AFM Opens in Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA: The 2010 American Film Market (AFM) has a total of 427 films to be screened at the market, of which 43 are world premieres, 306 are market premieres and 21 are to be presented in 3D.

Overall, exhibitors from 36 countries will hold more than 700 screenings throughout the event. Also for attendees, AFM has a new private social networking site, MyAFM, which delegates can use to communicate, promote projects and services and set meetings.

Beginning Saturday, the AFM People’s Choice Awards Favorite Film Pitch contest will give filmmakers a chance to present projects to the public. Submissions will be recorded live on an AFM mini-set. Pitches from five finalists will be posted on the official PCA website following CBS’ broadcast of the People’s Choice Awards and fans will vote online for the pitch they want to see turned into a film.

AFM conferences and seminars will feature such industry luminaries as Harvey Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company; Nick Meyer, the president and CEO of Sierra Pictures; Graham Taylor, the head of global finance and distribution at WME; Stewart Till, the chief executive of The Icon Group; Richard Gladstein, the president of FilmColony; Cathy Schulman, the president of Mandalay Pictures; Steve Bersch, the president of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group; and Jeff Small, the president and COO of DreamWorks.