ABOUT GOTHAM WEEK EXPO
The 2024 Gotham Week Expo, taking place September 30th – October 3rd in Brooklyn, NY, brings together partners from The Gotham’s Expanding Communities initiative to provide community and thought leadership on topics pertinent to film & media creators, including discussing challenges and solutions on how to approach advocacy and career advancement.
The Expo contains two sections: Pathways Sessions, which includes a series of interactive talks and panels, and Showcase, which includes spaces for organizations to promote their communities, programs, and events.
EXPO: PATHWAYS SESSIONS
The current state of the film and media industry requires that creators explore various pathways to success in all aspects of their craft and opportunities for growth in their careers. These pathways can include ways to finance films such as crowdfunding or artists support programs, new forms of distribution models, as well as how the world of branded storytelling can enhance a filmmaker’s abilities to achieve their goals.
Join the Gotham for interactive sessions hosted by The Gotham’s Expanding Communities partners as well as leaders in the field who are approaching the challenges filmmakers are currently facing with opportunities to develop creative and innovative pathways for film and media creators to advance their careers.
This year, all Expo programming is free! Follow the links below to RSVP for individual day passes.
DAY 1 | September 30 | Fundraising & Artist Support (RSVP here)
10 AM | Deep Dive: Lionsgate’s Story Spark Tool led by Kamala Avila-Salmon — with Lionsgate
Most storytellers and execs aspire to inclusive storytelling but not everyone knows where to start. Enter Story Spark, a free questionnaire that offers a creative-first approach to collaborative conversations about inclusion in film. This simple tool has been calibrated to spark thinking that can expand the cultural relevance, audience appeal, and creative opportunities of any script, any genre, and at any stage of development. Hear from creator Kamala Avila-Salmon, Head of Inclusive Content at Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, about the need for this framework, actual films that were developed using this tool, and a hands-on demonstration.
This event is also hosted by The Gotham’s Owning It program, which is dedicated to supporting, connecting, and empowering women and non-binary creators and entrepreneurs who break down boundaries in the media and entertainment industry.
Takeaways:
– How Story Spark has already been used in film development
– How to leverage the Story Spark tool to start discussions about diversity in storytelling
– The key dimensions of inclusivity
Speaker | Kamala Avila-Salmon, Head of Inclusive Content at Lionsgate
Kamala Avila-Salmon is the first-ever Head of Inclusive Content at Lionsgate where she embeds DEI strategies and thinking into key creative, marketing, and business decisions to build a film slate that reflects a globally diverse audience. Her personal and professional mission is to use storytelling to change how underrepresented communities are seen and shift our world towards greater connection and compassion. Born in Jamaica and raised in NYC, she earned her BA and MBA at Harvard and has led global campaigns at companies like Bad Boy, NBC, Google, and Facebook. At Lionsgate, she works across departments and participates in casting, greenlight, development, and marketing decisions to ensure authentic representation and advocate for underrepresented filmmakers. She also leads an accelerator initiative to produce and distribute low-budget commercial films from underrepresented filmmakers, including first-time directors and completed fellowships with both the Aspen Institute and the Pop Culture Collaborative. She is an outspoken voice on DEI and racial justice generally, penning articles on Medium and LinkedIn and hosting and creating the podcast, “From Woke to Work: The Anti-Racist Journey”, geared at moving people from “woke” feelings to effective actions that advance racial justice.
11 AM | Transcendent Futures — with Film Fatales
Please join Film Fatales at the Gotham Week Expo for a panel discussion about artist development opportunities for gender diverse filmmakers.
Hear from new voices in trans cinema including Fatales Forward fellows Brit Fryer (Director of You’re Watching Queer TV), Chase Joynt (Director of Framing Agnes), and Nyala Moon (Writer/Director/Actor of How Not to Date While Trans) as they discuss their filmmaking process and the power of storytelling as a tool for meaningful cultural change. Moderated by Film Fatales team member Abygai Peña.
There are many paths towards getting your next feature film made. Learn from experienced indie filmmakers about the multifaceted options available including artist development labs, incubators, grants and other funding opportunities. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to navigate the myriad options available as you embark on the development of your next scripted or unscripted project.
Despite the increased visibility of trans characters on screen, opportunities for gender-expansive directors behind the camera are virtually non-existent. By sidelining gender nonconforming voices, Hollywood is actively contributing to the misrepresentation that leads directly to real-world violence. It is crucial for the film industry to take responsibility for our role in influencing culture. We need more gender-nonconforming storytellers behind the camera to ensure the authenticity of the stories being told.
Join us in discussing a gender expansive approach to the creative process and receive practical information about finding funding and institutional support for your next film.
Panelist | Brit Fryer, Director of You’re Watching Queer TV
Brit Fryer is a Brooklyn-based queer and trans filmmaker, originally from Chicago’s South Side. He has directed several films, including THE SCRIPT (co-directed with Noah Schamus), which premiered at 2023’s CPH:DOX, and CARO COMES OUT, which premiered on HBOMax after winning the Knight Made in MIA Award. His other films include ACROSS, BEYOND, AND OVER, and TRANS·IENCE. He produced Crystal Kayiza’s REST STOP, winner of the 2023 Short Film Jury Award for US Fiction at Sundance. Brit and his work have been supported by the Sundance Ignite Fellowship, Creative Culture, GLAAD, and HBO / Gotham’s Documentary Development Initiative.
