jacobs produced the hit comedy Ricky Stanicky, which received over 30 million views and topped the charts worldwide on Amazon. The movie starred John Cena, Zac Efron, and William H Macy. Last year, Jacobs produced the Disney+ Christmas movie Dashing Through the Snow, starring Ludacris. He also produced the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time, Ted, starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis, which raked in $560 million at the box office. Additionally, he produced its sequel, "Ted2," for Universal, which made $220 million at the box office. In the same year, he produced the hit action thriller The Boy Next Door, starring J Lo. Jacobs has produced four worldwide number one hits, including Dreamworks’ and Paramount’s Blades of Glory, starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Sony’s Anger Management starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler. Together, these films have grossed well over a billion dollars at the box office.

In television, Jacobs serves as Consulting Producer on the 2.5 billion franchise Family Guy, now in its 21st season on FOX, as well as American Dad, now in its 18th season on TBS. A graduate of New York University and the American Film Institute, Jacobs is a member of the PGA and SAG-AFTRA.

Daniel Baur – CEO and Founder, K5 International/White Rabbit

Daniel Baur is CEO and Founder of K5 International, an independent entertainment company focused on producing, financing, and distributing premium content. Daniel Baur is also Founder of White Rabbit an innovative environmental and social impact Distribution Company.

K5 International was re-launched by Daniel Baur with a team of four new Sales Partners with representations in Paris, Los Angeles, London, Cologne and Munich.

K5 International started its new slate by selling Kevin Costner´s "HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 1" and "HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA - CHAPTER 2". HORIZON will have its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19th. The films will be released by Warner Bros. / New Line in North America on June 28th and August 16th this year.

Over the last 20 years, film producer and Industry veteran Daniel Baur has produced and executive produced more than 50 international feature films, including Cannes Competition title "Paterson" directed by Jim Jarmusch starring Adam Driver in cooperation with Amazon Studios, Netflix Original "Anon" starring Amanda Seyfried and Clive Owen directed by Andrew Niccol ("Gattaca"," Truman Show") and Foreign Academy Award Nominated "Land Of Mine" directed by Martin Zandvliet.

Daniel Baur is a also partner at K5 Media Group & Investment, a company he formed with his partner Oliver Simon in 2006. K5 Media Group is based in Munich and is operating a wide range of companies in the area of media technology to drive innovations.

Daniel Baur is a member of the ACE Producers Network. He is a graduate of the MEGA program of the Media Business School in Spain, where he studied management of media companies and received a master's in audiovisual management (Honors) in 2001. He worked at Deutsche Bank in the entertainment division. Before that, he studied entertainment law at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau, where he later completed his PhD.

Jeff Bazoian - Managing Director, Head of Media & Entertainment, Fifth Third Bank

Prior to joining Fifth Third Bank as the Head of Media and Entertainment, Mr. Bazoian spent seven years at JP Morgan as a Managing Director in the Entertainment Industries Group in Los Angeles.  Mr. Bazoian managed a portfolio of media and entertainment clients focused on independent film and television companies, music, video games and digital media companies.  During Mr. Bazoian’s time at JP Morgan he built out a music financing platform positioning JP Morgan as the prominent market leader. 

Mr. Bazoian joined JP Morgan following 11 years at Rabobank International where from 2010 he was the Head of Capital Markets and from 2013 the CEO of Rabobank Securities USA.  He led the bank’s Capital Markets Americas business focused on loan syndication, securitization products, USPP, Euro bonds and European equities as well as developing new markets in Latin America.

Mr. Bazoian joined Rabobank International’s Securitization business in 2004 from CIBC World Markets where he was an Executive Director in the investment bank’s New York Asset Securitization Group, focused on originating and transacting middle market loan warehouse facilities and CLOs, wholesale dealer floor plans, trade receivables, equipment leases as well as future flow sports and entertainment transactions.  Starting with CIBC in 1996, Mr. Bazoian worked in several of the investment bank’s businesses including Credit Risk Management and Corporate Finance (with a focus on middle market mezzanine debt financing and corporate restructuring).

