The 55th Chicago International Film Festival Presents:

OCTOBER 17-20, 2019 2 WELCOME TO INDUSTRY DAYS! As Chicago becomes a hotbed of film, TV, commercial and web-series production, Industry Days has become an important meeting place for our multiple entertainment communities and film festival guests to come together with each other and major decision-makers from around the U.S.

Anthony Kaufman Industry Days Programmer

The Chicago International Film Festival’s hub for filmmakers and industry professionals to connect, share ideas and inspire each other, Industry Days includes panels and workshops, as well as roundtable meetings, networking events, and a competitive pitch session.

Since its inception in 2015, Industry Days has hosted an impressive lineup of film executives, creatives, and entertainment professionals, including Oscar®-winning director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Michael Barker (Sony Pictures Classics) and Charles D. King (Macro), Hollywood producers Gigi Pritzker, James D. Stern, and Albert Berger, and award-winning and celebrated independent filmmakers, including Stephen Cone, Sam Pollard, and Joe Swanberg.

Most events take place at the Festival’s main venue, the AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.), Theater 16, unless otherwise noted.

All events are open to registered Industry Days badge-holders only unless otherwise noted.

For full schedule information, registration, and other updates visit: www.chicagofilmfestival.com/industrydays

The full schedule is below. Speakers are subject to change.

3 INDUSTRY DAYS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HELP OF OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS:

IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. This program is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

PITCH PARTNERS THURSDAY OCTOBER 17

4:30PM-5:45PM | THEATER 4 CHICAGO INDUSTRIES: BREAKING THROUGH TO THE MAINSTREAM The Windy City’s entertainment sector is blowing up, from TV shows to commercials, independent feature films to web series. Experts from diverse sections of the business discuss the widening options for media careers in Chicago and how to sustain the rise.

PANELISTS: Betsy Steinberg (moderator) Kwame Amoaku (Chicago Film Office) Carrie Holt de Lama (Unit Production Manager for Hala) Lisa Masseur (Tessa Films) Jennifer Reeder (Knives and Skins)

6:00PM-9:00PM INDUSTRY DAYS HAPPY HOUR Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres at Lucky Strike Lounge, 322 E. Illinois St. Open to Industry Days and Industry Days Plus badges only

H O S T E D B Y:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

| 9:30AM BY THEATER 16 SPONSORED BY: NETWORKING BREAKFAST Open to all Industry Days badge holders

10:00AM-11:00AM | THEATER 20 CAPTURING THE REAL: DOCUMENTARY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP A panel of nonfiction experts offer the skills needed to develop documentary projects and offer feedback and encouragement to participants.

PANELISTS: Michael Caplan (moderator) Jolene Pinder (Kartemquin Films) Diane Quon (Minding the Gap) Debra Tolchinsky (Fast Talk)

5 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

10:00AM-11:00AM | THEATER 16 FROM SCRIPT TO NUTS: FICTION DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Join industry pros for a discussion on the development process, and why your film needs it more than you think it does--especially when it comes to the script. With a diverse professional panel, we’ll discuss all the different elements you need to pull together before you start making that shot list, some key DOs and DON’Ts, and why development is actually the most important stage of production.

PANELISTS: Angie Gaffney (moderator) Eugene Sun Park (Full Spectrum Features) Bob Teitel (The Hate U Give) Brittani Ward (Casting Director)

C O - P R O D U C E D B Y:

11:30AM-12:30PM | THEATER 16 MONEY TALKS: THE MANY WAYS TO FINANCE YOUR PROJECT Making media requires capital, but there are many ways to fund a project, from grants and donations, to tax incentives and private equity. These experts will show you the various avenues to take.

PANELISTS: Nicole Bernardi-Reis (moderator) Julie Goldman (Motto Pictures) Brian Hieggelke (Newcity) Cesar Lopez (Illinois Film Office) Yvonne Welbon (Sisters in Cinema)

1:30PM-2:30PM | THEATER 16 THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS: ACCESSING LAWYERS, AGENTS AND MANAGERS

“It’s all about who you know”--which is why having representatives who can help advocate on your behalf is so important. How do you find reps and how do you get them to most effectively work for you?