Panelist | Chase Joynt, Director of Framing Agnes
Chase Joynt is a non-fiction filmmaker and writer who works at the edges of genre. His documentary feature, Framing Agnes, was named a Best Movie of the Year by The New Yorker after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the NEXT Innovator Award and the NEXT Audience Award. With Aisling Chin-Yee, Chase co-directed No Ordinary Man, which was presented at Cannes Docs as part of the Canadian Showcase of Docs-in-Progress. For the CW, Chase directed episodes of Two Sentence Horror Stories which are now streaming on Netflix. With Samantha Curley, he runs Level Ground Productions in Los Angeles.
Panelist | Nyala Moon, Writer/Director/Actor of How Not to Date While Trans
Nyala Moon is a graduate of City College with an MFA in film production. Nyala was a QueerArt Film fellow, a TV writing fellow for Hillman Grad, and a Fatales Forward fellow. Nyala was selected as a 2022 NewFest/Netflix New Voices Filmmaker Grant winner. Her film, “How Not To Date While Trans,” was distributed through Frameline’s New Voices program. Her latest short, Dilating For Maximum Results, won the Short Grand Jury Prize at OutFest and Newfest. Filmmaker Magazine named Nyala one of the 25 New Faces 2023. Nyala was selected to be a part of the Whitney Museum Biennial 2024.
Moderator | Abygai Peña, Programmer at Film Fatales
Abygai Peña is a queer, non-binary Latinx filmmaker who works with traditional filmmaking techniques while telling new queer stories. Abygai is a current programmer for Film Fatales.
12 PM | Wide Shot: New Angles on Artist Support — with rePROfilm and Peace Is Loud
In this session, we’ll review new models of artist support programs, including Peace is Loud’s Collective Lens collaborations with rePRO Film, which offers impact training and a $3K unrestricted impact stipend; UFO’s Short Film Lab, an 18-month long program in Brooklyn where filmmakers produce two short films from development through exhibition; and Dhaka Doc Impact Lab, the first impact lab to take place in Bangladesh. The panelists will discuss the role of care, sustainability, and community in these spaces, and their vision for holistic filmmaker support.
Takeaways:
– What does sustainable artist support look like?
– How are new programs of artist support braiding elements like impact, distribution and financial support into their foundations?
– How are these new artist support programs aiming to support artists but to better the ecosystem as a whole?
Panelist | Martha Gregory, Co-Director at UFO
Martha is a producer, editor and professor based in Brooklyn, NY. She executive produced Billy Luther’s Frybread Face and Me which premiered at SXSW 2023 and was released by NETFLIX, and Chloe Abraham’s The Taste of Mango which premiered at TRUE/FALSE 2023, won Best Documentary at BFI and will be released by Oscilloscope and POV. Her own short doc, Three Red Sweaters, played at festivals around the world and is a Vimeo Staff Pick. Martha has taught film and post production at Kenyon College, Fashion Institute of Technology and SVA and she is now co-director of UFO, a filmmaker support organization that runs a short film lab at BAM and residencies in upstate NY.
Panelist | Rahi Hasan, Director, DocImpact Programs at Dhaka Doc Impact Lab
Rahi Hasan (they/them) is a formerly undocumented dancer, documentary filmmaker, impact strategist and educator challenging power on all fronts to create space for healing and radical imagination. They immigrated to Queens, New York from Dhaka, Bangladesh before moving to Durham, NC. Rahi was the recipient of Firelight Media Impact Producer fellowship and Lewis Hine Documentary Fellowship. They are the co-founder and co-leader of Undocumented Filmmakers Collective and Art Asylum as well as the Strategic Advisor for International Initiatives at Dhaka Doc Lab. Rahi is also one of the core leaders for A-Doc (Asian American Documentary Network) and on the board of Migrant Roots Media.
Panelist | Florencia Varela, Program Lead, Learning and Filmmaker Outreach at Peace is Loud
Florencia’s (she/her) work lies at the intersection of learning, social impact, and film. She currently leads Peace is Loud’s learning and filmmaker outreach initiatives, mainly through the organization’s signature program Collective Lens. She previously has worked on impact campaigns for films such as To the End, On the Divide, Knock Down the House, Women War & Peace II, The Bleeding Edge, and The Hunting Ground. In her current role, Florencia seeks to center filmmakers who are currently underrepresented in the industry, and offer spaces to share knowledge, redistribute power, and build community. Previous to Peace is Loud, Florencia honed her partnerships, outreach, and development skills over more than a decade at organizations such as PEN America, the Rubin Museum of Art, the Poetry Society of America, and Nitehawk Cinema, where she launched the cinema’s partnerships and sponsorships program. Florencia is also on the board of The Future of Film is Female, is a published poet, the mother of two young children, and was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Moderator | Lela Meadow-Connor, Co-Founder at rePROFilm
Lela is a Creative Producer, Impact Curator, Distribution Strategist, and the Founder of mamafilm, which curates and produces bold, socially-conscious entertainment through a maternal gaze. She has 20 years of experience building community and advocating for the independent film exhibition sector, beginning as a co-founder of Tallgrass Film Festival, working at regional festivals including Bentonville and Woods Hole and serving Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance from 2017-2022. She currently serves as Board President of Art House Convergence, which champions independent community-driven cinemas across North America, Lela is the co-founder of rePROFilm, amplifying bodily autonomy through on-screen storytelling, and The Popcorn List – an annual survey of highly-enjoyed independent films without distribution as recommended by film festival programmers from across the US.
