American Film Market Returns In-Person For 2022

The American Film Market is returning in person. The film industry event will take place in Santa Monica from November 1 through November 6.

The annual event spent the last two years online due to the pandemic, but Independent Film & Television Alliance, the organization that produces the event, announced that this would be changing for 2022.

The event has been held at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel since 1991, excluding the previous two years. The Market regularly attracts over 7,000 industry professionals from more than 70 countries. The event serves as a trade show where production and distribution deals are closed for films in all stages of production. In previous years, over $1 billion in deals have been inked per year.

“There is more excitement about the future than I’ve seen in two years and in-person markets are more vital than ever,” said Chairperson, IFTA
FTA
and President, Film Mode Entertainment, Clay Epstein. “The desire to return to Santa Monica for AFM is at an all-time high and we are eager to reunite the global industry in November.”

This year will mark the 43rd AFM. The six-day event will show films on screens across the Santa Monica area. The Loews Hotel will also house the LocationEXPO, over 400 sales and production companies and panels. The conferences and panels programming will all be taking place exclusively at the Lowes for the first time in 2022. Registration starts May 9 for exhibitors and July 5 for buyers and industry attendees. The AFM also serves as a fundraiser for IFTA.

While the pandemic isn’t over, the film industry has been bouncing back when it comes to industry events. The pandemic has driven everything from film festivals to award shows to business showcases online. With the return of the AFM in person, the industry, and especially the independent film industry, is returning in force.