PANELISTS: Laverne McKinnon (moderator) Jeffrey Becker (entertainment attorney) Nick Ogiony (CAA) Ross Putman (Verve)

SPONSORED BY:

6 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18

3:00PM-4:00PM | THEATER 16 CAREER BUILDING THROUGH DISTRIBUTION Don’t just throw your project on a platform or at a film festival: Be strategic. Find out how to work with exhibitors and distributors that help you sustain your career over the long term.

PANELISTS: Aymar Jean Christian (moderator) Chris Charles (Throughline Films) Sarah Colvin (Neon) Ryan Oestreich (Music Box Theatre)

4:30PM-5:30PM THEATER 16 KEYNOTE CONVERSATION: FROM THEATRICAL CAMPAIGNS TO THE STREAMING WARS WITH BOB BERNEY A preeminent force in the film world for more than two decades, Berney was most recently Head of Marketing & Distribution at Amazon Studios, where he oversaw theatrical distribution for a vast array of critically acclaimed titles, including Manchester by the Sea and The Big Sick. Prior to joining Amazon Studios, he released some of the biggest indie films of all time, including Insidious, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Memento. Berney will discuss surviving the streaming wars and the seismic shifts in the entertainment landscape.

MODERATOR: Anthony Kaufman

SPONSORED BY:

7:00PM-9:00PM | CHEZ (247 E. ONTARIO ST.) INDUSTRY DAYS PARTY

Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres Open to Industry Days and Industry Days Plus badges only

SPONSORED BY:

7 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

| 10:30AM BY THEATER 16 SPONSORED BY: NETWORKING BREAKFAST Open to all Industry Days badge holders

11:00AM-12:00PM THEATER 16 CASE STUDY: CLEMENCY Clemency seemingly came out of nowhere to win the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. What was the secret to their success--and how did the filmmakers develop, finance, and produce this low- budget, female-driven Oscar® contender? Chinonye Chukwu PANELISTS: Darrien Michele Gipson (moderator) Chinonye Chukwu (director) Bronwyn Cornelius (producer)

SPONSORED BY:

12:30PM-1:30PM | THEATER 16 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: CINEMATOGRAPHERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE Cinematographers talk the tools of their craft, break down their most impressive sequences, cameras, lenses, and gear, and discuss best practices for collaborating with directors and crew.

PANELISTS: Megan Donnelly (moderator) Christopher Rejano (Knives and Skin) Scott Thiele (Girl on the Third Floor) Tommy Maddox-Upshaw (On My Block, Snowfall)

SPONSORED BY:

2:30PM-3:30PM | THEATER 16 MASTER CLASS IN SCREENWRITING WITH STEVEN CONRAD Steven Conrad is the writer of The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and wrote and directed the Amazon series Patriot and the Epix series Perpetual Grace, LTD.

MODERATOR: David Wolinsky 8 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

4:00PM-5:00PM CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 2nd floor FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC MASTER CLASS IN PRODUCTION DESIGN WITH OSCAR® -WINNER HANNAH BEACHLER

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

Hannah Beachler made history this year as the first African American to win the production design Oscar® for her visionary work on Marvel’s blockbuster Black Panther. Previous credits include Oscar®- winner Moonlight, Creed, Fruitvale Station, and Beyoncé’s Lemonade.

MODERATOR: Jacqueline Najuma Stewart (University of Chicago)

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

6:00PM-9:00PM INDUSTRY DAYS HAPPY HOUR Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres at Lucky Strike Lounge, 322 E. Illinois St. Open to Industry Days and Industry Days Plus badges only

H O S T E D B Y:

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

12:00PM-1:00PM | THEATER 3 MASTER CLASS IN PRODUCTION DESIGN WITH OSCAR® -WINNER ADAM STOCKHAUSEN

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

Oscar®-winning production designer Adam Stockhausen’s long- standing collaboration with filmmaker Wes Anderson has yielded some of the most mesmerizing design in recent memory, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, for which he won the Academy Award®. Other credits include Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies and Ready Player One, and Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave and Widows. Show your badge at the box office for a free ticket 20 minutes before start time. Seating is based on ticket availability and theater capacity. Admission is not guaranteed.

