Big Apple Film Festival

Big Apple Film Festival Industry Summit   Moderator Jonathan Lipp (Big Apple Film Festival Founder/Director)   Reinaldo Marcus Green is a writer, director, and producer. His first feature, Monsters and Men had its world premiere at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The film received a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding First Feature. Reinaldo directed the first three episodes of the Netfl...

Director of Publicity at Magnolia Pictures discusses strategies for filmmakers to market and publicize their films, as well as film festival strategies and distribution. Moderated by Big Apple Film Festival Founder/Director Jonathan Lipp. Magnolia Pictures is a leading independent film distributor for nearly 20 years, Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of t...

ADAM SOROTA is a senior director and production advisor at  NBCUniversal Entertainment Division.  Adam has launched a variety of network series and 5 major cable networks. His comedy short film "A Bathroom on Drake", featuring Jerry Springer, was awards Best Short Film at the Big Apple Film Festival. He has previously directed projects for FOX, ESPN, MTV and BET . ​Adam has extensiv...

Strategies and advice on marketing yourself as a screenwriter (Big Apple Film Festival Networking Conference)  BOB SAENZ Bob Saenz is a screenwriter and actor. He has his written and produced numerous works including Hallmark's "Help for the Holidays", "Rescuing Madison", "Sweet Surrender", On the 12th Day of Christmas", "Sound of Christmas", "The Right Girl", "Christmas in Love", the black c...

A panel discussion on audience building and distribution for independent filmmakers. JONATHAN LIPP - Moderator/Big Apple Film Festival Founder and Director MARCIA MAYER - Producer and sales executive, Independent Spirit Award nominee and winner of the Los Angeles Film Festival Alfred P. Sloan Fast Track Grant. Producing credits include Song of Back and Neck starring Paul Lieberstein, Paul Feig, Ro...

Experienced producers and Tribeca Film Festival programmer discuss strategies for independent filmmakers to promote and market their films as they begin the process of entering the film festival circuit. DAN KARLOK - Dan Karlok is a two-time Emmy award winning and Grammy nominated director and cinematographer. Crappy Mother's Day is his first full length feature film. His other work includes direc...

Information for filmmakers on obtaining all necessary Rights, Clearances and Legal Agreements when making and distributing an independent film, including music rights, archival footage, book adaptation rights, bio pic life rights, copyrights and more... Rosalind Richter (Entertainment Attorney and Producer, credits include "My Depression, the Up and Down and Up of It", starring the voices of Sigou...

The Filmmaking Process: Screenwriting, Casting, and Pre-Production November 20th, 2019 Cinepolis Theater, NYC Sal Scamardo (VP FilmRise, company credits include Oscar® nominee MEMENTO, directed by Christopher Nolan; MONSTER, which won a Best Actress Academy Award® for Charlize Theron; the Oscar®-nominated THE ILLUSIONIST, starring Edward Norton; Best Picture Academy Award® winner SPOTLIGHT; and HB...

A conversation with film distribution professionals on current trends and strategies for independent filmmakers as they begin the process of distributing their films Recorded November 18th, 2019  Cinepolis Theater, NYC   FEATURING: Graham Fine (The Film Sales Company, sold over 200 films for domestic and international distribution and has raised financing for numerous fiction and documentary proje...

An interview with Aaron Fisher, writer/director/star/editor of "Inside the Rain", opening night film of the Big Apple Film Festival.  AARON FISHER is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  He has written and directed the short films Love Out of Mind, and The Hospital Visit. Of his film The Hospital Visit, two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple said, “With a powe...

RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures, formerly VP Publicity Focus Features, SVP Marketing and Publicity at Samuel Goldwyn Films/Roadside Attractions/IDP Distribution) and Celeste Erlander (VICE Media, formerly Amazon Studios) discuss strategies for filmmakers to build an audience and market their films. Includes strategies for indie film publicity, promotion, film festivals and distribution. Big Apple Fi...

