Marking the first-ever digital event in the market’s history, American Film Market (AFM®) concluded its record-setting 41st edition on Friday, November 13, after hosting the global independent film industry for five days of deal-making, screenings, conferences, and networking.
Participants spanned 82 countries and 45 U.S. states, more countries than any AFM in the last decade. Exhibitor participation rose to an all-time high of 571 registered companies from nearly 50 countries, with the largest number of exhibitors after the United States coming from Italy, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, France, Canada, and the Republic of (South) Korea. In addition to industry office booths from leading sales and production companies, AFM’s LocationEXPO presented 59 film commissions and production facilities from around the world, including Film France, Film Liaisons in California Statewide, Island Film Group, Nu Boyana Film Studios, the Polish Film Institute, Seoul Film Commission, and Turespaña, to name a few.
The world’s buyers were also in attendance with 1,468 Buyers from 66 countries with the largest number coming from the United States, followed by Japan, United Kingdom, Republic of (South) Korea, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, and Canada. Buyers from the world’s leading digital platforms were also in attendance.
AFM’s On Demand Theatre screenings were highly attended with 465 official films screening, translating to 50% more than at last year’s event.
AFM 2020 presented the most expansive programming lineup to date with 70 sessions and more than 200 speakers over five days on two stages featuring industry leaders and innovators such as Jillian Apfelbaum (Village Roadshow Pictures), Nadira Azermai (ScriptBook), Jen Barrett (Facebook), Kyle Bowser (NAACP), Megan Colligan (IMAX), Cameron Douglas (FandangoNOW), Malik Dukard (YouTube), Elissa Federoff (NEON), Kimberly Fox (MadRiver Pictures), Mark Gill (Solstice Studios), Jeffrey Greenstein (Millennium Media), Elizabeth Haggard (Participant Media), Todd Olsson (Highland Film Group), Brian O’Shea (The Exchange), John Sloss (Cinetic Media), Nick Spicer (XYZ Films), John Von Thaden (Magnolia), Alison Thompson (Cornerstone Films), David White (SAG-AFTRA), and Adrian Wootton (Film London and the British Film Commission).
The AFM2020.Online platform was created to serve AFM’s multiple audience segments and featured eight dedicated areas, including Industry Offices, LocationEXPO, On Demand Theatre and MyAFM.
