AFM Kicks Off with Increased Buyer Attendance

SANTA MONICA: The 2011 American Film Market (AFM) gets under way today in Santa Monica, with more than 90 new buying companies and a 10-percent increase in buyer registration from 2010.

Buyers from China are up more than 50 percent, and buyers from Germany are up 30 percent. The event also sees first-time attendance from buyers from Mongolia and Cambodia. A total of 415 films are set to screen at the market, with 69 of those representing world premieres, 310 as market premieres and 29 presented in 3D.

“With buyers up and screenings on par with last year, we expect a very healthy and active market,” said Jonathan Wolf, the managing director of AFM. “And our expanded five-day Conference Series is nearly full with more than 700 attending each day.”