9 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

1:30PM-4:30PM | CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER Millennium Park Room, 5th floor FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THE PITCH A curated selection of filmmakers with new narrative projects in active development will take part in a competitive pitch session. The winning pitch, selected by a jury of film experts, will receive an award of in-kind services from Chicago Production Facilities and Consultation Services, including Keslow Camera, Stage 18, Chicago Media Angels, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, and the Tribeca Film Institute, worth over $20,000.

HOSTED BY: Nicole Bernardi-Reis and Jonah Zeiger

PITCH JUDGES: Bryce Norbitz (Tribeca Film Institute) Josh Foster (Cinetic Media) Stephen Cone (Princess Cyd)

PITCH MENTORS: Nicole Bernardi-Reis Jonah Zeiger Ericka Frederick Anna Hozian

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

PITCH PARTNERS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

4:30PM | THEATER 7 STACY SMITH: MAKING HOLLYWOOD MORE INCLUSIVE Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Founder and Director of the Media, Diversity, and Social Change Initiative at U.S.C.’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, is one of the premiere experts and researchers on the underrepresentation of women, racial and ethnic groups, the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities in Hollywood films, the music industry, and film criticism. In this inspiring discussion, Smith examines how we can work together to create sustainable industry change. Show your badge at the box office for a free ticket 20 minutes before start time. Seating is based on ticket availability and theater capacity. Admission is not guaranteed.

10 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20

THE PITCH PROJECTS

AMERICA’S GUEST In 1979, on a warm summer night in Chicago, a middle-class family teetering on the brink of divorce is forever changed when actor John Belushi — who just so happens to be filming a scene for THE BLUES BROTHERS down the street — knocks on their front door and invites himself in for dinner.

Director/Writer/Producer: Director/Producer: Justin Shady Neal E. Fischer

CARRIE ON Carrie moves to Chicago to start over, but gets herself entangled in a messy affair with an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend instead.

Director/Writer: Producer: Tayler Vee Robinson Eugene Sun Park

HOMESICK Following a traumatic breakdown, a bratty young art student is forced to recover in the isolation of her father’s mid-construction home. But as she works to rebuild her world, she stumbles across a dark, decades-old mystery.

Director/Writer/Producer: Writer/Producer: Jim Vendiola Shelley Gustavson

LOTERÍA An undocumented bathroom attendant at a seedy vaudevillian nightclub longs to be a famous singer and strikes a deal with the devil to make her dreams a reality.

Director/Writer: Producers: Emily Esperanza Brian Khan, Eugene Sun Park

THREE HOURS A single mother living on the edge in Chicago’s Humboldt Park has three hours to find someone, anyone to care for her child, or risk losing the job that keeps both of them from losing their home.

Director/Writer: Producer: Aemilia Scott Holli McGinley

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Please send print-ready PDF or high resolu5on JPG Jackie O'Connor jackie@chicagofilmfes5val.com PANELIST BIOS

