AFM 2024: Stuart Ford, Sébastien Raybaud & Chris McGurk Headline a Powerhouse Conference Lineup

The American Film Market (AFM) is stepping into a bold new era — and this year, it’s doing it Vegas-style. As the 45th edition of the global film industry’s most influential marketplace prepares to open its doors November 5–10, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, anticipation is soaring.

AFM 2024 debuts in Las Vegas

With exhibition space completely sold out, and participants confirmed from 80 countries, the move to Las Vegas marks a major milestone for the Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®). Over six packed days, AFM will bring together filmmakers, financiers, distributors, and dealmakers for what promises to be one of the most dynamic editions yet.

From Santa Monica to the Strip: A Global Market Reimagined

The decision to move AFM to Las Vegas—announced earlier this year—signals more than a change of scenery. It’s a bet on innovation, efficiency, and accessibility for a global industry in flux.

All market activities will now take place under one roof at the Palms Casino Resort, combining exhibit space, 200+ film screenings at the Brenden Theatres, and The AFM Sessions into a single creative hub. Exhibitor offices and meetings will span the Fantasy Tower’s 8th–17th, 25th, and 26th floors, with LocationEXPO hosted in the Palms Ballroom.

The lineup is impressive: 286 companies and national pavilions from 34 countries, including heavyweights A24, AGC Studios, Anton, Lionsgate, NEON, FilmNation, Black Bear Pictures, StudioCanal, and XYZ Films, alongside regional film commissions from France, Italy, Thailand, Germany, Romania, and China.

This year’s LocationEXPO also welcomes production service partners from the U.S., Barbados, Japan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, underlining AFM’s expanding global footprint.

The AFM Sessions: A Week of Ideas, Insights & Innovation

Presented by Wrapbook and Film Hawaii, The AFM Sessions feature more than 100 industry leaders across 30 panels and two stages. Topics range from financing and storytelling to cultural impact and the evolving indie marketplace.

AFM 2024 in Las Vegas with Stuart Ford

But one program stands out: “The Innovators”, a can’t-miss Thursday morning spotlight featuring two of the independent film world’s most influential figures — Stuart Ford, Chairman & CEO of AGC Studios, and Sébastien Raybaud, Founder & CEO of Anton.

AFM 2024 in Las Vegas with Sébastien Raybaud

Ford and Raybaud — both known for redefining independent film financing and global distribution — will take the stage for one-on-one interviews with Jeremy Kay (Screen International) and Scott Roxborough (The Hollywood Reporter), respectively.

“These conversations go beyond the business,”

“They’re about the vision and courage it takes to keep the independent film industry thriving.”

Session Highlights: The Must-Sees of AFM 2024

AFM’s program reads like a roadmap for where the business is headed — from fresh voices to financial insight. Here’s a taste of what’s on deck:

November 6 – Storytelling & Impact

• From Local to Global: Developing stories for worldwide audiences (Matt Brodlie, WME Independent, XYZ Films)

• Finding Gold: Identifying stories that resonate (Miranda Bailey, Karin Chien, Michele Kanan)

• Producing and Financing Films for Social Impact (Mary Aloe, Jonathon Glucksman, Robert Rippberger)

• Working with SAG-AFTRA as an Independent (Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre)

November 7 – Finance & Fearlessness

• Finance I: Independent film financing in today’s financial landscape (Jill Goldsmith, Miguel Palos, Jon Gosier)

• Confronting Fear: The art and business of horror (Emily Gotto, Tom Malloy, Priscilla Ross Smith)

November 8 – Production & Global Strategy

• Finance II: Choosing the right filming location (Ryan Broussard, Simon Williams, Andi Isaacs)

• Black Culture at the Epicenter of Hollywood (Kyle Bowser, NAACP Hollywood Bureau)

• The Untold Realities of Global Film Sales (Clay Epstein, Tiffany Boyle, Mimi Steinbauer)

November 9 – Pitching, Horror Hits & the Future of Indie

• AFM Pitch Conference: Mastering the art of the pitch (Cassian Elwes, Lee Jessup, Lorelle Lynch)

• Killing It at the Box Office: How Cineverse’s Chris McGurk and his team turned a horror release into a box office sensation.

• Maximizing Impact: Crafting powerful films with limited budgets (Paul Bales, Efuru Flowers, Chris Gore)

The Business of Film, Reimagined

At its core, AFM remains what it has always been — a marketplace for discovery, deals, and creativity. But in 2024, it also reflects an industry rewriting its rules in real time: adapting to shifting audience behaviors, evolving financing structures, and the growing influence of global storytellers.

From indie disruptors like AGC and Anton to genre innovators like Cineverse, the AFM stage this year feels like a microcosm of cinema’s most urgent conversations — where art, technology, and business intersect.

For attendees flying in from Berlin, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, and London, the show promises not just networking, but a true pulse check on the future of independent filmmaking.

FAQ: AFM 2024 Las Vegas

Q: When and where is AFM 2024 taking place?
A: November 5–10, 2024, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Q: Who are the keynote speakers this year?
A: Highlights include Stuart Ford (AGC Studios), Sébastien Raybaud (Anton), and Chris McGurk (Cineverse).

Q: How many countries and companies are represented?
A: Over 80 countries and 286 exhibitors, including major studios, sales agents, and film commissions.

Q: Where can I register or view the full schedule?
A: Visit americanfilmmarket.com for registration and session details.

Lights, Camera, Las Vegas

As AFM 2024 prepares to roll cameras in its new home, the message is clear: the independent film business is not just surviving — it’s evolving, expanding, and thriving.

From the polished corridors of Palms Casino to the packed screening rooms of Brenden Theatres, cinema’s global community is ready to write its next chapter — together, and on its own terms.