Lida Bilokur - Amazon Live

Wayne Borg - Managing Director Media Industries, NEOM

Wayne Borg is an accomplished international executive with an unparalleled 20-plus years of experience in leadership roles in the media and creative industries. As Managing Director Media Industries, he is developing these key industry sectors as part of the wider ambitions of NEOM.    

Having lived and worked in Australia, Europe, Asia, the United States and the Middle East, he has led key divisions of major iconic international media and entertainment businesses and driven broad-brush strategic and policy initiatives for government in the media, cultural and creative industries sectors.

Yale Chasin - Media Finance Agent, CAA

Yale Chasin is a Media Finance Agent at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Chasin is based in the Los Angeles office and specializes in the packaging and representation of independently financed films. Chasin has been involved in the sales and financing of such titles as Julian Schnabel’s upcoming HAND OF DANTE, Aneil Karia’s HAMLET, and LOCKED.

Before joining CAA in 2023, Chasin oversaw development, production, and financing for the CJ ENM’s film division. During his time at CJ ENM, Chasin co-produced Best Picture Oscar nominee PAST LIVES and worked on the acquisition of Fifth Season, previously known as Endeavor Content. Prior to CJ ENM, he was an Agent in UTA’s Independent Film Group, where he packaged films, including GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE, SWISS ARMY MAN, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, ROOM, EIGHTH GRADE, and I, TONYA. He was previously Vice President of International Sales and Distribution at The Weinstein Company.  He began his career in the mail room at Endeavor. Chasin graduated from Bard College.

Will French, Head of Film & Television Finance, Fallbrook Film Finance

Will French is one of the most prominent tax credit finance specialists in the film industry. He was among the first brokers and financiers of film tax credits in the United States, beginning in 2003 with the first-of-its-kind Louisiana transferable tax credit program. Through his network of operating companies, Mr. French has personally traded or financed more than $500MM of state film credits for more than 250 projects. From 2014-2017, Mr. French served as Managing Director of State Tax Credits for Enhanced Capital, a diversified, national asset manager specializing in complex credits.  In 2018, he joined a small start-up called The Forest Road Company, which he helped grow into the largest non-bank financier of tax credits in the United States and which ultimately purchased the market-leading Three Point Capital. In 2021, Mr. French left Forest Road and joined Fallbrook Financial Services, the largest trader of film tax credits in the world, where he leads the company’s film finance, tax credit administration, and tax credit consulting practices. A graduate of Purdue University, Mr. French received his J.D. degree from Tulane University School of Law in 1998.

Laura Grange - Commissioning Manager, Sky Original Film

Laura Grange is a Commissioning Manager for Sky Original Films. She joined in 2020 and has since worked on a number of titles including FERRARI, MAY DECEMBER and THE BEEKEPER, and was executive producer on THE COLOUR ROOM, THIS IS CHRISTMAS, PORTABLE DOOR, and most recently the TIFF selected film LEE. Prior to joining Sky, Laura was VP of International Licensing and Distribution for Mister Smith Entertainment where she managed a number of territories in Europe and Asia, selling titles such as TEEN SPIRIT, Cannes Film Festival award nominee A HIDDEN LIFE and the American drama THE BANKER. Laura has accrued over ten years of experience in the film industry working across sales, acquisitions, and production.

Jon Gosier - Founder and CEO, FilmHedge

Jon Gosier is the founder of investment firm and family office Southbox Capital (a.k.a. Gosier Holdings). Southbox has a diverse portfolio of assets spanning a credit facility, tech investments, real estate, and venture capital totaling more than $200M in value.

Jon is also the Founder and CEO of FilmHedge, a private credit fin-tech company that finances Film and TV productions up to $20M per production. FilmHedge is one of the fastest growing lenders to Hollywood. 