Chicago Industries: manager, location manager, Breaking Through to actor, and writer. Prior to joining the Mainstream the Chicago Film Office, Amoaku was location manager for the Lisa Masseur NBC series, Chicago Fire (since As a 20 year veteran of the 2014) and for the Netflix movie Chicago production scene, based on Chicago’s hip-hop Lisa is widely known as a trusted scene, Beats (2019). His acting Executive Producer who has credits include Chicago Fire, ER, an eye for talent. She was an and Prison Break. He attended Executive Producer at Ebel Southern Illinois University. Productions, Radar Studios and One at Optimus. As the Carrie Holt de Lama is a founder of Tessa Films, her production manager and company can easily manage producer. She has collaborated cross platform productions that on successful film, stage and capture commercial, online, and video projects across all media social content with ease. Tessa platforms for more than a has produced work for clients decade. In addition to a full Microsoft, T-Mobile, Kraft, and list of short film, television, Chevy. Tessa Films also produced video and stage credits, she the TV pilot “Work in Progress” co produced The Last Rites of that screened at Sundance this Joe May and line-produced year and which will premiere on several full-length features, Showtime this December. including A Light Beneath Their Feet , Of Boys and Men Jennifer Reeder constructs and 23 Blast. Carrie managed personal fiction films about the Chicago production for relationships, trauma and the Bollywood action film coping. Her films have shown Dhoom 3 filming months of consistently around the world, astonishing, nail-biting stunts. including the Sundance Film She also co-produced Kubuku Festival, The Berlin Film Festival, Rides, the first short film by The Tribeca Film Festival, The Steppenwolf Films, where Carrie Rotterdam Film Festival, The is a company member. Carrie London Film Festival, SXSW, is President Emeritus of IFP/ The Venice Biennale and The Midwest, a Trap Door Theater Whitney Biennial. She was a board member and a member of USA Artist nominee for 2008, the Director’s Guild of America. 2015, 2016, and 2017. She was a Herb Alpert Film Award Betsy Steinberg (moderator) is nominee in 2018. She is the a long-time independent film 2019 recipient of the Alpert producer. She is the former Film Award residency at the head of Kartemquin Films, MacDowell Colony. Her most and in that capacity served recent film, Knives and Skin as Executive Producer on will be theatrically released in projects such as Minding the France in November through Gap, Abacus: Small Enough UFO and in the US in December to Jail and the TV Series through IFC Midnight. America to to Me. Steinberg was also Managing Director at Kwame Amoaku is the Director the Illinois Film Office, where of the Chicago Film Office. He she helped the passage of has 25 years of experience as the Illinois Film tax credit and an executive producer, director, helped the state dramatically assistant director, production grow the film industry.

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Capturing the Real: the Department of Radio-TV- Documentary Film. She was the founding Development Workshop director of Northwestern’s MFA in documentary media Diane Quon is an Academy and currently owns Cross X Award®-nominated producer Productions. Debra received who worked as a marketing an AB from USC’s School of executive for 17 years at NBC Cinematic Arts and an MFA from and at Paramount Pictures the School of the Art Institute of before moving back to her Chicago. Her films have screened hometown of Chicago. Diane at the Sundance Film Festival, is producing Kartemquin Films The John F. Kennedy Center, documentaries including the and the Supreme Court Institute. Oscar® and Emmy nominated, In 2017, Debra garnered an Minding the Gap, Left-Handed Alice B. Kaplan Institute for the Pianist, The Dilemma of Desire, Humanities Fellowship, and in and Finding Yingying. Diane is 2018 she won a Kartemquin a 2017/2018 Film Independent Partner Program Sage Fund Fellow, a 2019 IFP Cannes grant. Debra’s in-process feature, Producer Fellow and a 2019 True Memories and Other Sundance Creative Producing Falsehoods is in development Fellow. She is also developing a with Kartemquin Films. fiction film based on a New York Times bestselling novel. Michael Caplan (moderator) is an Associate Professor in the Jolene Pinder is the Executive Cinema and Television Arts Director of Kartemquin Films. Department, specializing in She is a documentary producer Documentary and Producing. and arts administrator with He is an award-winning 15 years of experience in the independent film director and independent film space. Jolene producer. He has directed a helmed the New Orleans Film feature-length documentary Society (NOFS)—the producer that explores the life and legacy of the Oscar-qualifying New of Nelson Algren, the National Orleans Film Festival (NOFF)— Book Award-winning author of for six years during a period The Man with the Golden Arm. of unprecedented growth. Algren premiered at the Chicago For four years prior, Jolene International Film Festival in worked at Arts Engine / Big 2014. He received an MFA in Film Mouth Productions in NYC as Directing from Northwestern a documentary film producer University and a BA in History and Director of the Media from Carleton College. That Matters Film Festival. She currently serves on the board of From Script to Nuts: Fiction Court 13 Arts, was a founding Development Workshop member of the Film Festival (co-produced by Stage 18) Alliance and the Alliance for Louisiana Filmmakers, Eugene Sun Park is the an inaugural fellow in the Executive Director and UnionDocs Collaborative Studio, Founder of Full Spectrum and has juried film festivals Features. He is a filmmaker and across the country. producer working in narrative and experimental forms. His Debra Tolchinsky is a films have screened at over documentary director/producer 400 festivals, micro-cinemas, and an associate professor at museums, galleries, and Northwestern University in alternative screening venues