2 PM | The Power of Short-Form Documentary — with Chicken & Egg Pictures and POV Shorts
Sponsored by Mississippi Film Office. Documentary short films often have the unique ability to reach millions of viewers and be responsive to social issues, while often allowing filmmakers to take artistic risks outside of commercial demands and add to their body of work. The Power of Short-Form Documentary will bring together documentary shorts filmmakers supported by the Chicken & Egg Pictures/POV Shorts Co-Production Fund, to discuss where they are in production with their films, how these films fit into their larger body of work, and their experience participating in the inaugural year of this Co-Production Fund.
The conversation will highlight the value of holistic support — including funding, mentorship, and exhibition – for short films from a filmmaker’s perspective, and inspire meaningful conversation about how peer organizations, programmers, or exhibitors can continue to create space for short films.
The Chicken & Egg Pictures/POV Shorts Co-Production Fund provided a total of $120,000 of development and production funding to three short documentary films helmed by women and nonbinary filmmakers. Through this program, five young documentary filmmakers received creative, strategic, and editorial mentorship from both the POV Shorts and Chicken & Egg Pictures teams. The awarded filmmakers include: Imani Dennison, LaTajh Weaver, Aurora Brachman, Brit Fryer, and Lydia Cornett.
Takeaways: This conversation will be most appealing to emerging filmmakers who are interested in working on short films, as this conversation will provide case study examples of how others in their shoes were able to leverage support to complete their films, learnings and takeaways from their experience, and plans for future work. Peer organizations or industry professionals will also benefit from this conversation, adding to their understanding of what it means to support short films.
Panelist | Aurora Brachman, Co-Director of Hold Me Close
Aurora Brachman is an Emmy nominated documentary director, producer, and cinematographer. She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Through patient and poetic storytelling her films explore narratives of intimate relationships within families and communities. Her short documentaries, including CLUB QUARANTINE , JOYCHILD, STILL WATERS, and THE GALLERY THAT DESTROYS ALL SHAME, have been acquired by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and POV; shortlisted for an IDA Award; selected for Vimeo Staff Picks; exhibited at the MoMA, and screened at numerous festivals including Sundance, True/False, Hot Docs, BlackStar, and SFFILM. She co-produced Apple TV+’s GIRLS STATE (Sundance 2024), associate produced A24’s STEPHEN CURRY: UNDERRATED (Sundance 2023); and assisted on the critically acclaimed Showtime docuseries COUPLES THERAPY. Aurora is a graduate of the MFA program in Documentary Film at Stanford University, a 2020 Sundance Ignite Fellow, a 2023 SFFILM FilmHouse Resident, and a 2023 BAVC MediaMaker Fellow. She is also the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in filmmaking. Aurora primarily makes work about the experiences of Black, brown, and Queer people and is committed to collaborative and ethical storytelling.
Panelist | Brit Fryer, Co-Director of En Travesti
Brit Fryer is an artist and filmmaker from Chicago’s South Side, currently based in Brooklyn, NY, whose unique approach to nonfiction storytelling centers on gender and queerness through process-forward and collaborative methods. His most recent film, THE SCRIPT, co-directed with Noah Schamus, unpacks the boundaries of language and the role of performance in shaping an expansive and gender-expansive healthcare system. The film was shortlisted for the 2023 IDA Awards and won the Creative Activism Award at the 2024 SIMA Awards. It is distributed on The Criterion Channel and The New Yorker. He is also the director of CARO COMES OUT, which premiered on HBO Max after winning the Knight Made in MIA Award at the Miami International Film Festival. His other films include ACROSS, BEYOND AND OVER and TRANS·IENCE. His films have screened in theatres and festivals internationally, including Blackstar, CPH: DOX, Newfest, Indie Grits, Nitehawk, and MIX NYC. He has received generous support from Creative Culture, The Sundance Institute, The Ford Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, The Gotham Film and Media Institute, Points North Institute, GLAAD, and Film Fatales. He is forever thankful to the residencies that have given space for his practice, including Yaddo, Saltonstall, Silver Sun, and BRIC.
Panelist | Imani Dennison, Director of The People Could Fly
Imani Dennison, she/they, is a multidisciplinary artist, curator and award winning Filmmaker born in Louisville, Kentucky. Imani graduated from Howard University where they studied Political Science and Photography. Through image based mediums and sound, Imani interrogates hidden and counter histories centered around folklore, fantasy, fables. Imani has created commissioned documentary works for PBS, Tribeca, ITVS, and Procter & Gamble. Imani is a 2022 Tribeca Queen Collective Directing Program grantee where they directed their award winning creative non fiction film, Bone Black: Midwives vs the South that made its international premier at the Tribeca Film Festival. Imani is currently a 2023 Chicken & Egg/POV grant recipient which awarded them the opportunity to produce their short creative non-fiction film, The People Could Fly, about the ritual of roller skating and how roller rinks emerged as sanctuaries for Black culture in Louisville, Kentucky. Imani is a 2025 Black Rock Senegal artist in residence where they will work on an ongoing multi-media series, Mississippi Mud in Spring. They will spend fall 2024 further developing this project as a fellow of the Points North/ Black Star Film Festival’s North Star Program.
