This one is for Indie Filmmakers - Panel Announcements and Film Finance Forum Program

15th Annual International Film Finance Forum
Friday, May 16th
2:00pm - 6:00pm
Main Stage, Palais des Festivals

Part 1

2:00pm - 2:15pm
WELCOME ADDRESS

Amy Baker - CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker

Charles Rivkin - Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association (MPA)

 

2:15pm – 3:00pm
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY; STATE OF FINANCE

The entertainment landscape is changing fast. How do filmmakers, producers, and financiers keep up - and maybe more importantly, stay ahead? 
This powerhouse panel breaks down the biggest shifts in Film & Television today -

• Shifting financial strategies – The growing synergy between U.S. private equity and European soft money.

• Navigating disruption – How top industry leaders are turning their challenges into opportunities.

• The rise of AI - How technology is revolutionizing storytelling and productions.

• The boom in international co-productions - Why cross-border partnerships are the future of content.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the trends shaping the business today - and what’s next on the horizon.

MODERATOR:
TBA

PANELISTS:

Jon Gosier - Founder and CEO, FilmHedge

Christopher Woodrow - Founder and Chairman, Media Capital Technologies (MCT)

Sonia Mehandjiyska - Head of International Distribution, Electric Entertainment

Paula Paizes - Chief Operating Officer and President of Production, Pressman Film

 

3:00pm – 3:30pm
NAVIGATING THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE OF TAX CREDITS AND INCENTIVES IN FILM

Join us for an insightful discussion as industry experts explore the evolving global landscape of tax credits and incentives available to filmmakers. This session will delve into how different regions are leveraging these financial tools to stimulate film production and attract international projects and compare European and Middle Eastern incentive structures. Our panelists will share their experiences, highlight successful case studies, and provide actionable insights on how filmmakers can effectively navigate these opportunities to maximize their projects' potential. 

PANELISTS:

Giammarco Cottani - Founder & Managing Partner, NOEMA Global

Jeaneane Davey, Tax and Production Incentives Professional 

 

3:30pm – 4:15pm
INDEPENDENT GREENLIGHT: THE METHOD BEHIND THE MADNESS

In today’s evolving film economy, getting an independent film greenlit is more complex—and more creative—than ever. This panel brings together key decision makers across finance, sales, production, and creative to demystify what the greenlight process really looks like outside the studio system. We’ll unpack what a “greenlight” actually means for indie films, how it compares to traditional studio/streamer pathways, and how the current 2025 marketplace is reshaping timelines, financing, and strategic alignment. Panelists will share war stories, common missteps, and hard-won tactics that turn passion projects into productions.

In this panel we will speak with key decision makers who are an integral part of the decision to have an independent project get the official ‘greenlight’. This panel will discuss:

-        What does ‘greenlight’ mean for an independent film? 

-        The benefits and burden of a greenlit picture in the studio/streamer system versus as an independent

-        How financiers, sales agents, producers and creatives engage in the discussions around a greenlit project

-        The mistakes and ways to better navigate an independent project as it gets to the point of being made

-        How does the 2025 marketplace affect this?

MODERATOR:

Elsa Ramo – Founder and Managing Partner, Ramo Law

 

PANELISTS:

Jessamine Burgum – Founder and CEO, Pinky Promise

Yvette Zhuang - SVP Int'l Prod & Distribution, Miramax

Grégoire Gensollen – COO, Tooley Entertainment 

Rob Guillermo - Co-Founder, Indus Valley Media

 

4:15pm- 4:45pm
FIRESIDE CHAT

MODERATOR:

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

 

4:45pm – 5:15pm
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH ANNIE MURRAY (New Zealand Film Commission) AND DEIRDRE BRENNAN (Screen Australia)

MODERATOR:

Karen Robson – Partner, Pryor Cashman

PANELISTS:

Annie Murray (Te Arawa) - Chief Executive Officer (CEO), New Zealand Film Commission