14 PANELIST BIOS around the world, including Public Housing Unit, The Onion SXSW, BAMcinemafest, and upcoming feature filmAdult Outfest, Frameline, NewFest, Children and Lucky Star. Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Money Talks: The Many Ways Film Festival, Chicago to Finance Your Project Underground Film Festival, Athens International Film + Julie Goldman is an Oscar®- Video Festival, and Antimatter nominated and Emmy Award- (Victoria, Canada). winning producer and executive producer of documentary Brittani Ward features and series, including For the past ten years, Brittani One Child Nation, Ringside, has maintained a prolific casting Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, career, considering countless Life, Animated, Weiner, Humans actors worldwide. As either a of New York, Murder in the Casting Associate or Casting Bayou, God Loves Uganda, Director, she has worked on Buck, Sergio, Art and Craft, projects of every size – from a Solitary, and Best of Enemies. billion-dollar studio franchise and hit television shows, Brian Hieggelke and Jan to award-winning features Hieggelke are the founders of and prestigious mentorship Newcity. In 2014, they launched programs. She is also the a sister film production and owner and sole acting coach of boutique distribution company, Accomplished On Camera, LLC - Chicago Film Project, to pursue a new (opened in July 2019), opportunities that have three high-level training center for characteristics: superior quality, TV/film actors in Chicago. commercial viability and some kind of Chicago DNA. Their Robert Teitel (Bob) is a native second film, Jennifer Reeder’s of Chicago and graduated from Knives and Skin, had its world Columbia College. Bob and his premiere at the Berlinale in partner George Tillman formed 2019, followed by its North State Street Pictures where American premiere at Tribeca he produced hit films such in spring 2019 and is having its as Soul Food, Men of Honor, Chicago premiere at Chica go Southside With You, and the International Film Festival. Barbershop franchise. He served as an Executive Producer on Cesar Lopez is the Tax Credit the four-time Academy Award Manager at the Illinois Film Office. nominated film,Mudbound . He produced the big-screen Yvonne Welbon is Founder & adaptation of the New York CEO of the Chicago-based non- Times bestselling book The profit, Sisters in Cinema and a Hate U Give for Fox 2000 and in Senior Creative Consultant at June 2019, Bob produced Beats Chicken & Egg Pictures. She is for Netflix. an award- winning independent filmmaker and has produced Angie Gaffney (moderator) is and distributed over 20 films an Entrepreneur, Film Producer, in more than 100 film festivals and Life Coach based in around the world. Welbon Chicago, Illinois. She is the Co- has taught at the University Founder and Executive Director of Chicago, Northwestern of Stage 18 Chicago, and local University and chaired the film credits includeMonuments , Journalism and Media Studies Killing Eleanor, Signature Move, Department at Bennett College.

