Top Filmmakers and Actors to speak at International Indie Filmmaker Day at TIFF

We are excited to have a great set of top professionals at International Indie Filmmaker Day at TIFF which will be virtual through Zoom on Saturday, September 12th from 10AM CST to 5:15 PM CST. Here are the topics that will be covered:
• Obtaining funding for your films and how to attract funding
• Partnering with the right distribution company during development and obtaining presales
• Advancing your film through top festivals
• Using networking during the pandemic to move your film into production; advice from top producers
• Writing and producing your narrative/documentary films; advice from top female producers and writers
• Obtaining and using original music to enhance your film
• Getting your film on the big screen; advice from a top casting director, talent manager, post-production studio partner, producer, and director

We will also be showing an exclusive trailer from the new not yet released film “Wango & Quark” with comments by Ricardo Gomez of Imagination Films. Ricardo Gomez was creative director for Coca-Cola before moving into creating animated films for theatrical release and television.

Actors Jason Alexander and Eric Balfour are taking some time out of their busy schedules to drop in and talk to us about how they are using this time during the pandemic and to talk about their careers in TV and film.

After the panels, we will be holding an exclusive virtual pajama party with the chance to break off into small groups for networking with available panelists and attendees. It’s a great chance to really connect with others.

In addition to the panels, we are also offering a chance to win a $20,000 prize in in-kind services to produce your film during the Pitch Fest on Sunday, September 13th from Noon to 4PM CST. It’s very rare to receive an opportunity to receive a 1 in 25 chance of this large of an offering to get a film off of the ground. Pitchers will also receive advice on improving your pitch and gain insight on how industry professionals see your film succeeding.

Panelists include:
Jason Alexander – Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, Grammy, American Comedy Awards, and American Television Awards winner; Has appeared in over 368 TV, film and theatre productions including “Seinfeld”, “Harley Quinn”, and “Young Sheldon”.

Eric Balfour - One of the stars of the hit TV shows, “Charmed”, “Haven”, “Six Feet Under”, and “24”; Has appeared in over 123 TV and film productions in addition to his music career.

Corky Kessler - Mr. Kessler has extensive entertainment law, corporate and entertainment industry experience. He regularly speaks on the business and legal aspects of feature film development and tax incentives in connection with the entertainment industry. Corky is actively involved in film fund transactions and counseling, and film funding source development in North America, and is expanding his practice internationally.

Ali Aksu – Mr. Aksu is an international film producer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of filmcapital.io bringing investors and filmmakers together.

Dave Conlon – Mr. Conlon is the co-Founder and Partner of Eggplant Productions

Marc Gold – Mr. Gold is an in-demand entertainment executive and producer of Fresh Cats Productions and currently oversees development, marketing, and finance for high quality independent films ranging from 500k to 15 million dollars.

Tamara Bell - As Vice President of Koan, Ms. Bell oversees the acquisition and development of feature films, documentaries, series, and animation in genres ranging from sci-fi and action to romantic comedy and faith-based for an ever-growing worldwide audience.

Michael Slifkin – Award winning Producer and Filmmaker with over 30 years of hands-on-experience and more than 100 feature film and television credits as Producer, Executive Producer, Writer and Distributor/Sales company. Mr. Slifkin has an extensive background in virtually every aspect of content creation and completion including: development/packaging, talent acquisition, physical production, post production, financing, worldwide sales and distribution, and the development of multiple corporate strategic alliances and business partners/ventures.

Scott Martin - Talented, multi-hyphenate filmmaker and award-winning Producer and Director, Scott Martin, has been personally responsible and successfully completed every aspect of filmmaking, including writing over a half dozen screenplays, budgeting, development, acquiring talent, pre-production, production, post-production, has edited multiple 􏰁features as well as the technical output and delivery of the final product, and has overseen the sales and distribution on over 150 films to nearly every country in the world.

Strathford Hamilton - Mr. Hamilton is a principal in the production and distribution company TriCoast Worldwide, which distributes feature films and television shows internationally.

Jon Fitzgerald - Mr. Fitzgerald has directed many film festivals, including Slamdance, AFI, Santa Barbara, Abu Dhabi, Hollywood and Naples. He has guided countless directors on their festival journeys, with custom Festival Strategy packages, as well as introductions to talent managers, studio executives and distributors. He has been instrumental in numerous sales to companies, such as Netflix, HBO and Gravitas.