Moderator | Kiyoko McCrae, Program Director at Chicken & Egg Pictures
As Program Director Kiyoko works closely with the CEO and Program staff to strategize, plan and oversee the implementation of all Chicken & Egg programs. Previously, Kiyoko was Director of Documentary Programming and Filmmaker Labs at the New Orleans Film Society. There, she led the documentary film programming for the New Orleans Film Festival and worked to connect Southern filmmakers to resources and relationships through the Emerging Voices Directors Lab, Southern Producers Lab, and South Pitch. Prior to that, she was the Managing Director of Junebug Productions, a nonprofit organization that produces and presents art that questions and confronts inequitable conditions that have historically impacted the Black community in New Orleans. She has worked as an organizational development consultant for social justice arts organizations and is an award-winning film and theater director. Her films have screened at AFI Docs, Calgary, Hot Springs, Flickers Rhode Island, IndieMemphis, Cucalorus, and Milwaukee and have been supported by the Center for Asian American Media, Firelight Media, Reel South, World Channel, Southern Documentary Fund, and others. She is a 2017-2018 Intercultural Leadership Institute Fellow, a 2020 John O’Neal Cultural Arts Fellow, and a member of A-Doc.Kiyoko received her BFA in Theatre Arts from NYU’s Tisch School. She was raised in Tokyo and has also lived in London and New Orleans. She is happy to be returning to New York with her husband and two children.
3 PM | The Disconnect between Indie vs. Hollywood — with Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF)
Sponsored by Virginia Film Office. The last few years have seen a rise in diversity/equity fellowships. Some of these fellowships are run by big studios, and others are more grassroots. However, the work created in these fellowships isn’t always being greenlit by studios. Leaving filmmakers to figure out their own ways to tell their authentic stories independently.
Hear from organizations and filmmakers as they discuss their experiences and case studies that delve into the nitty gritty of what it can take to tell authentic stories independently in the absence of big studios greenlighting the work of these filmmakers. Those in attendance will leave inspired to find collaborators to create and get their work out into the world, and gain a better understanding on how the Studio systems work.
Moderator | Iman Zawahry, Iman Zawahry, Film Program Director
Iman Zawahry is one of the first hijabi American-Muslim filmmakers in the nation. She has worked on numerous films that have played at over 150 venues worldwide. She’s an Emmy award winner, Princess Grace Award recipient, a Lincoln Center Artist Academy Fellow, and Sundance Momentum Fellow. She is also the co-creator of the first American Muslim film grant with Islamic Scholarship Fund where she currently serves as Director of Film Programs. Iman works to amplify the underrepresented female voice and frequently consults and speaks across the nation on Muslims in Film. Her debut film, Americanish, is has screened at fifty festivals and has won twenty five awards, including best director and best film. She is currently faculty of film production at the University of Florida.
4 PM | Missouri Stories by Women, for Women — with Missouri Film Office
This panel will feature female winners of the Missouri Stories Scriptwriting Fellowship as they discuss writing film and television stories from the female perspective, for female audiences. The Missouri Stories Scriptwriting Fellowship is an annual contest for feature and pilot scripts set in the state of Missouri.
DAY 2 | October 1 | Distribution Models (RSVP Here)
10 AM | What’s The Popcorn List? — with The Popcorn List
The Popcorn List is an annual survey of highly-enjoyed feature films without theatrical distribution, recommended by film festival programmers across the United States. The Popcorn List co-founders Lela Meadow-Conner and Barbara Twist will share how a kernel of an idea became a recognized list of undistributed feature films, discuss why so many high-quality films aren’t securing distribution after successful festival runs, and lay out some alternative pathways for reaching audiences.
Takeaways:
– What’s The Popcorn List all about?
– What are some of the roadblocks filmmakers are facing when it comes to distribution?
– What are alternative ways to get your films in front of audiences?
Presenter | Lela Meadow-Conner, Co-Founder of The Popcorn List
Lela has over 20 years of experience in community building and advocacy within the independent film sector. She currently curates and produces bold, socially-conscious entertainment through her company mamafilm; is the co-founder of The Popcorn List, an annual list of exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution; and serves as the Board President of the Art House Convergence, a coalition of independent exhibitors that connects, amplifies, and advocates for its community. She’s a co-founder of the Tallgrass Film Festival and served as the Executive Director of Film Festival Alliance from from 2017-2022, supporting festivals across the country through the pandemic. She is the co-founder of rePROFilm, amplifying bodily autonomy through on-screen storytelling, and an award-winning Producer (Chasing Chasing Amy, 2024).
Presenter | Barbara Twist, Co-Founder of The Popcorn List
Barbara Twist is the Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance, a nonprofit for festivals and the people who run them. She has extensive experience in distribution and exhibition, and her previous work includes Director of Partnerships at Vidiots, leading up to the recent re-launch and opening of the Eagle Theater, as well as Art House Convergence, Europa International, and others. Barbara is one of the organizers of IND/EX, the largest gathering of independent Exhibitors and Distributors in North America, and has been a key force behind exciting discussion series and new initiatives to address the distribution crisis – including most recently The Popcorn List, highlighting exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution after a festival premiere.
11 AM | The Indie Exhibition Landscape: A Dialogue — with Art House Convergence and Film Festival Alliance
Engage with the leadership of Art House Convergence and Film Festival Alliance in an insightful discussion on the current state of independent film exhibition. This conversation will explore the dynamics of audiences in both festivals and cinemas, the types of films drawing them in, and the prospects for independent filmmakers in the near future.
Takeaways:
– What does the future of film festivals look like and why will they remain so important to filmmakers?
– Who is attending art house cinemas and what are they watching?
– What should filmmakers know about the landscape and what tools can they equip themselves with to reach broader audiences for their films?
Panelist | Barbara Twist, Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance
Barbara Twist is the Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance, a nonprofit for festivals and the people who run them. She has extensive experience in distribution and exhibition, and her previous work includes Director of Partnerships at Vidiots, leading up to the recent re-launch and opening of the Eagle Theater, as well as Art House Convergence, Europa International, and others. Barbara is one of the organizers of IND/EX, the largest gathering of independent Exhibitors and Distributors in North America, and has been a key force behind exciting discussion series and new initiatives to address the distribution crisis – including most recently The Popcorn List, highlighting exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution after a festival premiere.