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She completed an M.F.A. in and record labels, professional Film/Video at the School of athletes, authors, independent the Art Institute of Chicago, filmmakers and other creative a Ph.D. in Radio/TV/Film at individuals and entertainment- Northwestern University and is related businesses. He is an a graduate of the American Film Adjunct Professor at DePaul Institute’s Directing Workshop University College of Law, for Women. where he teaches Music Law, and has guest lectured on Nicole Bernardi-Reis (moderator) entertainment-related topics at A producer and director, Nicole various colleges, law schools and Bernardi-Reis’s work spans conferences across the country. narrative shorts and feature film, documentary features, Ross Putnam and television series. She has After graduating from USC’s produced two documentaries School of Cinematic Arts, Ross that screened at the Chicago Putman started his career as a International Film Festival: development executive before Michael Caplan’s Algren (2014) transitioning to independent and Radical Grace (2015). Under film production. The company her leadership at IFP Chicago, he co-founded, PSH Collective, the organization launched went on to produce the innovative artists services and Sundance award winning development programs. She drama First Girl I Loved and the is a co-creator of The Pitch at Emma Roberts rom-com In a Industry Days. Relationship. His latest film, Plus One won the audience award They Are the Champions: at the Tribeca Film Festival. Accessing Lawyers, Agents Ross recently transitioned to and Managers a job at the literary and talent agency Verve, working in their Nick Ogiony is a CAA Media independent film sales and Finance Agent at leading finance division. entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Laverne McKinnon (moderator) Agency (CAA). Ogiony is is the Executive Producer of based in the Los Angeles office the Netflix series GIRLBOSS, and represents many of the and the co-founder of K&L world’s leading producers, Productions. Laverne is also directors, and independent a leadership and personal films. Following his passion for coach, certified grief counselor, independent and international and an adjunct professor at cinema, he became the assistant Northwestern University’s for the co-heads of William MS Leadership for Creative Morris Independent, Cassian Enterprises program. For a Elwes and Rena Ronson. He significant part of her career, she joined CAA in 2009. Ogiony was a successful programming graduated from Boston executive with stints as SVP University with a degree in Film. Drama Development at CBS and as EVP Original Programming & Jeff Becker is Chair of Development at EPIX. Laverne Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP’s holds a Masters in Business Entertainment and Media Law Administration from Pepperdine Practice Group. Among his University, is the former Co- clients are Grammy-awarding Chairman of the Coalition of winning musicians, producers Asian Pacifics in Entertainment. and songwriters, publishers

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Career Building John W. Bosher founded Through Distribution Throughline Films, a production and producer representation Ryan Oestreich is a veteran of firm that specializes in arranging film exhibition. For the past domestic distribution and 14 years, Ryan has worked in international sales partnerships. not-for-profit film societies, Chris and John have produced large-scale movies, theater and arranged worldwide chains, nationally and distribution for dozens of internationally known projects. Most recently, Chris film festivals, as well as co-wrote the action thriller The independently-owned movie Minuteman, which is being houses. Ryan is currently the directed by three-time Academy General Manager of the historic Award nominee Robert Lorenz. Music Box Theatre. Ryan also works with Music Box Films Aymar Jean “AJ” Christian distribution company on a (moderator) is an associate number of film releases, as well professor of communication as other business management studies at Northwestern needs for the company. University. He has juried television and video for the Chris Charles studied Cinema Peabody Awards, Gotham and Television Arts and Theater Awards, and Tribeca Film at Columbia College Chicago. Festival, among others. He In 2005, Chris joined the team leads OTV | Open Television, at Beverly Ridge Pictures, where a research project and he cast, directed, and produced platform for intersectional a variety of award-winning television. OTV programs have commercials, short films, and received recognition from features. Then in 2012, Chris HBO, the Television Academy and longtime collaborator (Emmy Awards), New York