Deirdre Brennan – Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Screen Australia

 

5:15pm – 6:00pm
THE POWER OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS & CO-PRODUCTIONS

International Co-Productions are more than just a financial strategy - they're the future of global storytelling. As audiences are demanding more bold and diverse content, cross-border partnerships coming into the spotlight…redefining how films and TV are made, funded, and distributed. Our Industry leaders will dive into:

• AI & Streaming’s role in global collaborations

• Balancing creative ambition with commercial success

• Innovative producer deals & regulatory challenges

• Maximizing distribution & audience engagement

With the industry evolving fast, staying ahead means embracing new models, new partners, and new opportunities. Join us for a must-attend discussion on the future of global entertainment.
 

MODERATOR:

TBA

PANELISTS:

Mandy Ward – Producer, Akward Productions

Ainsley Gardiner - Head of Funding, New Zealand Film Commission 

Imani “Manny” Halley - Founder and CEO, Imani Media Group & Faith Media Distribution

 

FORUM CONCLUDES

Part 2 Shifter(s) Series: Fireside Chat with Ari Aster & Lars Knudsen Monday, May 19th | 11:30am - 12:30pm Plage des Palmes

Joining us after the premiere of their latest film, Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward and Luke Grimes.

Co-Founders of Square Peg, Lars Knudsen and Ari Aster, are known for some of the most memorable and bold films in recent years, including HEREDITARY, MIDSOMMAR, and BEAU IS AFRAID, but also their work producing for other groundbreaking directors.

Join us for Part 2 of our International Film Finance Forum to hear them talk about their creative process at Square Peg, and what’s next for them in the world of cinema.

Ari Aster, Writer, Director, Producer

Lars Knudsen, Award-Winning Producer

Moderated by: Georg Szalai - Global Business Editor, The Hollywood Reporter London

SPEAKING FACULTY

 

Ari Aster - Writer, Director, Producer

Writer-director-producer Ari Aster’s debut feature Hereditary, starring Toni Collette, became a critical and box office success hit for A24 in 2018. Aster continued his genre-challenging work for A24 with his 2019 thriller Midsommar, starring Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor, and again in 2023 with Beau is Afraid, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Patti Lapone.

In addition to writing, directing and producing his feature films, Aster along with his producing partner Lars Knudsen, formed their production company Square peg in 2019 to collaborate with a host of fellow auteur filmmakers, including Robert Eggers (The Northman), Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario, The Drama), Guy Maddin and Evan and Galen Johson (Rumours), and Yorgos Lanthimos (Bugonia). 

 

 

Lars Knudsen - Award-Winning Producer

Lars Knudsen is an award-winning film producer of over 40 films, including Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Midsommar, and Beau is Afraid, Robert Eggers’ The Witch and The Northman, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey and Mike Mills’ Beginners. Collaborating with other auteur filmmakers such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Kristoffer Borgli, David Lowery, and Kelly Reichardt, Knudsen has been instrumental in bringing unique and ground-breaking stories to global audiences. As co-founder of Square Peg alongside Ari Aster, Knudsen’s commitment to nurturing bold and compelling storytelling, has established him at the forefront in shaping contemporary cinema.

Upcoming work includes Aster’s Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward and Lucas Grimes for A24, and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons for Focus Features.

 

Charles H. Rivkin - Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association (MPA)

Charles H. Rivkin is Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the leading advocate of the global film, television, and streaming industry. Current MPA members include Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Drawing on 30 years of experience as a media executive and a leading U.S. diplomat, Rivkin advocates for policies that drive investment in film and television production, protect creative content, and open markets worldwide. Rivkin is responsible for the MPA’s iconic movie ratings system and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s largest anti-piracy coalition.

Prior to joining the MPA, Rivkin served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and was the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco. He also served as CEO of two entertainment companies, the Jim Henson Company and Wildbrain.

