Contact IIFF San Francisco Bay Area for event and ticket information.
This "grassroots" community meeting of the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is designed to foster productive relationships between filmmakers, entrepreneurs and financiers and to provide unbiased insight and education about the business of film. The event features a powerful roster of highly topical speakers from the worlds of film and finance. We are delighted to again welcome real-world financiers among our guests for the evening.
IIFF's one-of-a-kind mission is to sustainably expand the scope & appeal of film financing, and to do so for the benefit of the public at large. True to IIFF's proven motto, "democratizing film financing," our regular, monthly Townhall Meetings bring together a wide array of professionals from relevant backgrounds in film, finance and beyond for a vibrant evening of insightful presentations and speeches, inspiring discussion and focused networking. Past meetings (e.g.: March '07 New England Townhall in Stowe, VT, March '07 Bay Area Townhall in San Rafael, CA & March '07 New York Metro Townhall in Manhattan | February '07 Townhall West in San Francisco, CA & February '07 Townhall East in New York City | January '07 Townhall in Santa Cruz, CA | December '06 Townhall East in New York City & December '06 Townhall West in San Francisco, CA | October '06 Townhall in New York City | September '06 Townhall in Oakland, CA | July '06 Townhall in Palo Alto, CA | June '06 Townhall in San José, CA | May '06 Townhall in San Francisco, CA | April '06 Townhall at Stanford business school) have reliably delivered useful insights into the business of film, provided valuable networking opportunities, and managed to draw large and enthusiastic crowds.
Who should attend? Entrepreneurs, technologists, attorneys, bankers, investment managers, venture capitalists and other non-film professionals are cordially invited to learn more about independent film. Are you considering taking an active role in film or would you like to expand your current involvement? Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the like-minded... Established and aspiring filmmakers are, naturally, more than welcome to join us as well!
The evening's five presentations & panel discussion will address key issues relevant to filmmakers, financiers, and anyone interested in the economics, business mechanics, and financial dynamics of film. They will be followed by Q&A time. Attendees will also have ample opportunity to interact & network with our distinguished presenters and panelists and amongst themselves.
An informal après-meeting celebration will take place at an area restaurant.
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The event will be expertly moderated by Sanford "Sandy" Rosenberg, Ph.D. (bio | blog), a San Francisco-based licensed psychotherapist, educator, researcher, business consultant, and producer with 25 years of experience working with film, video, TV and emerging technologies. Dr. Rosenberg is the Founder & President at Media Research Associates and Founding Partner & Exec. Producer at Front Street Productions as well as a longtime friend and supporter of the Institute for Int'l Film Financing (IIFF) and member of FilmAngels, the world's first professional angel investor organization for independent film.
Dr. Rosenberg's consulting firm, Media Research Associates, specializes in qualitative knowledge-based research, examining the relationship between story, structure, symbol, image, emotion and the user experience in all media. Dr. Rosenberg is also a partner at Front Street Productions, a Vancouver & L.A.-based independent film company that has completed 9 features since 1999. Recent productions include: "The Deal", starring Christian Slater, Selma Blair, Robert Loggia and Angie Harmon, which premiered at the 2004 AFI Fest, and "We Don't Live Here Anymore", starring Naomi Watts, Mark Ruffalo, Laura Dern and Peter Krause, which premiered, won an award, and sold at Sundance 2004, and was subsequently released by Warner Independent. Front Street also produces a steady stream of films in a production services capacity with Lifetime Television and Porchlight Entertainment. Dr. Rosenberg received his M.A. from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and earned his Ph.D. in clinical/social psychology at Saybrook Graduate School in San Francisco.
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Saybrook Graduate School & Research Center
747 Front Street (at Broadway St.)
3rd floor - Library Conference Room
San Francisco, CA 94111
(800) 825-4480
Map: See a map of 747 Front Street at Ask, Google, MapQuest, Windows Live or Yahoo.
Driving directions: Our meeting venue is conveniently located in downtown San Francisco, just two blocks from The Embarcadero. Personalized driving directions can be obtained from the above-listed online mapping services; simply follow the link of your choice and enter your start address where required.
