Doc Roundtables
Back by popular demand for its fifth year, Doc Roundtables offer a rare chance for documentary filmmakers to meet with industry leaders for an informal networking session.
Date: Sunday, September 12, Tuesday, September 14 & Wednesday, September 15
Time: Twice daily sessions from 2:00pm to 3:00pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Location: Filmmakers’ Lounge (134 Peter Street, NW corner of Peter St. & Richmond St. West)
*Doc Roundtables are open to all Sales & Industry, Guest and Press delegates.
This year’s line-up of speakers includes:
Sunday, September 12 - 2:00pm
Paola Freccero - On strategic marketing
Prior to co-founding CrowdStarter, Paola Freccero was B-Side Entertainment’s President of Distribution. Freccero joined B-Side from Tribeca Enterprises, where she was Co-Executive Director of the Tribeca Film Festival and SVP. She first began working with Tribeca Enterprises as a consultant in 2005 when she owned a consulting service called Fast Forward. She has also been Sundance Channel’s SVP, Film Programming and its Vice President, International.
Liz Ogilvie - On strategic marketing
Liz Ogilvie was the VP of Marketing at B-Side Entertainment, an Austin-based company that used technology to discover, market and distribute independent films. When B-Side folded early in 2010, prior to launching CrowdStarter, Liz did marketing consulting for Tribeca Film. Former titles also include Head of Marketing at IndiePix Films and the Head of Programming at Docurama Films®. She has also run DocuClub, and was the Managing Editor at FILMMAKER Magazine.
Clémence Taillandier - On acquisitions for Zeitgeist Films
Clémence Taillandier is the head of theatrical sales of the New York-based distribution company Zeitgeist Films. Founded by Nancy Gerstman and Emily Russo in 1988, Zeitgeist acquires and distributes independent films and ground-breaking documentaries from the U.S. and around the world. Clémence has worked in all aspects of film distribution since she started at Zeitgeist 11 years ago.
Sunday, September 12 - 3:30pm
Ira Deutchman - On acquisitions for Emerging Pictures
Ira Deutchman is President and CEO of Emerging Pictures, a New York-based film distribution and digital exhibition company and has been making, marketing and distributing films for 34 years He was one of the founders of Cinecom and later created Fine Line Features. Included in over 60 films he acquired and released at Fine Line is the award-winning Hoop Dreams, as well as work by Jane Campion, Jim Jarmusch and Robert Altman.
Daniel Silver - On development for ESPN Films
Daniel Silver is the associate director of development for ESPN Films and ESPN’s director for the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival. Daniel was instrumental in the development and production of ESPN Films’ critically acclaimed documentary series 30 for 30. He’s produced such films as The Two Escobars (Cannes Film Festival, 2010), Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks (Sundance Film Festival, 2010) and The Zen of Bobby V (Tribeca Film Festival, 2008).
Jan Rofekamp - On working with a sales agent
Founded in 1982 by President and CEO Jan Rofekamp, Films Transit International is one of the longest running, renowned and respected international sales agencies of quality documentaries. Recent releases include The Most Dangerous Man In America, Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould; Garbage Dreams; Google Baby; Pax Americana; Presumed Guilty; Space Tourists; The Rainbow Warriors Of Waiheke Island and many others.
Sky Sitney - On submitting to Silverdocs
Sky Sitney is the Artistic Director for AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival, leading the Festival's programming, strategic development, partnerships and overall artistic vision. She joined the Festival in Fall 2005 as Director of Programming, and is recognized as one of the key contributors in helping Silverdocs become one of the leading Festivals of its kind.
Tuesday, September 14 - 2:00pm
Janet Pierson - On submitting to SXSW
Janet Pierson, the new Producer of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, has spent over 25 years championing independent films and filmmakers, in a variety of roles including distributor, exhibitor, producer’s rep, investor, workshop producer, executive producer, documentary subject, and as co-creator and segment director of the IFC cable TV series Split Screen. She remains co-president of Grainy Pictures and the Vice-President of the Austin Film Society.
Molly Thompson - On acquisitions for A&E IndieFilms
Molly Thompson launched and runs A&E IndieFilms, the network’s feature documentary division. She executive produces the division’s original productions, including: the Academy Award nominated JESUS CAMP and THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE. Other A&E IndieFilms include the Oscar-nominated, Sundance Award-winner MURDER BALL and MY KID COULD PAINT THAT. She is executive producer on The Tillman Story directed by Amir Bar-Lev, (premiered at Sundance 2010) as well as Client 9: The Rise And Fall Of Eliot Spitzer directed by Alex Gibney.