Panelist | Kate Markham, Managing Director, Art House Convergence
Kate Markham is the Managing Director of Art House Convergence, an organization that provides networking and professional development for mission-driven independent cinemas. She is responsible for overseeing all management, administration, and operations for the organization. Prior to joining Art House Convergence, she served as the Development Director at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City and Director of Operations at FilmScene in Iowa City.. Kate holds a BA in Art and Art History from the University of Iowa, with additional post-baccalaureate coursework in Accounting and Museum Studies from Northwestern University and Entrepreneurial Management from the University of Iowa.
12 PM | Distribution Strategies for Independent Filmmakers — with Black Film Space
Learn the Latest Trends for Streaming—the Most Common Form of Distribution!
Black Film Space will host a conversation about the nuts and bolts of successfully distributing an independently produced content with the intent to get it on a streaming platform. Various professionals in the film and television space will offer perspectives that will guide the audience in preparation for their next distribution opportunity. In this dynamic discussion, we will learn about what it takes to negotiate a deal that aligns with the current climate of the industry and the best interest of the creator.
Takeaways:
– Learning the best ways to attract desirable platforms for independent films/projects
– Learning how to prepare for the distribution process
– Negotiating the best distribution deals
Moderator | Lande Yoosuf, CoFounder of Black Film Space
Lande Yoosuf is a director, writer, and producer. Her short film, Privilege Unhinged, Her short film, “Privilege Unhinged”, screened at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, Big Apple Film Festival, the DC Black Film Festival, aired on AMC’s Shorts TV and was a finalist for HBO’s “Insecure” and “Rap Shit” star Jean Elie’s short film contest under his company banner, Bassett House.
Most recently, Lande was in the ESSENCE Film Festival Screenplay competition for her proof of concept short entitled “White Agbada.” She also directed the dramatic short film Love in Submission which screened in 60+ theaters across the country, and was a part of a case study discussion for Hollywood at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
Lande works to contribute to increased control, ownership and media management for content creators of African descent across all cinematic formats and content platforms. She has served as host, workshop facilitator, speaker and moderator for events with organizations like ARRAY, Seed & Spark, HBO, ABFF, The Gotham, The Root and others. Her speaking engagements have also received coverage from outlets such as the New York Times.
2 PM | Distribution Down Low: You’ve Made a Film, Now What? — with Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF)
Filmmakers looking for distribution pathways will walk away with a better understanding of how to get their films out into the world.
There are preconceived notions systemically built around what pathway filmmakers must take to become “successful.” Not only are these misconceptions singular/narrow, but they have discouraged filmmakers from creating while leaving their creativity beholden to the film industry/gatekeepers.
You will hear from organizations and filmmakers highlighting case studies where filmmakers created and distributed films that defy the conventional pathway. Filmmakers will leave with ways to help them re-evaluate/revamp their current path that prioritizes their values and that can actually get their work out in the world.
Takeaways:
– Filmmakers will learn possible pathways to distribute short films and features from others who have done it successfully.
– We will share comprehensive resource The Distribution Playbook Created by Seed&Spark and Kinema
Moderator | Aizzah Fatima, ISF Artist Development & Partnerships Manager
3 PM | A Case Study: Meet The Popcorn List Films — with The Popcorn List
In this case study, we’ll talk to some of the filmmakers whose films were recommended to the inaugural Spring 2024 The Popcorn List, and follow their journeys – from festival premiere to today. They’ll share insights and experiences that have driven their own distribution pathways.
Presenter | Lela Meadow-Conner, Co-Founder of The Popcorn List
Lela has over 20 years of experience in community building and advocacy within the independent film sector. She currently curates and produces bold, socially-conscious entertainment through her company mamafilm; is the co-founder of The Popcorn List, an annual list of exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution; and serves as the Board President of the Art House Convergence, a coalition of independent exhibitors that connects, amplifies, and advocates for its community. She’s a co-founder of the Tallgrass Film Festival and served as the Executive Director of Film Festival Alliance from from 2017-2022, supporting festivals across the country through the pandemic. She is the co-founder of rePROFilm, amplifying bodily autonomy through on-screen storytelling, and an award-winning Producer (Chasing Chasing Amy, 2024)/
Presenter | Barbara Twist, Co-Founder of The Popcorn List
Barbara Twist is the Executive Director of the Film Festival Alliance, a nonprofit for festivals and the people who run them. She has extensive experience in distribution and exhibition, and her previous work includes Director of Partnerships at Vidiots, leading up to the recent re-launch and opening of the Eagle Theater, as well as Art House Convergence, Europa International, and others. Barbara is one of the organizers of IND/EX, the largest gathering of independent Exhibitors and Distributors in North America, and has been a key force behind exciting discussion series and new initiatives to address the distribution crisis – including most recently The Popcorn List, highlighting exceptional films that have yet to secure distribution after a festival premiere.
DAY 3 | October 2 | Exhibition & Audience (RSVP Here)
10:30 AM | Innovative Exhibitions: Community-Driven Screenings, Pop-Ups, and Microcinema — with Minorities in Film
This session will focus on learning how to organize and promote community-driven screenings, pop-ups, and microcinemas as platforms to reach and engage diverse audiences. Attendees will gain insights into audience engagement strategies and building a loyal viewership as well as develop actionable plans for leveraging these exhibition methods to enhance visibility and impact.