Prior to that he was the founder of Audigent, recently named one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the country by INC5000 and Deloitte. That company provided music artists like Camila Cabello, Eminem, Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Shakira, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and others new ways of understanding data with corporate partners that include: Condé Nast, TransUnion, Warner Music Group, Penske, a360 Media, Fandom and many others. 

His 2014 TEDTalk about ethical innovation has been viewed millions of times.

Katie Irwin - Agent and Co-Head of International Sales, WME Independent

Katie Irwin sits on the film team at WME Independent where in addition to handling sales and distribution, she advises on financing and packaging for a wide-ranging slate of films. With her expertise, she has strategically helped package and sell the upcoming films Daddio starring Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson, Clicquot starring Haley Bennett and Tom Sturridge, Tin Soldier starring Jaimee Foxx and Scott Eastwood, and N.A.R with Hilary Swank.

Prior to WME Independent, she was part of the film group at Endeavor Content where she managed titles such as the Oscar® nominated The Lost Daughter, the critically acclaimed PIG and audience favorite The Peanut Butter Falcon.

 As a consultant, Irwin provided services for companies including GoldCrest, AMBI Distribution and a Chinese distribution company for which she was based in Beijing. Before this, she was Vice President at Fortitude International handling films such as Sundance Film Festival Official Selection The End of the Tour, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Sigel.

Irwin spent six years at Myriad Pictures where she negotiated international distribution deals for films like Academy Award® nominated Margin Call and the two-part love story The Disappearance of Elenor Rigby starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Viola Davis.

Irwin has taken several hiatuses from the entertainment industry to work with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), leading field logistics for projects in South Sudan, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Moreover, as part of an MSF COVID-19 response team in the early days of the pandemic, she was stationed in Immokalee, FL to support the migrant farmworker population.  She is full of gratitude for her colleagues and friends in the industry who have supported her in this endeavor over the years.

Fluent in French and conversational in Mandarin, Irwin began her career in film and TV production in Chicago, relocating to Los Angeles in 2007 to work for Gianni Nunnari’s Hollywood Gang Productions. She received her undergraduate degree from DePaul University in Chicago, and after graduating moved to Jilin City in China to teach film studies at Dongbei Dianli University.

Shermin Lakha - Founder, LVLUP Legal & Agency

Shermin Lakha is the Founder of LVLUP Legal & Agency, a women-owned full service law firm and management agency dedicated to empowering founders, creatives, and entrepreneurs to “level” up.
LVLUP Agency is a talent, content, and production agency that sources unique opportunities for creatives to showcase their ability to produce engaging content that scales their brands and businesses. LVLUP Legal practices entertainment and intellectual property law, and Shermin focuses on copyright, licensing, and contract negotiations for her clients.
Shermin brings a wealth of expertise from her prior experience at Goldman Sachs and the U.S. Attorney's Office, and is active in social enterprise, impact, and angel networks. She serves as a Legal Advisor and Board Member for several emerging startups, has been featured in Vogue Business, Bloomberg, and Business Insider, and is a member of several women-founded organizations.

Diana Lodderhose - International Features Editor, Deadline

Diana has been working in global film journalism since 2005. She is currently the International Features Editor at Deadline, a role she has been in since 2021. Before that, she was previously International Reporter for the site. Based in London, Diana has frequently covered all major film festivals and markets including Cannes, Berlin, AFM, Toronto and Sundance. Prior to joining Deadline, Diana was the UK correspondent for Variety and also covered film news and box office at Screen International. 

Maren Olson - EVP, Film, 30WEST

Maren Olson is EVP, Film at 30WEST where she manages the fast-growing company’s slate of projects, including the forthcoming A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, written by Seith Reiss, directed by Kogonada and starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell; TOGETHER, written and directed by Michael Shanks and starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco; HELL OF A SUMMER written and directed by Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk; the re-imagining of THE CROW directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs; the musical biopic FRED & GINGER; and genre-bending thriller DAY DRINKER.