Closest BART or Muni Metro stop (ca. 0.5 miles walking distance): Embarcadero Station at 298 Market Street, which is served by both BART and Muni Metro trains. A map with walking directions from the station to our venue can be found here.
Our Host:
This month's Townhall Meeting is hosted by the Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center in downtown San Francisco's Financial District. Established in 1971 as a product of the nationwide wave of innovation in higher education, Saybrook was founded on the basic humanistic belief that human consciousness at individual and societal levels is a work in progress for which each person is responsible. This vision still provides the ethical, pedagogical and disciplinary content of the school's programs. Saybrook provides a unique learner-centered environment for advanced studies in psychology, human science, and organizational systems based in an emancipatory humanistic tradition.
The school's program is designed primarily, though not exclusively, for adult mid-career professionals seeking an opportunity to engage in serious scholarly work, to develop the necessary research, scope of knowledge, and intervention skills to become more effective in their chosen sphere of work. Saybrook's goals include the advancement of our understanding of human beings and the human condition, a commitment to create and enlarge opportunities for human fulfillment, the encouragement of full expression of the highest human possibilities, and the furtherance of emancipatory values in individuals, communities, organizations and the world at large. To achieve these goals Saybrook offers innovative, individualized and rigorous dispersed residency M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Psychology, Human Science, and Organizational Systems. Areas of concentration include Humanistic, Transpersonal Clinical Inquiry and Health Studies, Consciousness and Spirituality Studies, Peace, Conflict Resolution and Community Development, and Organizational Systems.
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6:00-6:30 pm ... Registration and introductions
6:30-7:30 pm ... Three featured presentations with Q&A (3x 20 min)
7:30-8:00 pm ... Networking break (30 min)
8:00-8:30 pm ... Two featured presentations with Q&A (2x 15 min)
8:30-9:00 pm ... Moderated panel discussion with Q&A (30 min)
9:00-10:00+ pm ... Community time at area restaurant
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1) Faith in Film: The Exploding & Profitable World of Religious-themed Motion Pictures
— by Aron Campisano, 15-year veteran digital-media producer & entrepreneur; Writer/Producer/Director/Editor/Cinematographer of "The Master Plan," a digital feature film about Christian youth culture in LA; fmr. CEO & Co-founder at online video distributor & syndicator Filmspeed; fmr. Multimedia Producer at CNET Networks & Disney Interactive; California Arts Scholar
2) SAG Contracts for Indies: What Filmmakers & Financiers Need to Know About SAG Low-budget Diversity Requirements
— by Karen Lipney, Asst. Executive Director at Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation of Television & Radio Artists (AFTRA) in San Francisco
3) Top 5 To-Do's for Success in Film: Practical Guidelines for Producers & Investors
— by Sean Fletcher, Co-founder & Principal at financial services firm Rhodes & Fletcher, LLC; lecturer (e.g., on "Financial Basics for Creative Entrepreneurs") at San Francisco Art Institute, etc.; exhibiting fine artist & guest curator for arts organizations nationwide; Board Member at San Francisco Arts Commission
4) Blending Art & Commerce: Crafting Movie Deals That Work
— by James Dalessandro, Bay Area-based veteran screenwriter, published novelist & successful movie producer
5) Filmmakers as Entrepreneurs: Purpose & Power of Film Business Plans
— by Sandra Richman, Financial Adviser & Principal at financial planning & management firm Finanswer LLC; professional film business plan consultant
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Online registration is available at http://iiff-townhall-sf.eventbrite.com (top of this page)
Early bird registration NLT Friday, April 6th:
IIFF Member ... $20 if registered online no later than April 6th
Non-member ... $35
Regular registration NLT Sunday, April 8th:
IIFF Member ... $30 if registered online no later than April 8th
Non-member ... $45
Last minute registration NLT Tuesday, April 10th:
IIFF Member ... $40 if registered online no later than April 10th
Non-member ... $55
On-site registration (at the door):
IIFF Member ... $50
Non-member ... $65
To learn more about membership with IIFF, email our Membership Bureau, or approach an IIFF team member at or after the event.
