DTLA Film Festival Panel 2: Indie Film Distribution

Downtown Film Festival L.A. is Los Angeles’ premiere independent film festival. Established in 2008 as a nonprofit organization, the festival is dedicated to showcasing independent cinema in the historic center of the Creative Capital of the World. DTLAFF also celebrates the renaissance of downtown L.A. and its unique cultural diversity.

[ARCHIVE] DTLA Film Festival

The Future of Independent Film in the Streaming Age

Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center

The rise of streaming has proven to be a double-edged sword for independent filmmaking. Though it brought promises of innovation and exposure, it also inflicted significant damage on independent cinemas, effectively eroded the writer middle-class, drastically changed the demographics and habits of moviegoers, and threw the studio and independent film ecosystem off-balance. This panel examines whether streaming on balance is a boon or bust for indie film? Talks of a bursting streaming bubble injects potential new life into the independent film industry, proving the topic to be a dynamic one that invites further discussion. Moderator: Lorraine AliAli Lorraine, an esteemed journalist, started her career as a senior writer and music editor at the Los Angeles Times in 2011. With stints at Newsweek and Rolling Stone, she now serves as a television critic and media columnist for the LA Times. Additionally, Lorraine is a member of the George Foster Peabody Awards board of jurors.Speaker 1: M.L. PostMatt Post, a seasoned director/producer and entrepreneur, brings 15 years of experience in feature film and commercial production. His latest project, <a href="https://watchunderrated.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Underrated</a>, is an OTT platform showcasing 150 titles worldwide, including Oscar-nominated films, aiming to spotlight the best indie films often overlooked by mainstream audiences.Speaker 2: Jiarui GuoJiarui Guo, a self-starting and multi-award-winning producer since 2020, boasts a remarkable record with 30+ Academy and BAFTA qualified awards, 20+ Best Producer Awards, and over 100 International film festival honors. Her dedication, integrity, and creative innovation shine through in the production of 20+ short films, five feature films, and five TY Movies in just three years. Beyond producing, Jiarui has showcased versatility, excelling in line producing, UPM, and various below-the-line crew positions.Speaker 3: Henry PriestHenry &quot;Coach&quot; Priest, a versatile figure in the entertainment industry, serves as a film, TV, and events producer. Renowned as the director of the Downtown LA Film Festival, he has notable contributions in feature films like &quot;Beyond the Mat&quot; and has excelled in casting for Lionsgate, Nike, and as a talent agent for 310 Models.Speaker 4: German Michael TorresGerman Michael Torres is a producer, development executive, and packager with 20 years of experience. Recently he produced Netflix’ top 10 global hit, #1 in 33 countries, “Christmas With You,” starring Aimee Garcia and Freddie Prinze Jr. He just wrapped “Girl In The Pool,” a thriller starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Kevin Pollak, and Monica Potter, to be released by Quiver Entertainment and a major studio. Past work includes projects with Julia Roberts, Dwayne Johnson and other A-list talent, “Kill Chain” with Nicholas Cage (Amazon Studios.) Speaker 5: Karina MillerKarina Miller launched her production career in Toronto with Alliance Entertainment and later worked in New York for Columbia Tri-star TV on notable shows like THE RICKI LAKE SHOW. She made her mark in theatre, producing both on and off Broadway, and notably for the Tony-winning INITIMAN Theatre. In Los Angeles, Karina established SPARKHOUSE MEDIA, focusing on independent film and TV projects. Highlights include: &quot;THE BIG ASK&quot;, which won the Audience Award at Asheville Film Festival; &quot;TO THE BONE&quot;, a Sundance favorite starring Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves, later acquired by Netflix; and &quot;SEMPER FI&quot; by Emmy winner Henry-Alex Rubin, distributed by Lionsgate. Recently, &quot;HAIL MARY&quot;, featuring Angela Sarafyan and Jack Huston, premiered at SXSW 2023.S﻿peaker 6: Allie CuerdoAMAZING ALLIE CUERDO is an Emmy-nominated director, producer, author and cancer survivor, recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World by the Filipina Women&#x27;s Network. Their work fuses fantasy, documentary and activism, with a focus on stories that uplift underserved communities and center joy. In 2021, they received the Logo30 award for LGBTQ pioneers, activists and artists who continue to move our community forward. Their work includes NBC’s THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS FREEDOM AWARDS starring Meryl Streep, Amal Clooney and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, multiple award-winning feature documentary ULAM: MAIN DISH and AMBOY, one of Amazon’s 20 Best Books of the Year. As seen in the NY Times, the LA Times, Vogue, PAPER, Filmmaker Magazine and more!

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DTLA Film Festival Panel 2: Indie Film Distribution

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DTLA Film Festival Panel 2: Indie Film Distribution

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