Olson joined 30WEST from leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she spent seven years as an agent in the Media Finance department, specializing in packaging and representation of independently financed films, including DOG, directed by Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum and starring Tatum; I, TONYA, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Margot Robbie; LATE NIGHT, directed by Nisha Ganatra and starring Mindy Kaling and Emma Thompson; THE PALE BLUE EYE, directed by Scott Cooper and starring Christian Bale and Harry Melling; BLINK TWICE, directed by Zoe Kravitz and starring Naomi Ackie and Channing Tatum; and THE DELIVERANCE, directed by Lee Daniels and starring Glenn Close, Octavia Spencer and Rob Morgan. 

Prior to CAA, Olson served as President of Traction Media, an independent film production and domestic sales company. While there, she oversaw the creative development, packaging, production, financing, and sales of over 80 films on the Traction Media slate, including 2011 Best Foreign Language Oscar winner THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES. She produced Destin Daniel Cretton’s sophomore feature SHORT TERM 12, which was nominated for and won multiple awards including both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at SXSW. Olson also produced AVA’S POSSESSIONS, directed by Jordan Galland and starring Louisa Krause, and her executive producing work includes THE WANNABE, starring Patricia Arquette. 

Karen Robson - Partner, Pryor Cashman

LA lawyer, Karen Robson is a self-described “multicultural aficionado” who closely follows the entertainment industry’s emerging markets around the globe and the business, financial and technical innovations that are shaping its future. A native of Australia, Karen had a brief career as an actress in her homeland, including a major role in the Peter Weir cult favorite “Picnic at Hanging Rock” and also practiced as a media lawyer in Sydney. Then, she moved to the United States, becoming the first female partner in her U.S law firm Pryor Cashman, where she still practices. At Pryor Cashman she has acted as a dealmaker in the Media and Entertainment law transactional space, first, in New York City and then as founder of the firm’s Los Angeles office. A seasoned professional, Karen has represented domestic and foreign motion picture and television financiers, banks, equity investors, hedge funds, studios, broadcast and SVOD networks and production and distribution companies. She also advises individual content creators, including writers, directors and producers, particularly female creators. Clients rely on Karen to effectively negotiate and close financial arrangements and distribution deals and she assists international co-production entities identify and obtain U.S. and international tax incentives. She helps lenders and producers structure film financings, including senior and mezzanine debt and equity. Karen additionally advises on intellectual property transactions, including complex rights deals, and new ways to optimize and monetize audio-visual content multi-platform collaborations. Karen has also represented numerous entertainment companies in corporate investment in the media landscape in the US (and sometimes, regrettably, in US bankruptcy situations). She also executive produces dramatic and documentary feature films with her Iranian American filmmaker husband and their cinematographer daughter.

Tyler Sabino - Senior Manager, Triller/Creative & Brand Strategy

Tyler Sabino, a seasoned executive in content innovation, believes in the power of community to amplify content impact. With a dynamic career spanning from talent management to senior roles in brand strategy, Tyler is able to navigate the entertainment industry with specialised knowledge and creativity.

As a Senior Manager in Creative & Brand Strategy at Triller, Tyler spearheaded groundbreaking projects that redefined short-form content. Notably, his role in producing the award-winning "Verzuz" series showcased his ability to harness the power of creativity and technology, driving unprecedented engagement and impact.

Now, as co-founder of 'The Shift,' Tyler continues to push boundaries, crafting immersive experiences that resonate across diverse audiences. His expertise lies in leveraging insights and strategies to create content with lasting influence.

Maria Soccor - Director, Writer, Actor and Founder, Maria Soccor Productions

Maria Soccor is the founder of Maria Soccor Production located in New Jersey. She is an actor, an award winning producer, director and writer who is an advocate for productions that follow the "green" standards of filmmaking.  She is currently writing and directing the feature documentaries: Freestyle Music The Legacy, Tillie, Sybil In Her Own Words.  

