Slamdance Film Festival – Market Monday
On February 24, 2025 Market Monday brought the LA film community together, involving a day of panels focused on renewal, refreshing distribution, promoting theatrical exhibition as well as fostering collaboration, not competition. Discussions included Past to Present Context, What is Working Now, Recent Filmmaker Experience and Accessibility, the Write Way. Part of Slamdance’s Polytechnic program, Market Monday was formed by industry professionals and programmed by Filmmakers Distribution Collective founders Annalisa Shoemaker, Albert Berger and Barbara Twist. Market Monday was additionally live-streamed by the LA Times Studios directly to the LA Times Homepage in front of the paywall, ensuring accessibility to everyone.
The Days Agenda Included:
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Filmmaker Breakfast presented by Oklahoma Film + Music Office and Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Welcome and Day’s Agenda from Annalisa, Albert, Barbara and Peter Baxter
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM – Indie Film: From Thriving to Surviving — What Comes Next?
An exploration of the indie film industry’s heyday, its current struggles, and strategies for a potential comeback amid shrinking distribution channels and evolving audience expectations. Moderated by Albert Berger (Bona Fide) with speakers Keri Putnam (Putnam Pictures), Kenneth Turan, and Ted Mundorff.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Navigating the New Indie Landscape: Filmmaker Strategies for Building Audiences and Partnerships
Filmmakers discuss their approaches to audience engagement, distributor relationships, and marketing in the evolving world of independent cinema. Moderated by Barbara Twist (Twist Films). Speakers include Shane Stanger (Good Bad Things), Natalie Ray (director), and Rosanna Xia (Out of Plain Sight).
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – KEYNOTE by Special Guest!
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch Break
Enjoy lunch while learning how you can get involved with new initiatives to build a stronger film community. Groups include Filmmaker Distribution Collective, Producers United, Future Film Coalition, The Popcorn List, Movie Field Trip, FWD-Doc, and Distribution Advocates.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – What’s Working Now: Expert Advice for Your Film’s Distribution
A panel of industry professionals discusses the most effective strategies for distributing your film, from festivals to digital platforms and beyond. Moderated by Annalisa Shoemaker (Suncatcher Productions), Speakers include Chris Lane (Joint Venture), Sylvia Desrochers (MPRM), Laura Kim (Inside Job), Neil Creque Williams (Gathr), Monika Sharma (Product of Culture), and Imani Davis (American Cinematheque).
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Breakout: The Future of Film
Discuss and debate strategies for strengthening and improving our film community.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM – Come Together
Share key insights from your breakouts.
4:35 PM – 6:00 PM – Accessibility the Write Way: Casting, Creativity & The Future of Storytelling presented by Easterseals Disability Services
This panel sets out the barriers in hiring, casting, and storytelling that have historically sidelined disabled talent and what changes are still to be made. From writing with authenticity to ensuring access in casting rooms, what are the new industry standards for inclusive film production? Let’s hear from this esteemed group of panelists to find out.
Moderated by Academy Award winner Peter Farrelly. Speakers include David Radcliff (WGA Disability Committee), Jen Court (Kung Fu Monkey Productions), Michael Sanford (Sanford Casting), Keli McNeil Yellen (Daruma), Russel Boast (The Casting Society), and Doug Roland (Unstoppable Alum, Academy Award Nominee).
6:00 PM – The Filmmaker Afterparty presented by Eventive
Photo by Julia Muniz / @sharelove.art