Attendance Down at AFM

SANTA MONICA, November 14:
While seeing an increase in buyers from the Middle East, Russia, Germany, Hong
Kong and Korea, among other markets, the American Film Market reported a lower
attendance this year, of 7,903, versus the some 8,300 registered attendees in
2007.

A
total of 1,527 buyers representing 65 countries attended the market, which ran
from November 5 to November 12. The number of Middle Eastern buyers was up 25
percent, while Russian buyer participation gained 14 percent. There were also
increases in the number of registered buyers from Germany (7 percent), Hong
Kong (42 percent) and Korea (18 percent). There were 458 buyers from the E.U.
countries, 193 from the other European markets, 44 from Australia and New
Zealand, 365 from Asia, 110 from Latin America, 40 from the Middle East, 10
from Africa and 307 from North America.

Exhibitor-affiliated
participants (including their executives, producers, talent and guests) totaled
3,791 and industry attendees (non-buyers and sellers) were 1,745. For the fifth
straight year, the AFM reached full capacity, with 409 companies from 36
countries exhibiting. Additionally, 527 films in 35 languages were screened
during AFM.

The
next AFM will be held November 4 to 11, 2009.

—By
Mansha Daswani