The Entertainment Industry Insider Series - February 2021 {FREE Panel}

With a broad offering of educational courses, 1:1 coaching and mentorship, and experience-driven consulting, Film Launch seeks to shape how content is ideated, produced, and distributed, and how that content can make a deep impact aligned with the creator’s vision.

Film Launch

Bring your questions on producing and film finance to this FREE AMA led by entertainment industry veterans.

<p>Qs! As! AMA! </p><p>Join Showbizing &amp; Film Launch for the Entertainment Industry Insider Series. In this month's panel, we'll be diving in to Indie Film Distribution and the roads to recouping the investment into your film project.</p><p>We have a fantastic line-up of producers, executive producers and distributors with deep knowledge of the the indie film distribution landscape.</p><p>Excited? We are!</p>

<h2>PANELISTS</h2><h2>LIZ MANASHIL</h2><p>Post-graduation from USC Film School, Liz spent several years as a film critic for the PBS/Hulu series JUST SEEN IT (which she also helped produce and direct). Overlapping this, Liz worked with distribution expert Peter Broderick. In 2016, Liz became the manager of Sundance's groundbreaking Creative Distribution Initiative until the program's close in 2019. As a filmmaker, her debut feature, BREAD AND BUTTER, was called “an absolute must-watch for women everywhere” by HelloGiggles. It was released by The Orchard and can be seen on VOD nearly everywhere. Her second feature, SPEED OF LIFE, was released by Giant Pictures, can be seen on Showtime, and was called, "Delightful in just about every way" by noted film critic Tim Cogshell of NPR's FilmWeek. After a year of working in impact distribution at Picture Motion, Liz is now a freelance distribution consultant spending her time advocating for filmmakers to have healthy and productive relationships with their distribution partners. </p><p>------------------------------------------------------</p><h2>NAOMI MCDOUGALL JONES</h2><p>Naomi McDougall Jones is a storyteller and changemaker. She has written, acted in, and produced two award-winning feature films. The first, Imagine I’m Beautiful (2014), collected 12 awards on the film festival circuit before receiving a theatrical and digital distribution deal and is now available on AmazonPrime. Her second feature, Bite Me (2019), was released via a paradigm-shifting 3 month, 51 screening, 40 city Joyful Vampire Tour of America that took the country by storm, and is now available on iTunes, GooglePlay, and Amazon. She is currently at work on her third feature film, Hammond Castle, for which she received the honor of being the first artist in residence at the final home of Ernest Hemingway in Sun Valley, Idaho. Naomi is an advocate and thought leader for bringing gender parity to cinema. Her writing on this has appeared in The Atlantic, Ms. Magazine, and Salon.com and she gave a virally sensational TEDTalk, What it’s Like to Be a Woman in Hollywood, which has now been viewed over 1 million times and can be seen on TED.com. Naomi’s first book, The Wrong Kind of Women: Inside Our Revolution to Dismantle the Gods of Hollywood, published by Beacon Press, has received an electric response with Booklist and Kirkus Reviews naming it "bold," "convincing," "well-written," "urgent," and "necessary," and The Christian Science Monitor calling it, “...an outpouring of passion that will change the ways in which movies are seen.” It is now available wherever books are sold. Her newest project is a scripted fiction podcast that she co-created and is showrunning, The Light Ahead, which brings together more than 120 artists and next economy thinkers to answer the question, “What would 2030 be like if the USA had an economy that truly worked and cared for everyone?” More at www.naomimcdougalljones.com.</p><p>------------------------------------------------------</p><h2>ALEXIA MELOCCHI</h2><p>Alexia Melocchi is an  accomplished entertainment industry professional with a long proven track record of success within both the domestic and international arenas. A vital contributor to the LITTLE STUDIO FILMS brand, Alexia Melocchi ‘s footing in the Entertainment Industry began in the international marketplace in the 1990s, as both a sales agent and buyer’s representative for eleven theatrical distributors. As a consultant she currently uses her professional relationships and expertise in screenplay development, film and television IP packaging, securing co- productions and arranging for US and International Distribution for her clients.  A regular participant at  most major Film and Television markets as well as Festivals around the world, Alexia Melocchi still pursues  international acquisitions and uses a global film marketing approach for the Projects of her Clients as well as the films she is producing under the Little Studio Films banner. During her tenure as a Sales Agent she sold more than 50 movies to profit on behalf of her producer clients, and acquired more than 150 major Studio and Independent films on behalf of the Distributors she has ongoing relationships in Italy, Greece, Latin America, Spain, France, CIS and the Middle East.  </p><p>Alexia Melocchi has produced 27 features and docs, several of them as international co-  productions and critical acclaim  and  is fluent in French, Greek, Italian and Spanish . She is also an Advisory Board Member of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival . She is frequently invited as an expert Panelist on the Global Entertainment Industry such as SEE FEST, the LOS ANGELES GREEK FILM FESTIVAL, the NORTH HOLLYWOOD CINEFEST, two consecutive CANNES FILM FESTIVAL panels (hosted by the PGA and the Producers Network )  and WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT.  She is the Host of the podcast THE HEART OF SHOW BUSINESS where she has candid conversations with trail blazing artists in front and behind the lens.</p><p>------------------------------------------------------</p><h2>SANA SONI</h2><p>Sana Soni is a sales and distribution executive specializing in independent film. She has an extensive background in film and TV sales from multiple studios and independents in both Los Angeles and London, including 1091 Pictures, Signature Entertainment, Discovery, Warner Bros, NBC Universal, National Geographic, and Walden Media. A UCLA and New York FIlm Academy graduate, she brings market expertise to features in development and those looking for distribution. She's spoken at the DC Independent Film Festival, judged for the Brooklyn Film Festival, and is in the advisory groups for Film Hub Wales and the UK Asian Film Festival.</p><p>------------------------------------------------------</p><h2>REBECCA SOSA</h2><p>Rebecca Sosa is a film distribution and social impact strategist with over 15 years of experience. A founding executive of the film studio A24, Rebecca oversaw digital distribution and managed the marketing and sales of the studio’s catalogue of 40+ titles released on VOD and DVD, including Spring Breakers and Academy Award winners Amy, Room and Ex Machina.</p><p>After spearheading the role of Film Industry and Filmmaker Liaison at SXSW, she developed social impact programs, panels and events for nonprofits like America Ferrera’s Harness and Sundance Institute.</p><p>As Producer of Sundance Catalyst and Women’s Public Programs, Rebecca coached and mentored dozens of filmmakers on project presentations, creative materials and pitching to investors. During a three-day retreat she produced, her team raised a record-breaking $5M in funding, secured by connecting socially-conscious donors to projects such as Always In Season, And She Could Be Next, A Thousand Cuts, Crip Camp, Farewell Amor, Moonlight Sonata and The 40-Year-Old Version.</p><p>Through her consulting company, Empowered Stories, Rebecca works with individuals and organizations on distribution, impact and partnership strategies. She is especially passionate about championing socially impactful stories and storytellers.</p><p>Born and raised in Texas, Rebecca is a magna cum laude graduate of New York University, where she studied journalism and producing.</p><p>Inspired by her Mexican-American and Indigenous roots, Rebecca believes in the healing power of storytelling and community, and is committed to using her knowledge and relationships to empower others. She is a mental health enthusiast and avid student of yoga, reiki and breathwork.</p>

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The Entertainment Industry Insider Series - February 2021 {FREE Panel}

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The Entertainment Industry Insider Series - February 2021 {FREE Panel}

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