Toni D’Antonio ‘s Shake The Tree’s AFM 2025 independent film slate brings star power, global partnerships, and bold storytelling to this year’s American Film Market.
The Independent Film Slate Shaking Up AFM 2025
The AFM 2025 independent film slate just got a serious jolt of flavor and fun-loving ambition. Shake The Tree Productions, the rising Los Angeles indie powerhouse led by producer-actress-CEO Toni D’Antonio, arrives at the American Film Market with a slate that feels both confident and unusually human.
In a year when Cannes, TIFF, Berlinale, and Hong Kong Filmart continue to jockey for global influence, Shake The Tree’s presence at AFM signals a refreshing, well-earned momentum.
“We’re building a diverse, dynamic, and deeply human slate with strong creative voices and bold storytelling,”
Toni D’Antonio
And at a market known for loud deals and louder personalities, that kind of candor lands with surprising warmth—almost like meeting a producer who actually listens.
A Hard-Charging Company Ready for Its Next Chapter
Shake The Tree arrives at AFM as a third-time exhibitor, parked at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Suite 416—prime territory for buyers seeking fresh voices in a landscape crowded with reboots and risk-averse studios.
With four completed titles, multiple 2026 projects in pre-production, and several packages in play, the company’s slate reads like a map of where independent entertainment is heading.
It’s global.
It’s talent-forward.
And it isn’t afraid to be…well, fun-loving.
This year’s AFM audience—producers, financiers, distributors who split time between Santa Monica rooftops and Park City lounges—will likely recognize the strategy: build sharp genre pieces, attach meaningful names, and lean into international co-production when the creative fit is right.
A Flavor-Rich Expansion Into Television
The first major announcement is Compensation, a dramatic series backed by Archstone Entertainment in a notable move into prestige TV.
Archstone’s pivot into episodic mirrors what’s happening across global markets from MIPCOM to Series Mania—premium TV continues to draw film talent seeking deeper arcs and richer emotional ground.
Created by two veteran workers’ comp professionals and produced by D’Antonio, Compensation brings together Roderick Taylor (“The Brave One”), Lenny Mesi, and executive producers with credits across Ray Donovan and Blue Bloods. Director Ralph Hemecker also joins—a name familiar to viewers of Once Upon a Time.
Set in Las Vegas, the series follows a newly divorced woman navigating a workers’ comp office brimming with fraud, fractured souls, and lovable misfits. One might say it’s the kind of series that embraces life’s familiar chaos—relatable in the same way that forgetting your laptop charger before a pitch meeting is relatable.
#Skank: Ron Perlman Fronts a Gritty, Genre-Blending Drama
Ron Perlman leads #Skank, a dark comedy with suspenseful edges and a story inspired by true events. Jennifer Jiles, Brenna Coates, and music icon Petey Pablo round out the cast under director Shaun Piccinino.
The film’s core themes—gender politics, viral cruelty, the journey back to self—feel tailor-made for conversations happening everywhere from Sundance lounges to Rotterdam cafés.
And of course, the logline comes with a little wicked flavor:
A perfect housewife, until her husband’s lover turns up dead.
Shake The Tree seems determined to remind the industry that entertainment can be artful and fun-loving—even when it walks on the darker side.
Adult.ish… : A New York Dark Comedy About Reinvention
Toni Vitale’s character-driven series Adult.ish… adds another layer to the company’s growing TV presence. With Vernon Davis, Audrey Landers, Sean Kanan, and Lou Martini Jr., the pilot blends midlife reinvention and identity crises with sharp humor.
Set in New York City, it channels the neurotic charm of the Upper West Side with the go-for-broke grit of the outer boroughs. And yes, it speaks to anyone who has ever googled “Is buying a new sofa a personality change?”—relatable, again.
I Won’t Dance: A Canary Islands Romance With Global Appeal
Previously featured in Deadline, I Won’t Dance marks Christine Lakin’s feature directing debut. Partnered with Spanish production house Hulahoop Media, the film follows a teen dancer and her rival on an unexpected romantic and competitive journey.
Choreography by Dancing with the Stars champion Sharna Burgess adds mainstream appeal, while its sunny Canary Islands setting evokes the breezy charm of classic dance films. It’s a spirited blend of Dirty Dancing, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and The Cutting Edge.
The film also represents something strategically valuable for a company like Shake The Tree: international co-production that still carries emotional universality—a key ingredient at global markets ranging from Locarno to Busan.
Mini FAQ: Toni D’Antonio ‘s Shake The Tree
Q: What is Shake The Tree Productions’ focus at AFM 2025?
A: The company is showcasing a broad AFM 2025 independent film slate including TV dramas, dark comedies, and international co-productions while taking meetings for finance, pre-sales, and distribution.
Q: Which major talents are attached to this year’s slate?
A: Ron Perlman, Vernon Davis, Audrey Landers, Sean Kanan, Brenna Coates, Petey Pablo, and more.
Q: Where can industry professionals meet Shake The Tree at AFM?
A: The Fairmont Century Plaza, Suite 416.
Shake The Tree takes Confident Step Into Bigger Arena
Shake The Tree Productions enters AFM 2025 with a slate that is polished, personal, and internationally relevant. In a market where authenticity is often overshadowed by noise, Toni D’Antonio’s team stands out with work that is flavorful, grounded, and fun-loving without losing industry rigor.
For filmmakers, buyers, and storytellers looking for the next bold partnership, now might be the time to knock on Suite 416. Or better yet—start building something together.
Explore more about independent filmmaking here: https://www.ifta-online.org
Toni D’Antonio ‘ s Shake The Tree’s AFM 2025 independent film slate brings star power, global partnerships, and bold storytelling to this year’s American Film Market.