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Television Festival, City of Prize at this year’s Sundance Chicago, Streamy Awards, and Film Festival. Independent Filmmaker Project (Gotham Awards). He received Bronwyn Cornelius is a PhD from the University Sundance and SXSW Grand of Pennsylvania. Jury Award-winning producer and ardent supporter of female Keynote Conversation: content creators and diverse Theatrical Campaigns and voices behind and in front of Streaming Wars with the camera. Her features have Bob Berney screened at festivals around the world, and enjoyed theatrical Bob Berney has been a releases and critical-acclaim, with preeminent force in the film recent film Clemency premiering world for more than two at and winning the 2019 decades, bringing a multitude Sundance Grand Jury Prize in the of smart, challenging and US Dramatic Competition. entertaining films to the screen. Most recently, Berney Darrien Michele Gipson was Head of Marketing & (moderator) is the Executive Distribution at Amazon Studios Director of SAGindie. An M.F.A. (2015-19) where he oversaw recipient from the Peter Stark the theatrical distribution and Producers Program at the awards marketing campaigns University of Southern California, for a vast array of critically was formerly the Vice President acclaimed and filmmaker of Production for DEF Pictures. driven titles, ranging from She is a frequent moderator documentaries (Gleason, City and speaker on panels and of Ghosts), foreign language production workshops, films (The Handmaiden, The negotiates sponsorship Salesman, Cold War) and box agreements with film festivals office successes such as Love & around the country, spearheads Friendship, Manchester by the SAGindie’s annual national Sea and The Big Sick. advertising campaigns, oversees SAGindie.org, and throws several Case Study: Clemency epic filmmaker parties. Darrien has traveled to over 55 film Chinonye Chukwu festivals in more than 25 states Born in Nigeria and raised in and 5 countries to consult with Alaska, Chukwu was a 2009 independent filmmakers. recipient of the Princess Grace Award. Her debut feature film, Hit Me With Your Best Shot: AlaskaLand, was screened Cinematographers’ Tricks of at the Chicago International the Trade Film Festival and the New York African Festival at Lincoln Christopher Rejano Center. Her short film, The Born and raised in the shadows Dance Lesson, was a regional of Detroit, Christopher Rejano finalist for the 2010 Academy has forged an expansive career of Motion Picture Arts and in feature film, commercials, and Sciences Student Academy episodic television. Versed in Awards. Chukwu has served early MTV, skateboard videos, as an assistant professor of and American independent motion pictures at Wright State film Rejano’s depth has brought University. Her most recent film his unique vision to award Clemency, which she wrote and winning feature and short directed, won the Grand Jury form films. Often cited for a

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www.smbtrials.comwww.smbtrials.com www.smbtrials.comwww.smbtrials.com 330330 N.www.smbtrials.com N. www.smbtrials.comWabash Wabash Avenue, Avenue, Suite Suite 3300 3300 330330 N. N. Wabash Wabash Avenue, Avenue, Suite Suite 3300 3300 330330 N. Chicago,N. WabashChicago, Wabash IllinoisAvenue, IllinoisAvenue, 60611 Suite 60611 Suite 3300 3300 Chicago,Chicago, Illinois Illinois 60611 60611 Chicago,[email protected],[email protected] Illinois Illinois 60611 60611 [email protected]@smbtrials.com [email protected]@smbtrials.com PANELIST BIOS hearty midwestern work ethic which she taught nationwide. has resulted in his work being Megan is now the Technology featured at the Sundance Film and Education Development Festival, SXSW Film Festival, Manager at AbelCine and Berlinale, and Tribeca Film currently teaches phantom Festival. Rejano is a member of high speed, all digital motion International Cinematographers picture cameras, Steadicam, Guild Local 600. AC, DIT, and lighting. Megan Scott Thiele has shot award is an accomplished Director of winning films, including,Girl Photography for commercials, on the Third Floor, Fools, An music videos, and narratives. Evening with Emery Long, One of her television pilots was a and Cicero in Winter, and has finalist in the New York Television lensed commercials, feature Festival in 2013, while another film title sequences, and music television pilot won the Chicago videos for a diverse range Television Pilot Competition in of clients including; Bose, 2014. Most recently one of her Starbucks, Coach, Visa, Dolby, commercials won a Midwest Aleve, Sargento, 13 Sins, Bare Emmy in 2014. View her work at Naked Ladies, and 2nd unit on megandonnelly.net. Soundtrack, Red Line, APB, and Sirens. Master Class in Screenwriting with Steven Conrad Tommy Maddox-Upshaw Cinematographer Maddox- Steven Conrad is the writer of Upshaw is currently lensing The Pursuit of Happyness, the sixth season of Fox’s hit The Weather Man, and The series Empire for creators Lee Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He Daniels and Danny Strong. He wrote and directed the series recently wrapped shooting the Patriot on Amazon as well as his third season of FX’s Snowfall, current series, Epix’s Perpetual chronicling the crack cocaine Grace LTD. epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles. Previously, Maddox-Upshaw shot David Wolinsky (moderator) is the second season of Netflix’s an author and entertainment breakout hit On My Block and journalist. David has served the first season ofHuge in as an editor for NBC and an France, also for Netflix. Prior editorial consultant for Adult to his run of Netflix shows, he Swim. Over the years he lensed BET’s The Comedy Get has written for publications Down for director Stan Lathan including The New Yorker, as well as the first season of Wired, Rolling Stone, and Slate. Tales for creator Irv Gotti. For His first book,ALL THE RAGE - features, Maddox shot Kalushi: about the internet, videogames, The Story of Solomon Mahlangu and online abuse - is due out for director Mandla Dube, an spring 2020. It’s a spin-off of official selection at the 2017 Don’t Die, an award-winning Camerimage Festival. and popular interview series on videogames and what people Megan Donnelly (moderator) think of them, which has been joined the AbelCine team in 2015 featured in USA Today and as the first Camera Technology VentureBeat. Specialist based out of the company’s Chicago location. She developed the curriculum for the International Cinematographer’s Guild Digital Loader Workshops,