Rivkin was personally awarded the Légion d’honneur with the rank of Commander by the President of France as well as la Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris by the Mayor of Paris. He was also presented with the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award by the Secretary of the Navy. In 2021, Rivkin received the Spanish National Police Merit Cross — with distinction for content protection efforts — the highest law enforcement decoration bestowed on a civilian. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, graduating with distinction in political science and international relations, and his M.B.A. from Harvard University.

 

Jon Gosier - Founder and CEO, FilmHedge

Jon Gosier has built a remarkable career as a serial entrepreneur, investor, and innovator. His company FilmHedge, is backed by more than $350 million in which it uses to finance Film and TV productions globally. FilmHedge is revolutionizing how financial institutions evaluate, monitor, and invest in Film/TV productions using artificial intelligence tools that assist banks and institutional partners with media underwriting, risk analysis and credit-rating. The company also recently launched a liquidity marketplace, creating the first ever secondary market for Film/TV investors to buy, sell and trade media investments.

Prior to FilmHedge, Jon built several tech companies as a serial entrepreneur. Gosier's entrepreneurial journey reached a significant milestone in 2024 when Experian acquired his company Audigent in a nine-figure deal. Prior to the acquisition, Audigent had been recognized as one of America's fastest-growing technology companies by INC5000, Financial Times, and Deloitte. He is also the founder of Southbox Capital (d/b/a Gosier Holdings), his family office, where he oversees a diverse $200M+ portfolio spanning technology, real estate, venture capital, and media.

 

Elsa Ramo – Founder and Managing Partner, Ramo Law

For 20 years, Elsa Ramo has been at the intersection of entertainment law and content innovation, architecting groundbreaking deals for industry disruptors and major studios alike.  She guides her clients into innovative terms that optimize their reach and prevalence with reputable velocity. In an era where content comes in an increasing number of forms, Ramo’s ability to successfully monetize the deal for her clients sets her apart on this evolving frontier.

Ramo works with content-creating powerhouses Imagine Entertainment, Concordia Studio, Skydance TV, Skydance Sports, Lion Forge Entertainment, French Tuck, Campfire Pictures, The Wonder Project, Boardwalk Pictures, and Scout Productions. In 2024 alone, Ramo’s clients won nine Creative Emmy Awards.

She represents independent prolific producers such as Zackary Drucker (whose HBO documentary Enigma premiered at Sundance 2025), Unified Pictures Keith Kjarval (upcoming feature The Beast, featuring Samuel L. Jackson), Lee Broda (whose film The Apprentice received an Oscar nomination), and founder of Los Angeles Festival of Movies Sarah Winshall. Additionally, Ramo represents film financiers Bondit Media Capital, V42 Management, Head Gear Films Financing, and SSS Film Capital.

Beyond directly overseeing high level clients, Ramo is the founder and managing partner of her boutique firm with 23 attorneys spanning from Beverly Hills to New York City the firm has 22 attorneys across the country based in Beverly Hills and New York. Ramo is also a Forbes.com contributor, speaking on current issues and topics in the entertainment industry. She was recently recognized among Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards 2024, LA Times 2024 Entertainment Business Visionaries, Variety’s 2023 Legal Impact Report and 2022 Dealmakers Impact Report, Daily Journal’s Top 100 Women Lawyers; and her firm was featured by Los Angeles Business Journal as a 2024 Disruptor and Most Admired Law Firms. Whether through exploring new forms of content, such as AI, or investing in sports entertainment, Ramo Law is anticipating and shaping the future of content, delivering the power to turn creative ideas into reality. 

 

Annie Murray (Te Arawa) - Chief Executive Officer (CEO), New Zealand Film Commission

As CEO Annie leads the operational delivery, guides the strategic policy and provides sector and staff leadership to the NZFC. 