2019 BAFF Summer Edition Conference "Casting Your Indie Film" August 27th, Cinepolis Theater, NYC Celine Held and Logan George(Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film") Daniel Schechter(writer/director, "Life of Crime" starring Jennifer Aniston, "Safe Spaces" starring Justin Long and Fran Drescher) Adrienne Stern(casting director, ​credits include Adrift in Manhattan" starring Heathe...

A conversation with filmmaker, screenwriter and professor Claude Kerven on the current state and future of the screenwriting and filmmaking industry. Claude Kerven’s career began with the debut of his short film "Candy Store," which won an Academy Award for Best Dramatic Student Film. In 1982, he directed a series of Afterschool Specials for ABC-TV, including the Emmy Award winning "Starstruck" an...

A conversation with screenwriter and story analyst Staton Rabin. Ms. Rabin has worked as a script reader for Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and the former William Morris Agency, and has taught screenwriting for Cunard aboard the Queen Mary 2. Staton has been a frequent guest speaker at New York University. Her unique approach to script analysis and screenplay marketing has also found a vo...

A discussion on strategies for online indie film distribution with former Vimeo GM of Entertainment, Peter Gerard.

An interview with Loretta Harms, producer of Lambert and Stamp(Sundance Film Festival), distributed by Sony Picture Classics, as well as the documentary Gibtown. Loretta is also an Award-winning, internationally shown Multi-Media and Installation Artist, and founder of Motocinema. To view the trailer for Lambert and Stamp visit http://www.sonyclassics.com/lambertandstamp/

Filmmaker David Allensworth discusses making his first feature film “Soul to Keep”, as well as how he secured distribution. David is a writer/director/producer in both scripted and unscripted content. David utilizes his strength in story development, production resources, and connections to financing to establish his company, Shady Tree Films, as an emerging leader in independent scripted and unsc...

A conversation with Francisco Solorzano on acting and building a business around your craft. Francisco is an award winning filmmaker, actor who most notably wrote, directed and starred in the critically acclaimed/sold-out, first ever stage adaptation of DOG DAY AFTERNOON (Theatre Row Theatres). He's also known for his leading role in the two-act drama, SINS OF THE MOTHER (developed w/ Ethan Hawke,...

Producer Josh Folan discusses building your audience and distributing your indie film. Josh Folan is a writer/director/editor/producer/actor that began making films in 2005, prior to which he studied finance at The Ohio State University. Filmmaking highlights since founding NYEH Entertainment in 2008 include 2018 Hamptons/Woodstock/Napa selection and Big Apple Film Festival award winner Ask For Ja...

Big Apple Film Festival chats with screenwriter, producer and founder of Virtual PitchFest, David Kohner Zuckerman. David Kohner Zuckerman is a Hollywood Producer whose credits include “A Perfect Christmas,” “The Fourth Noble Truth,” “Strictly Sexual,” “All I Want for Christmas,” “Chump Change” & “Caught in the Act.” Before heading DKZ Films, David ran Development for Silver Lion Films, where...

Interview with Emily Kassie, whose new feature documentary “A Girl Named C” is screening at the 2019 Big Apple Film Festival (winter edition). Emily Kassie is an award-winning investigative journalist and filmmaker. She is currently the Director of Visual Projects at The Marshall Project. Her work focuses on human rights, corruption and violence, reporting for outlets including The New York Times,...

An interview with writer, producer, director and actress Marianne Hettinger. Marianne Hettinger has always been fascinated by movement, absurdity and complexities of human relationships. This was already apparent in her first short film, "Shenanigans Point" in 2001. Budget: $6.95. She sees Woody Allen, Mike Leigh and Pedro Almodovar as her greatest inspirations. German press: Die Welt online, clic...

Alyssa Rallo Bennett  has developed and directed high-concept features alongside her partner Gary O. Bennett:  ReRun, starring Christopher Lloyd(NYC premiere Big Apple Film Festival), Rain Without Thunder starring Jeff Daniels, Linda Hunt and The Pack(Tribeca Film Festival), which stars Lucie Arnaz, Elisabeth Moss, Zach Galligan. Rain was theatrically released and distributed by Orion Cl...

A discussion with filmmaker Harry Greenberger about his award winning film "Staring at the Sun", as well as his new project. Topics include casting, budgeting, festivals and distribution.