Justin Giddings – Mr. Giddings is an award-winning actor, writer, and director. The empowerment of a filmmaker to totally control their creative expression in the world continues to drive Justin's coaching and educational work. He is the CEO of The Kickstarter Guy with a 97% success rate having raised $6 million dollars .

Rudy Langlais – Mr. Langlais is an acclaimed producer of Oscar-nominated, “The Hurricane” starring Denzel Washington and “Sugar Hill” starring Wesley Snipes.

Bill Straus – Mr. Straus is a top producer serving as Executive Producer of the box office smash “Straight Outta Compton” and as Co-Producer of “The Man” starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eugene Levy.

Nancy Puetz – Ms. Puetz is a producer and writer in addition to serving as Vice President of Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI) and President of Tennessee Women in Film & Media (TWIFM). She is also the Founder/Executive Director of Franklin International Indie Film Festival (FIIFF).

Carol Shine – Ms. Shine is an award-winning producer who has produced over 50 titles for film and television. Highlights from her long list of credits include “Blackbird” starring Academy Award winner Mo’Nique, and “I Am Legend” starring Academy Award nominee, Will Smith.

Natasha Marburger – Ms. Marberger is a London-based producer whose most recent feature “We Too” premiered at Cannes. She also serves as the Festival Director for the London Independent Film Festival as well as Festival Director for the Los Angeles International Film Festival.

Noemi Weis – Ms. Weis is an award winning Writer, Director and Producer that has spent over 20-years telling stories on the big and small screens, from her worldwide advertising projects to her award winning documentaries.

Richard Orga – Mr. Orga is a Grammy award winner for Best Country Song “It’s Five O-Clock Somewhere and an ACM Best Country Song award winner for “I’m Movin’ On”. He currently serves as the CEO for I-Prop Management in Nashville, an independent broker for the sale and acquisition of Intellectual Properties, including sound design and music catalogs.

Caron Nightingale – Ms. Nightingale is founder of Toronto-based, internationally recognized and independently owned music company with over 30 years of experience servicing the film, television and multi-media industries. She is responsible for all music needs including: Publishing, Music Licensing, Music Supervision, Clearances and Custom Music.

Cristina ‘Trinity’ Velez-Justo – Ms. Velez-Justo is an award-winning composer for film and media through her business ReelScoring, LLC. She is an instructor at UNC School of the Arts in the MFA Film Music Composition program and is a former Emmy’s music intern. Through film events, she educates filmmakers on the significance of music in film and how to successfully work with a composer.

Ronnie Yeskel – Ms. Yeskel is a CSA award-winning and Emmy-nominated casting director with over one hundred credits including “Pulp Fiction”, “Reservoir Dogs” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”.

Lisa Arnold – As a veteran of the film industry, Ms. Arnold is an award- winning Director, Writer, and Producer with over 25 years of experience in film, television, and stage. An advocate for family and purpose-driven films, Lisa strives to create stories that will entertain and inspire audiences through her visionary ability of storytelling.

Robyn Van Arx – Ms. Van Arx is well-established in the film industry as not only an accomplished actor, but also as a writer, director and producer.

Tina Treadwell –As President of Treadwell Entertainment Group, Ms. Treadwell develops and manages the careers of groundbreaking talent. She also develops and produces film, tv, and theatrical projects for her clients through collaborations with leading directors and producers. As the former VP of Talent Development and Alternative Programming at Disney Channel, Ms. Treadwell oversaw talent development, talent relations and casting as well as the development and production of music specials, reality series and documentaries.

Paul Moyer – Mr. Moyer is an Executive Producer and partner at EggPlant. EggPlant was formed in 2001 and has two media facilities in downtown Toronto capable of handling all aspects of post production, from dailies to final deliveries.

Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-indie-filmmaker-day-at-tiff-tickets-116182443817

103 Dogwood Circle, Monroe, NC 28110
Patti Price - 704-9665-6891
Corky Kessler - 312-925-2110

Corky Kessler, founder of International Indie Filmmaker Day, is an entertainment lawyer recognized in the trades as "Best Entertainment Lawyer" and recently received a lifetime achievement award. He founded International Indie Filmmaker Day to connect independent filmmakers with top professionals in the entertainment field. The event is held during top film festivals such as TIFF, Sundance, and Cannes. Patti Price of KP Films is producing the events. Patti is an award-winning producer with four feature films in development.