Prior to NZFC, Annie was the Head of Sky Originals for three years after starting at Sky TV in 2014 as a Senior Commissioner. Before this, she was Head of External Programming at Māori Television. Annie also served as Interim Co-Chair of the Toi Mai Workforce Development Council Board, a member of Te Kāhui Ahumahi, and as a member of the Bay of Plenty Regional Skills Leadership Group. She was also a Trustee of Ngā Taonga. 

Annie also worked in the public sector with the Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air), Māori Television and had two stints at TVNZ. Academically she holds a Master of Education (First Class Hons) from Waikato University and a Diploma in Bicultural Journalism from Waiariki Institute of Technology

 

Giammarco Cottani - Founder & Managing Partner, NOEMA Global

Founder & Managing Partner of NOEMA Global, with 20+ years in tax policy, law, and tech across OECD, UN, WB, private practice, and in-house roles at Netflix and Agoda. Expert in transfer pricing, digital economy taxation, and VAT. Lecturer at WU Vienna, University of Amsterdam, and Tax Academy of Singapore.

 

Yvette Zhuang – SVP of International Production and Distribution, Miramax

Yvette is SVP of International Production and Distribution for Miramax, based out of Los Angeles. She joined the company in 2019 and over the last five years Miramax’s releases include The Gentlemen from Guy Ritchie, the Halloween franchise, Academy Award winner The Holdovers, Here from legendary filmmaker Robert Zemeckis, and the highest-grossing independent film of last year: The Beekeeper.

Prior to Miramax, Yvette was SVP of International Sales at STX, where she worked on the financing and distribution of over 20 films including Hustlers, Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World, Bad Moms, and Greenland.

Yvette began her career working for Melbourne International Film Festival and was an entertainment attorney at Holding Redlich before moving to Los Angeles to work for indie film financing and sales outfit Sierra/Affinity (now part of Lionsgate).

 

Paula Paizes - Chief Operating Officer and President of Production, Pressman Film

Paula Paizes serves as Chief Operating Officer and President of Production at Pressman Film, the independent production company founded by legendary producer Edward R. Pressman. Paizes oversees finance, production, distribution, merchandising, strategy, and business affairs for the Los Angeles-based company behind such films as Wall Street, American Psycho, Badlands, Thank You for Smoking and The Crow. A seasoned media/entertainment senior executive, she has broad experience and deep relationships in Hollywood, Australia and internationally. Paula has produced and executive produced numerous films and TV series, including Pressman Film’s upcoming Gus Van Sant movie, DEAD MAN’S WIRE (Al Pacino, Coleman Domingo, Bill Skarsgard), THE CROW 2024 (Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs), DALILAND (Sir Ben Kingsley), WHERE ESKIMOS LIVE (Bob Hoskins), BLACK LIMOUSINE (David Arquette and Bijou Philips) and the VR experience EVOLVER, (Cate Blanchett) selected to compete in the Cannes Immersive Competition (2024). Paula is currently working across a slate of 20 film and TV projects and managing a library of over 100 titles. 

 

Christopher Woodrow - Founder and Chairman, Media Capital Technologies (MCT)

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 global corporate and business development for the company.

MCT closed a multi-year film slate co-financing transaction with Lionsgate in 2023. The company is making a significant investment in Lionsgate's film slate over a multi-year period. MCT has provided Lionsgate co-financing for 18 films over the past two years, including "Saw X", "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", "Flight Risk", and numerous other films. Upcoming titles include the "John Wick" film "Ballerina", "The Long Walk", and "Good Fortune".

MCT partnered with iconic filmmaker Eli Roth ("Cabin Fever" franchise, "Hostel" franchise, and "Thanksgiving") to launch The Horror Section (THS) in 2025. The 360 media company is focused on building a robust library of intellectual property and creating the world's premiere horror brand. THS has already completed its first film acquisition and will go into production on its first four films this year, two of which will be directed by Roth.

Woodrow was the founder and served as chairman and CEO of Worldview Entertainment and its successor, Vendian 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", Warner Bros.' "Black Mass", and Lionsgate's "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..