21 PANELIST BIOS

Master Class in Production is a founder Brooklyn-based Design with Oscar®-winner production company UglyRhino. Hannah Beachler She has worked at Chicago Shakespeare, The Second Jacqueline Najuma Stewart City, The Public Theater, (moderator) is a University of and Nederlander Worldwide Chicago professor of cinema Entertainment. Bryce is a New studies and director of the York area native is a graduate of nonprofit arts organization, Northwestern University. Black Cinema House. In September, 2019 she became Stephen Cone is a Chicago- the first African-American host based filmmaker whose film of Turner Classic Movies, taking Princess Cyd appeared on over as host for Silent Sunday multiple Best of 2017 lists Nights. Stewart received her BA including Vanity Fair, Vox and in English with interdisciplinary NPR, was an official selection emphasis from Stanford of BFI London Film Festival, University. She earned her MA Chicago International Film and PhD in English from the Festival (winner, Chicago University of Chicago. Award), BAMcinemaFest, Frameline, as well as dozens The Pitch of others worldwide, and is streaming on Netflix. Earlier Joshua A. Foster films include Henry Gamble’s Joshua A. Foster is a graduate Birthday Party and New York of the prestigious NYU Tisch Times Critics Pick The Wise Kids, MFA graduate film program. both of which are available on Joshua produced or directed VOD and DVD. Mostly recently, sixteen short films while at NYU Cone directed two episodes Tisch. He has over twenty years of the acclaimed Sundance TV of experience in the financial show This Close. sector trading futures contracts, M&A and managing high net worth clients’ assets. Currently, Industry Days he resides in New York City Acknowledgements: working as an executive for Kwame Amoaku Cinetic Media in the film finance Brian Andreotti and production department. Karen Banks He most recently represented Nicole Bernardi-Reis Cinetic Media on the Ethan Michael Caplan Hawke directed film,Blaze , and Aymar Jean Christian he was the UPM for the feature, Louis Ferrara Lost Holiday. Ericka Frederick Charles Andrew Gardner Peter Hawley Bryce Norbitz is the Director of Scripted Programs at Tribeca Brian Hieggelke Film Institute where she Tim Horsburgh empowers filmmakers through Anna Hozian grant programs, workshops, Susan Kerns screenings and events. Bryce Thavary Krouch curates projects throughout Jeff McCarter TFI funding programs. She Eugene Sun Park travels throughout the U.S. Yvonne Welbon and abroad to work with new Jonah Zeiger voices to provide connections and support through markets and film pitch training. Bryce

22 Did you enjoy the great panels and events of Industry Days? Join us for the ScreenCraft Writers Summit for Panels, Workshops, Pitching and Parties with Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe winners, Showrunners, Execs, Agents, Managers & more!

Chicago Film Festival attendees get an exclusive 10% discount with code: CHICAGOFILMFEST10

Learn more at ScreenCraft.org/summit What makes a film unforgettable? For more than two decades, SAGindie has guided independent filmmakers like you through the SAG-AFTRA signatory process, making it even easier to hire top talent regardless of budget. Be independent, act professional and create your own iconic film. www.sagindie.org

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