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Please direct all your questions and inquiries regarding this event to IIFF's online forum at http://forum.filmfinancing.org.
Having trouble with Eventbrite (this site) or PayPal? Please get help in IIFF's online forum. (You can also notify us by email well in advance of the event, and register on-site.)
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The Buzz: The following is a sampling of what others are saying about IIFF meetings... "Wow. Last night was great! I want to thank you again for the inspiring work you do. This is such a big need [...] and you're truly doing the work of angels (literally and figuratively)." — Brant Smith, Producer, "Quality of Life" "I really must say that I found all speakers very interesting, and I was hanging on their every word. IIFF, the mission and content, seems to be a good fit for me, because it is my dream to run a medium size production house. [...] Thank you, BIG THANK YOU [...], for inviting me to this very quality and important event." — John Henry, Owner, John Henry Filmworks "Let me again say I think you did a great job putting yesterday's event together -- great crowd, smart presentation, lots of enthusiasm." — David Rosen, Convener/Executive Producer, Digital Independence "Wow! For such a moderate investment, so much information. So much good networking. I hope you are proud of the magic you've created with IIFF." — Kevin Morrison, Writer/Director/Producer of independent film & TV "I just wanted to say thanks for another great and informative meeting. The speakers were impressive and I made some good contacts." — Jesse Ford, Founder & Executive Director, Group Hug Productions "IIFF and FilmAngels has really impressed me so far with its focus on the independent film community. I've traveled and interacted with film organizations around the world [...]." — Jin Woo Joo, Founder, Cinemasports "Thanks so much for hosting such an interesting program last week. I am always inspired by the creativity, and most recently, by the commitment to 'a better world'. It keeps my cynic's heart at bay! [...] again, my heartfelt thanks for your mission and execution. Well done!" — Teri Cundall, Founder & President, Propville.com "The event was great, very helpful." — Marc Perez, Co-President & Founding Partner, Sirk Productions "[...] I greatly enjoyed attending last night's event and found it very informative - certainly something that's been missing in New York so far." — Michael Gunther, Director/Producer, Triboro Pictures "Great presentation tonight. Lots of energetic discussions and questions." — Campbell Dalglish, Prof. of Screenwriting, MFA in Film & Video at CUNY "Thanks so much for tonight's event. It was really inspiring and incredibly informative." — Elizabeth Foley, Founding Faculty Member, Producing Dep't at NYFA "I enjoyed this evening's townhall presentation and found it very informative." — William Doll, Writer/Director, World Stage Pictures "Your Town Hall mtg was stimulating. You managed to attract the right target audience, and I loved your choice of speakers." — Sandra Schulberg, Founder, Independent Feature Project (IFP) "I attended the New York Town Hall Meeting and just wanted to thank you for setting up such an informative colloquium. It was my first IIFF event and I look forward to attending more in the future." — Blythe Frank, Producer, "Kettle of Fish" (Michael Mailer Films) "Thank you again for a wonderful event last night." — Morgan Pehme, Co-founder & CEO, Merlion Entertainment "I'm just writing [...] pertaining to the IIFF meeting last night, which I found both entertaining and informative and also promising of great things to come from IIFF in the near future!" — Thomas Woodrow, Producer, Furnace Films "I attended the IIFF town hall last week in New York and came away impressed. Thank you for putting together such an excellent panel of speakers. I found [Mr. Trenker's] presentation especially useful. As a former quant at Putnam Investments, I tend to dig into the numbers and [Mr. Trenker's] analysis was illuminating." — Robert Milacci, Founder & Executive Producer, Sinestra Pictures Would you like to speak out? Send us your comments by email! |
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The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is an innovative, independent social-impact organization that endeavors to bridge the gap between the worlds of film and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders – including the public at large.
IIFF was founded by Thomas Trenker in 2003 and incorporated in California as a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation. Headquartered in San Francisco, IIFF currently has chapters in the SF Bay Area, New York City, New England, Florida, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, London, and the Pacific Northwest.
Help us expand further, or join our online community at http://forum.filmfinancing.org to keep in touch with a growing number of filmmakers and financiers!
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