Panelist | Emelyn Stuart, CEO & Owner of Stuart Cinema
Emelyn Stuart is the Vice Chair of NATO’s ITOC (Independent Theatre Owners Coalition), championing independent exhibitors as the backbone of the cinema industry. The owner and founder of Stuart Cinema & Café in Brooklyn, Stuart and her work were recently given a spotlight as part of NATO’s “Behind the Screens: The Faces of Exhibition” series at CinemaCon in April 2024.
As the first Black Latina to own a theater in New York, Stuart wanted to have more control about what people in her community get to watch on the big screen. She transformed a warehouse storing construction trucks into a vital movie theater and café that is now the cornerstone of her neighborhood, inspiring other business owners and independent filmmakers to move into the area as well. By investing in her cinema and making it a locus of culture, she helped revitalize a forgotten corner of Brooklyn. She continues to serve her community by donating movie tickets to underrepresented groups and hiring employees from programs that represent high-risk youth. Her expansion plans include a second luxury auditorium next door to the original Stuart Cinema, an additional venue in another under-represented Brooklyn neighborhood and an upcoming showcase of Chinese movies coming to our shores. Stuart is also a filmmaker, a film festival founder, an executive producer and a board member of the Art House Convergence and NY Women in Film & Television.
Panelist | Kelli McNeil-Yellen, Writer & Producer, Film Marketing & PR Consultant
Kelli McNeil-Yellen is a twenty-year marketing and public relations professional who made the leap to independent filmmaking with her feature film DARUMA, which she wrote and produced. DARUMA is the first film in US cinematic history to star two disabled leads in a narrative not about overcoming a disability. After screening the film at Slamdance to two sold-out screenings and securing media coverage in all of the major trades as well as CNN, she was approached by a number of filmmakers who asked her for advice on how to replicate the success of her film. She realized the large disconnect most filmmakers have between the business side of filmmaking and the creative side and as a result, she founded a small consultancy, KLA Media Group, to help filmmakers address this critical step in the filmmaking process and set themselves up for success. Acknowledging that the distribution model for independent film is broken, she aims to teach her clients self-reliance and hone the skills they need to differentiate their projects and build their unique audiences. She is a published author with Scholastic, and sold the book unagented to the publishing giant via the same methods she used to get her feature film out into the world. She hopes to empower creatives across multiple industries by teaching them to not wait for permission and create their own path to success. She’s a graduate of the University of Southern California and is currently developing a slate of projects with her producing partner and husband, Alexander Yellen. She runs the popular substack Marketing & PR for Indie Films: https://substack.com/@klamediagroup
Panelist | Adnaan Wasey, Executive Director of Rooftop Films
Adnaan Wasey is the Executive Director of Rooftop Films, the nearly 30-year-old New York City-based cultural institution. With over two decades in media and nonprofit leadership, Adnaan has demonstrated a track record of innovation and a deep commitment to storytelling that engages and reflects diverse communities. His experience also includes roles at organizations such as the PBS series POV, The New York Times, Disney, and WNYC New York Public Radio. For his boundary-pushing work as a creative professional, Adnaan has won an Emmy Award and received multiple Emmy and Webby nominations, among other awards. As a respected thought leader in the media industry, his insights have made him a sought-after speaker and facilitator at venues such as SXSW, YouTube, New York Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Independent Film Week, Media Impact Funders, and International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). He previously served on the board of The Flaherty and currently co-leads the Producers Guild of America’s Asian American & Pacific Islanders Working Group.
Moderator | Brittany Franklin, Director/Producer & Founder of Minorities in Film
11:30 AM | Presenting Films More Accessibly — with ReelAbilities
Accessibility is a crucial part of diversity efforts. ReelAbilities Film Festival attempts to raise the bar on accessible film presentations. Join a session with film programmers discussing representation and diving deep into how to best present accessibly.
The disability community makes up 20-25% percent of our society, yet its inclusion in film representation and accessibility efforts are limited. Why is disability inclusion important, and what cultural changes are needed in the industry and beyond to be more inclusive? How can we change attitudes and be more accepting of the largest minority in America?
We will attempt to show how presenting disability and creating accessibility in our presentations serves the entire community and opens the market to a wider audience.
Takeaways:
– Why be more accessible?
– How to be more Accessible?
– How to Market Accessibly?
Panelist | Xian Horn
Xian Horn is a joyful half-Asian woman with Cerebral Palsy, who serves as teacher, speaker, beauty advocate, blogger, and an award-winning speaker and contributor at Forbes and Ariana Huffington’s Thrive Global and has been featured in The White House Blog’s Women Working To Do Good series, the New York Times, NPR, Fast Company, NBC News, Fox 5 and Yahoo Life among others. Xian has also spoken at NYU, Columbia University, Barnard College, Williams College, Manhattan College, Hunter and Gallaudet. Xian is passionate about empowered representation and is a proud member of ReelAbilities Film Festival’s Advisory and Film Selection Committee. She has advised and judged for NY Women in Film and TV Loreen Arbus Grant, Ceres Food Film Festival (formerly Faces of Hunger). She has spoken at the Casting Society of America, DCTV, Lights! Camera! Access! 2.0, FilmWax, and Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Panelist | Peter Lubell
As a writer, director, and producer, Peter Lubell has worked in print, radio, and television. As a performer, Peter has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe. He is a longtime member of the ReelAbilities Film Festival selection committee.