Soccor is the writer/director of the acclaimed documentary film, Lords of BSV, which won 13 major awards across the world, including two Best Directors awards of a feature film. She is the recipient of the 2020 Hell's Kitchen NYC Festival Female Filmmaker of The Year Award, and Best Director of KICKS. In 2019, she made history at the Venice International Film Festival as the producer of the first VR theatrical play, LOVESEAT. In 2018, Soccor made her Cannes Film Festival debut as writer/director of Kicks released on the ShortsTV, on April 8, 2020, and continues to work on her fine art photography projects. She also writes and directs for branded content.

Her professional associations include the Feature Documentary Chapter of Film Fatales, SAG/AFTRA, AEA, Primetime Network, New York Women In Film and Television, AWD, and New York's prestigious National Arts Club. Soccor is also active in her community in Hudson County New Jersey as the former Media Director/Head of Operations for Educate The Block, now serving as a board member of this career training program.

Simon Williams - Managing Partner, Ashland Hill Media Finance

Simon Williams has been a film financier for over ten years, executive producing more than 50 films and closing over $750M in transactions. Williams is Managing Partner at Ashland Hill Media Finance, the UK and US-based entertainment financing company he runs alongside fellow film financiers and producers, Joe Simpson and Jonathan Bross.  Since its 2022 launch, Ashland Hill Media Finance has invested more than $157M across 27 deals. The initial slate of Ashland Hill-financed films includes Philip Noyce’s action-thriller Fast Charlie, starring Pierce Brosnan and James Caan, The Crow, directed by Rupert Sanders, starring Bill Skarskård and FKA twigs, and Jesse V. Johnson’s action pic Chief of Station starring Aaron Eckhart.

Williams is also Co-Founder and Partner of Palisades Park Pictures. Led by CEO Tamara Birkemoe, Palisades Park Pictures is a global entertainment company focused on the distribution, production, and financing of high-level, quality commercial content for a worldwide audience. 

Williams is also a co-owner and Partner at Horizon Distribution, a film distribution company for airlines and other ancillary channels that is a joint venture with US all-rights distributor Vertical Entertainment. To date, Horizon has released over 100 feature films on over 50 airline companies throughout the world. Prior to Ashland Hill Media Finance, Williams was Fund Managing Director for Ingenious Media’s flagship independent film financing fund, Shelley Media, where he managed all aspects of the production and exploitation of film and television projects. As Senior Financial Analyst at the hedge fund RP Capital Group, he managed a team of analysts responsible for deal origination, structuring, closing, and monitoring.  He began his career at Allen & Overy LLP where he trained as an accountant in global finance. 

Williams holds a Masters Degree in Mathematics from The University of Exeter and is also a CFA® charterholder.

For more information on Ashland Hill Media Finance, please visit http://ashland-hill.com/

Christopher Woodrow - Founder and Chairman, Media Capital Technologies

Christopher Woodrow is the Founder and Chairman of Media Capital Technologies (MCT), a specialty finance company focused on strategic investments in premium content. The company provides capital to media and entertainment businesses, including major motion picture studios, significant independent production entities, and preeminent intellectual property rights-holders. He is responsible for guiding the strategic vision of MCT and oversees the global development of its brand and franchise.

Woodrow has financed and executive produced numerous films over the past year with Lionsgate, including "About My Father", "Bagman", "Cobweb", "Expend4bles", "Flight Risk", "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", "Never Let Go", and "Shadow Force".

Woodrow was the Founder and served as Chairman and CEO of Vendian Entertainment and Worldview Entertainment, motion picture finance and production companies that produced over 30 notable feature films under his leadership. The films, including Fox Searchlight's critically acclaimed hit "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)", Warner Bros.' adaptation "Black Mass", and Lionsgate's success "Hacksaw Ridge", grossed more than $700 million in worldwide box office revenue, were nominated for 16 Academy Awards®, and won six Oscars®, including Best Picture.

Prior to this, Woodrow was the Managing Director of Prospect Point Capital, an investment company focused on structured finance and venture capital opportunities in media and entertainment. He was previously a Vice President at Citigroup Global Markets and worked in investment banking at Oppenheimer & Co. Woodrow began his career managing business development at Syrinex Communications, a pioneer in the evolution of the internet server appliance. He performed his undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama.

