Film Independent celebrates 2024 forum and global media makers summit

Film Independent announced the 2024 Film Independent Forum, the preeminent event for independent filmmakers and content creators. Kicking off Friday, September 27, 2024, at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, the conference will begin with a screening of Netflix’s Will & Harper with filmmaker Josh Greenbaum. The program will take place over the course of two days, September 27 – 28, 2024, offering candid, of-the-moment conversations with a global twist, welcoming over 40 filmmakers participating across our diverse slate of international programs, presenting unique networking opportunities for all of our attendees.

“This year’s Forum will explore our evolving industry through a wider perspective, where the definitions of fiction and nonfiction, big screen and small screen, and domestic and international are being redefined,” said Maria Raquel Bozzi, Senior Director of Education and International Initiatives. “We are thrilled to see such a large number of our international filmmakers converge and mingle with the many local filmmakers we have served through the life of the Forum, bringing to fruition our vision for a true global filmmaking community.”

Following the Forum, as part of the Global Media Makers (GMM) Residency, nine Fellows from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe will also benefit from personalized mentorship for their careers and film and television projects; and will join the Global Media Makers’ second Summit, where 25 GMM Fellows from 16 countries will gather to continue fostering international collaboration and build a community of filmmakers from around the world. GMM is a cultural diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and implemented by Film Independent.

Created to empower and inspire filmmakers, the Forum offers a communal experience comprised of screenings, panels, workshops, one-on-one meetings and networking receptions. Conversations and panels will delve into best practices for financing, pitching, creative producing, fiction and documentary case studies, as well as international film and tv best practices and more. Industry Connect, our popular 1-on-1 general meetings with executives and experts from the industry will take place on both days, with a Keynote from director Hiro Murai (The Bear, Atlanta).

On the opening day of the Forum, The New Wave actors roundtable will showcase a diverse group of talented voices who have broken into the industry and continue to deliver standout performances, including Tati Gabrielle (You, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat), James Ian (The Allnighter, Pugsley), Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez, Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie), Richa Moorjani (Fargo, Never Have I Ever) and Lisa Yamada (Little Fires Everywhere, Cruel Summer). Moderated by SAGindie Executive Director Darrien Michele Gipson, these actors, selected by Film Independent, SAGindie, and Easterseals Disability Services, will discuss how they continue pushing boundaries and fighting for more authentic and inclusive representation onscreen. A Happy Hour reception to celebrate their accomplishments will follow, featuring wines from Château Malartic Lagravière.

Also launching at the Forum with the panel Shifting the Narrative on Climate is The Climate Entertainment Initiative. This new partnership between Film Independent and Plot Shift Media offers grants and educational opportunities for independent artists seeking to explore a just and equitable climate future – and the pathways to get there – through innovative storytelling.

The event’s closing night will feature a special screening of IFC Films’ The Babadook, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, with director Jennifer Kent.