Moderator | Isaac Zablocki, CEO at ReelAbilities
Isaac Zablocki is the Founder and CEO of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, the largest festival in the world showcasing films by and about people with disabilities. He is the Senior Director of Film Programs at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan with a rich background in multiple aspects of the film industry. After graduating from Columbia University’s film school, he worked at Miramax Films and later produced and directed feature films while also developing educational programs for the Department of Education. He has been instrumental in shaping the film landscape at JCC Manhattan, including the establishment of the Israel Film Center and the annual programming of several film festivals.
12:30 PM | Centering Impact & Ethics during Story Development — with Kartemquin Films
Wondering how your creative story development can shape your impact campaign? This interactive workshop will explore how filmmakers can consider audience engagement and impact campaign design, development, and implementation as part of their story development during the filmmaking process. Filmmakers will work backwards from the ideal audience discussions to help shape the storytelling of their documentary project.
2:30 PM | Leveraging Data to Identify, Grow and Engage Your Film’s Audience — with Distribution Advocates
As the distribution landscape becomes increasingly dysfunctional, the urgency for independent filmmakers to understand their audience is even more crucial. How can we leverage data to identify our target audience and demonstrate its value to funders and distributors?
This session equips independent filmmakers with actionable strategies to navigate the evolving distribution landscape and connect with their target audiences.
Through real time exercises and case studies, you’ll gain the skills to bridge the gap between theory and practice—from identifying and understanding your ideal viewers to leveraging cutting-edge technology and AI-powered tools. You’ll learn how to leverage both qualitative and quantitative data to inform your audience development strategy, build a loyal following, and ensure your film reaches its full potential.
Takeaways:
– Learn how to answer those grant questions around Identifying Audience, and walk into a potential distributor meeting with data to impress.
– Identify available online tools and methodology for audience design, growth and engagement.
DAY 4 | October 3 | Branded Storytelling (RSVP Here)
10:00 AM | Opening: The Power of Storytelling and Shaping the World We Want to Live In
Storytelling has been practiced and passed on for thousands of years across all cultural lines. It’s a thread that connects us to our past, present, future and to each other. Join Joél Leon (Author, Storyteller, Creative Director at T Brand Studio), as he kicks off the Branded Storytelling Expo with a powerful talk centered around the power of storytelling and how “We” can shape the world we want to see and live in with storytelling.
Speaker | Joél Leon (Author, Storyteller, Creative Director at T Brand Studio)
Takeaways:
– The importance of storytelling in amplifying voices and creating inclusive spaces for all.
– How aligning storytelling with your values can drive meaningful connections and foster a sense of purpose.
– Techniques for using personal narratives to influence and inspire positive change in communities and the world.
10:45 AM | The Landscape of Branded Storytelling
We’re witnessing and experiencing big changes in the advertising world, new directions, uncertainty, and also room for opportunity and creating differently. Join Leyla T. Rosario (Director/Producer, The Gig Media), in conversation surrounding the current landscape of Branded Storytelling, the real and honest state of advertising and the opportunities that lay ahead.
Panelist | Leyla T. Rosario (The Gig Media)
Takeaways:
– Current trends and shifts in the branded storytelling landscape.
– The evolving role of authenticity in advertising and its impact on audience engagement.
– Exploring opportunities for brands to connect with consumers through genuine, story-driven content.
– Insights into the challenges and rewards of balancing brand objectives with storytelling integrity.
– Practical advice for creatives and brands looking to adapt to the changing dynamics of the current advertising industry.
12:00 PM | Building Relationships with Agencies and Brands
In an industry where connections often determine the trajectory of your career, building meaningful relationships with agencies and brands is more crucial than ever. This session will delve into the art and strategy behind cultivating these connections, offering valuable insights from seasoned professionals. Join us as we explore how to navigate the complex landscape of agency and brand collaborations, turning networking into lasting partnerships that fuel creative growth.
In this conversation, we’ll explore how building relationships and community with agencies and brands has a vital impact on the success of your career. We’ll gain insider tips, learn more about the hits and misses, and more, directly from industry creative’s, Lora Schulson (Head of Production & PAL, 72andSunny North America), Brody Bernheisel (Director / Writer), and Talibah Newman (Director).
Panelist | Lora Schulson (Head of Production & PAL, 72andSunny)
Panelist | Brody Bernheisel (Director / Writer)
Panelist | Talibah Newman Ometu (Director)
Takeaways:
– The importance of cultivating strong relationships with agencies and brands to advance your career.
– Insider tips on navigating the complexities of working with different creative partners.
– Key lessons learned from both successful and challenging collaborations within the industry.
– Strategies for building a supportive community of creative allies that can drive mutual growth.
– Practical advice on identifying and fostering partnerships that align with your career goals and values.
2:00 PM | Ownership Around Content: How Do You Get Recognized and Paid
In the ever-evolving creative industry, ownership of your work is important along with ensuring you get the recognition and compensation you deserve. This panel will dive deep into content ownership, offering practical advice on how to protect your intellectual property, negotiating fair deals, and establishing yourself as a valued creative force in the marketplace.
Join Director Rodney Lucas as he talks about navigating ownership around your work, partnership with brands and production companies and getting the recognition and pay that you deserve.
Panelist | Rodney Lucas (Director)
Panelist | Taylor Washington, Esq. (Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, The SpringHill Company)
Takeaways:
– Understanding the importance of content ownership and its impact on recognition and compensation.
– Tips for building strong agreements that support long-term career success and financial stability.
– Strategies for negotiating fair compensation and recognition with brands and production companies.
– Insights on managing partnerships and ensuring your work is valued appropriately.
– Legal considerations and best practices for protecting your intellectual property, with input from entertainment lawyers.