Robin Bronk - CEO, The Creative Coalition

Robin Bronk is the CEO of The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org), the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) charity arm of the entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 by Alec Baldwin, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon, Ron Silver, and other prominent members of the entertainment industry, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to maximizing multi-platforms of the entertainment industry behind issues of public importance. Since being appointed to the position in April 2010, she has exponentially grown The Creative Coalition’s operating budget by designing and instituting corporate sponsorship programs and cause marketing opportunities, in particular for the film industry.

Ms. Bronk has spearheaded the organization’s most successful advocacy and cause campaigns that have mobilized a renowned sector of the nation's leaders in the arenas of entertainment, arts, letters, business, policy, community leadership, and the media. She directed many of the most sought-after and effective programs and events in the entertainment industry including award-winning PSA campaigns, coalition building, cause-related marketing campaigns, and policy/legislative advocacy and grassroots campaigns.

Ms. Bronk hosts “On The Edge,” a podcast spotlighting stories of opportunity, discovery, and courage, and tackling social issues with deep-rooted stigmas such as obesity. “On The Edge” is a capsule podcast series that is part of the “At Home With The Creative Coalition” podcast, also hosted by Ms. Bronk.

Under her leadership, The Creative Coalition’s signature programs include the Spotlight Initiative to Support the Art & Craft of Independent Film, New York Business Leader Task Force on Runaway Production, and Moviemaker Mentors, Reel Life vs. Real Life Series, among others.

Ms. Bronk created the Spotlight Initiative, a division of The Creative Coalition that produces and supports films with messages important to domestic and global agendas. Through the Spotlight Initiative, Bronk has created partnerships with leading independent film distributors and producers including Amazon, A24, Focus Features, Samuel Goldwyn Films, Participant Media, Baltimore Films, Open Road Films, Showtime, and Roadside Attractions, among others.

Ms. Bronk is an author and public speaker, and produced the feature film, Poliwood, directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Levinson that aired on Showtime. She speaks at colleges and universities as well as the Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and Tribeca film festivals. She serves as spokesperson for The Creative Coalition and frequently speaks on the role of the entertainment industry in public advocacy campaigns. She has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, People, Boston Globe, and The Washington Post, among other leading newspapers. She is also a frequent guest commentator for MSNBC, Fox, CNN, and other broadcast and digital news outlets as well as a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post.

Since 2010, Ms. Bronk has been a selected participant in Fortune’s annual Most Powerful Women Summit. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work including the Gracie Award for producing “Watch What You Watch,” a PSA campaign for girls and body image, the Artivist Award for her leadership in the arts and activism, the Woodstock Film Festival Trailblazer Award, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Intellectual Property Champion Award. She also received commendations from the White House and the Pentagon for producing an award-winning PSA campaign to help stem the military’s suicide epidemic. Ms. Bronk has published three bestselling books, “The Art of Discovery” (Rizzoli), “Art & Soul” (Hearst Communications), and “If You Had Five Minutes with the President” (Harper Collins). She also penned a column for Washington, DC’s leading newspaper, The Hill, and hosted a weekly segment on independent film for New York City’s leading radio
station, WBAI-FM.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Bronk served as Vice President of Corporate Community Strategies for APCO Worldwide, an independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Her clients included corporations, governments, industry associations, and nonprofit organizations. Her areas of client services included corporate and internal communication, crisis management, issue management, government relations, media relations, coalition building, corporate social responsibility, and online communication. She also served as the Director of Cause Celeb, an APCO division that matches celebrities and entertainment leaders with national causes and issues of importance.

Prior to joining APCO, Ms. Bronk worked for ABC News, served as a producer for a weekly C-SPAN program, and worked as a program instructor of The Close Up Foundation.