Tuesday, September 14 - 3:30pm
Richard Lorber – On acquisitions for Lorber Films
Richard Lorber is the Co-President and CEO of Kino Lorber Inc., the company that was formed last year through the merger of Lorber's previous business, Lorber HT Digital and Kino International Corp., the 30 year old leader in the release of acclaimed world cinema and classics. Kino Lorber releases 25 films per year theatrically on its two labels, Kino International and Lorber Films, and over 80 per year digitally and on dvd and blu-ray. Current theatricals playing in markets across the U.S. are Mademoiselle Chambon (Lorber Films), Winnebago Man (Kino Int.), Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (Lorber Films), Dogtooth (Kino Int.), Army of Crime (Lorber Films), Metropolis (Kino Int.). He is also Chairman of the Board of Film Forum, America’s pre-eminent non-profit cinema for art house films and documentaries.
Slava Rubin
Slava Rubin is CEO and co-founder of IndieGoGo, a collaborative funding platform which provides the tools and process for funding creative, entrepreneurial or cause projects. The service is now used in 133 countries. Slava is also a partner in Distribber, a digital distribution service providing access to iTunes, Amazon and Netflix while taking no rights or revenue share. Prior to IndieGoGo, Slava was a Strategy Consultant, leading growth initiatives for clients ranging from MasterCard to FedEx. He also started the annual charity event Music Against Myeloma, to raise funds and awareness to fight this rare form of cancer.
Josh Braun - On working with a sales agent
Josh Braun runs Submarine Entertainment, a hybrid sales and production company, consulting and strategizing on the sale, distribution and development of documentaries and television properties. Some of the films represented by Submarine include: Valentino The Last Emperor, Food Inc, Soul Power, Encounters At The End Of The World and My Kid Could Paint, That Joan Rivers A Piece of Work, Countdown to Zero, Art of the Steal, Smash His Camera and The Tillman Story
Wednesday, September 15 - 2:00pm
Dana O’Keefe - On working with a sales agent
Dana O'Keefe joined Cinetic Media in 2002 and is a senior executive in the sales and management divisions of the company. O'Keefe has worked as a representative for numerous producers and filmmakers over the course of his tenure at Cinetic. Currently, he works primarily as a manager, overseeing the careers of a roster of directors.
Ryan Werner - Vice President of Marketing, IFC Entertainment
Ryan Werner is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at IFC Entertainment, where he oversees all marketing and publicity for theatrical and home video releases. At IFC Films, he has worked on campaigns for films such as the recently released Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work, In The Loop, Gomorrah, Summer Hours, and Che. He's also worked with established filmmakers such as Gus Van Sant, Michael Winterbottom, and Spike Lee. Prior to IFC, Werner was Head of Theatrical Distribution at Wellspring and Palm Pictures. In 2006, he received The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Award.
Debra Zimmerman - Executive Director of Women Make Movies
Debra Zimmerman has been the Executive Director of Women Make Movies, a non-profit organization which supports women filmmakers, since 1983. Films from WMM have won prizes at the last three Sundance Film Festivals including The Oath, Rough Aunties, and El General. Zimmerman can often be found moderating or speaking about such topics as independent film distribution, marketing, financing and women's film. She has been closely affiliated with the International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA) as the co-host of the Talk of the Day and is also a member of numerous Advisory Boards for media and film organizations.
Wednesday, September 15 - 3:30pm
Dustin Smith - On acquisitions for Roadside Attractions
As Roadside’s Head of Acquisitions and Business Affairs, Dustin has been involved in the acquisition of dozens of films including Oscar-winner The Cove, Chris Rock’s Good Hair and The September Issue. He has also overseen the full releases of Sundance winner Winter’s Bone and Venice winner Goodbye Solo.
Dylan Leiner - On acquisitions for Sony Pictures Classics
Dylan Leiner is Sony Pictures Classics’ Executive Vice President, Acquisitions & Production. Involved with the acquisition and production of a broad range of films dating back to Pollock, Rachel Getting Married, I’ve Loved You So Long, The Class, Waltz With Bashir, Coco Before Chanel, An Education, The White Ribbon, and 2010 Cannes Film Festival entries, Charles Ferguson’s Inside Job, Woody Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Mike Leigh’s Another Year and Grand Prize winner Of Gods and Men. Dylan oversees Sony Pictures Classics’ physical and post production services. Dylan has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as a member of its 35 under 35 “Next Generation Group” and by Crain’s New York Business among its 40 executives under 40.
Mike Maggiore- On theatrical exhibitions at Film Forum
Mike Maggiore co-programs the premieres for New York's Film Forum and is also responsible for promoting many of their premieres there. He has served on the committees of Film Independent’s Truer Than Fiction Award and the Sundance Documentary Fund; he has also served on the juries of the DocAviv, Santiago (de Chile), Woodstock, Vancouver, Sarasota and Miami International Film Festivals.
* Additional speakers to be announced soon.