3:15 PM | Aligning Your Identity with the Brand Your Work With
In today’s dynamic creative landscape, finding the right creative partnerships that resonate with your personal and professional identity are as important as securing work. Aligning with brands, agencies, creatives that share your values and vision can lead to more authentic collaborations, enhanced creative satisfaction, and long-term career growth.
This panel will explore the profound impact of working with collaborators that reflect who you are as a creative individual. Join Jamie Cutburth (Executive Vice President of Creative Partnerships, NBCUniversal Advertising and Partnerships), Kate Pfetsch (Global Senior Director of Content Strategy | Head of Marriott Content Studio), Geoff McHenry (Head of Strategy, 72andSunny), and Anthony Hull (Director & Co-Founder, Side Projects) as they speak about the importance of aligning your identity with the brand you work with and the opportunities that come from finding an aligned ethos that is true to you and will benefit your career in the long run.
Panelist | Jamie Cutburth (Executive Vice President, Creative Partnerships, NBCUniversal Advertising and Partnerships)
Panelist | Kate Pfetsch (Global Senior Director of Content Strategy | Head of Marriott Content Studio)
Panelist | Geoff McHenry (Executive Strategy Director, 72andSunny)
Panelist | Anthony Hull (Director & Co-Founder at Side Projects Films)
Takeaways:
– The significance of personal and professional alignment with a brand’s core values.
– Strategies for identifying and working with brands that resonate with your personal identity.
– Long-term benefits of building relationships and collaborating with brands that align with your personal ethos.
– Insights into how brand alignment can enhance personal fulfillment and professional success.
– Practical steps for evaluating if a brand’s mission and values align with your own.
4:30 PM | Screening: Owkin Short Film “Je Suis Elodie” followed by Q&A
We would like to extend an invitation to a private screening of short documentary ‘Je Suis Elodie’ followed by a Q&A with directors/producers Tabs Breese & India Wadsworth and Owkin’s Chief Marketing Officer, Darius Meadon.
A Parisian scientist dedicating her life to curing cancer using AI, has a work-life collision when she gets a breast cancer diagnosis. Shot partially on 16mm over a year, ‘Je Suis Elodie’ follows Elodie as she balances family life with the demands of a high stakes job at a biotech company developing AI models intended to radically change the landscape of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Panelist | Tabs Breese, (Director/Producer, “Je Suis Elodie”)
Panelist | India Wadsworth (Director/Producer, “Je Suis Elodie”)
Panelist | Darius Meadon (Chief Marketing Officer, Owkin)
5:30 PM | Creative Community Mixer
As the day winds down, we invite you to join us for a special evening of creativity, connection, and celebration. This Happy Hour is more than just a social gathering—it’s a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the creative community, foster new connections, and get inspired by the power of branded storytelling.
Enjoy complimentary drinks provided by our official sponsor, Kings County Distillery.
Takeaways:
– The opportunity to connect and network with industry professionals and creatives.
– The value of community building and fostering relationships within the creative industry.
EXPO: SHOWCASE
Showcase is an opportunity for Expanding Communities, Owning It, and Gotham EDU to host spaces to promote their individual community, programs, and events. The audience for the Gotham Week Expo Showcase includes the Project Market participants, industry attendees, and the general public.
This year’s Showcase participants include American Documentary, Art House Convergence and Art House New York, Black TV & Film Collective, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, Center for Communication, Chicken & Egg Pictures, Diversity in Cannes, Filmshop, Kartemquin Films, Minorities in Film, Mississippi Film Office, Missouri Film Office, NewFest, NYU Tisch – Film Department, Outlast Arts and Education, Inc., PANO, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Virginia Film Office, and more!
September 30, 12-4pm | RSVP Here
October 1, 12-4pm | RSVP Here
EXPO: BRANDED STORYTELLING
The world of storytelling in film and media is transforming. Today, brands are spotlighting real people, their stories, and important causes to deliver their messages in compelling and profound ways utilizing various methods to meaningfully connect with audiences.
The Branded Storytelling Expo Sessions at Gotham Week brings together some of the most innovative minds in the industry to share insights, foster connections, and create collaborative opportunities. This program is dedicated to celebrating creativity and facilitating career growth and partnerships. As a community-focused organization, The Gotham is excited to expand in this area, supporting creatives in nurturing their careers and building strong networks in the branded storytelling space.
During the Branded Storytelling Expo, we’ll explore how to forge impactful relationships, advance careers, emphasize the significance and value of storytelling, and discover how branded storytelling can elevate a filmmaker’s craft and help them achieve their goals.
ABOUT EXPANDING COMMUNITIES
Expanding Communities, a program of The Gotham Film and Media Institute, provides resources, a community space, and industry access to film and media creators across film, TV, and audio industries. The program focuses on partnering with organizations who uplift creators from historically excluded backgrounds such as individuals with Disabilities, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQIA+.
Through these partnerships, the program acts as a platform for both creators and organizations to reach new audiences, develop networks of potential collaborators, and access career advancement resources and opportunities within the media and entertainment industry.
Partner organizations include Black Film Space, BlackStar Projects, Black TV and Film Collective, CAAM, Chicken & Pictures, Film Fatales, Film Festival Alliance, Film Independent, Islamic Scholarship Fund, mama.film, Minorities in Film, NewFest, New Orleans Film Society, Philadelphia Latino Film Festival, Q26, ReelAbilities Film Festival, Transgender Film Center, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Women in Film, Women Make Movies, among others.
For inquiries about the Expo and how you, or your organization, can get involved, please email [email protected].