Bronk serves on the New York Cultural Task Force, as well as the boards of The White House Project, The Close Up Foundation, Woodstock Film Festival, Cabos Film Festival, Carmel Art & Film Festival, Gold Coast International Film Festival, Sedona International Film Festival, Young Playwrights Inc., and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and Women of Washington.

Ms. Bronk is a seasoned Capitol Hill strategist and advocate. She has represented The Creative Coalition and its legislative agenda at numerous Congressional Hearings and before Members of Congress and the White House.

Ms. Bronk received her Bachelor of Arts from The Pennsylvania State University.

Amy Baker - CEO and Co-Founder, Winston Baker

As CEO of WINSTON | BAKER, Amy Baker oversees the company’s global strategic planning, business development and vendor relationships. Amy Co-Founded the FILM FINANCE FORUM® in 2008, which provides the leading series of events dedicated to bringing seasoned finance and entertainment executives together from around the globe. Winston Baker is a renowned leader in the entertainment industry, known for curating content and organizing Forums worldwide. Amy has successfully organized sold out conferences, film festival programming and private events across the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, China, Pacific Asia and Latin America, along with a lineup of exciting virtual programs. 

Prior to establishing Winston/Baker, she was at SRI which was acquired by ALM. At ALM, as Vice President of Business Development, Amy provided finance executives and marketers with targeted channels for reaching decision-makers within the legal, entertainment, healthcare, sports and tech sectors. In her previous position, Director of Business Development at RPMC, she worked with entertainment, music, and sports companies, creating event marketing programs, travel incentive services, sweepstakes, and media promotions. 

Amy lived for many years in Europe, while working as a professional Model before receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Honors from New York University. Amy proudly sits on the National Board of Advisors for the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida since 2018. She has recently started producing and developing projects for Film and Television.

Thank you to our Partners

Gold Partners

NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a New Future might look like. It is a region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea being built from the ground up as a living laboratory – a place where entrepreneurship will chart the course for this New Future. It will be a destination and a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. 

NEOM will include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations. As a hub for innovation, entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies will come to research, incubate and commercialize new technologies and enterprises in groundbreaking ways. Residents of NEOM will embody an international ethos and embrace a culture of exploration, risk-taking and diversity. For further information email media@neom.com or visit www.neom.com and www.neom.com/en-us/newsroom.  

Founded in 2020, FilmHedge is one of the fastest growing lenders in media finance. As a senior lender, FilmHedge provides private credit and financing solutions to qualified TV and Film producers, offering up to $20 million per production. In addition to financing, the company collects financial data that helps other financiers (hedge funds, family offices, banks etc) determine the credit worthiness of producers and production companies.To date the team behind FilmHedge have underwritten more than 40 feature films. For more information on FilmHedge visit: https://www.filmhedge.com.

Supporting Partners

In a sector with unlimited growth potential that’s tempered with significant and evolving risk, your financial solutions team needs an eye on the horizon and feet on the ground. The Fifth Third Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group understands the challenges—and opportunities—inherent in an evolving landscape and can provide comprehensive financial solutions to help meet them head-on. Founded in 1858, Fifth Third Bank has had the singular purpose of helping to improve the lives of our customers through sound banking principles and superior service. Visit 53.com/TMT.

Pryor Cashman is an award-winning midsize law firm with more than 200 attorneys. Our firm spans across three offices in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, serving a diverse client base around the globe. No matter the office or location, we are known for getting the job done right, and doing it with integrity, efficiency, and style.

Unrestricted by bureaucracy, our lawyers are empowered to make independent, informed, and creative decisions for clients. We staff our client teams leanly, devising cost-sensible strategies and eliminating logjams to provide service that goes above and beyond what clients may expect from a legal provider.

Pryor Cashman has earned a national reputation for excellence and sits atop numerous rankings, having been named a top Midsize Firm in New York by Vault for multiple years in a row (2019-2024). Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers in America, The Legal 500, World Trademark Review, and many others have consistently named our firm and our attorneys among the best in the United States in a wide array of practice areas, industries, and sectors.