The 56th Chicago International Film Festival Presents: October 14-18, 2020 SLEEP © Junafilm · UNDINE © Christian Schulz/Schramm Film · AND TOMORROW THE ENTIRE WORLD © Seven Elephants/Oliver Wolf Elephants/Oliver © Seven THE ENTIRE WORLD Film · AND TOMORROW Schulz/Schramm SLEEP © Junafilm · UNDINE © Christian German Film Office · Sara Stevenson 2 30 Irving Place, 4th Floor · New York, NY 10003 · [email protected] 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 one-on-one 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. All events will take place virtually on Zoom. All events are open to registered Industry Days passholders only unless otherwise noted. For full schedule information, registration, and other updates visit: chicagofilmfestival.com/industrydays Speakers are subject to change. Welcome to Industry Days. Industry Days Team: We’re very excited to be expanding the reach of Industry Days this year by taking the conference online. Although the entertainment industry has been hobbled by the pandemic, this is the perfect time to focus on artistic and JC Farris professional development, which will be in no short supply during this year’s Industry Programs Manager conference. And even though we’ll be joining together virtually, Industry Days can still provide 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 world. See you on Zoom! Anthony Kaufman Mikaela McParlan Industry Days Programmer Industry Days Coordinator 3 NEW SPANISH TAX REBATE 30% – 50% A LONG INTERNATIONAL FILM TRADITION AWESOME WEATHER WITH 10 DIFFERENT CLIMATES 13,450 MILES OF RIVERS 4,900 MILES OF COASTLINE 2,600 MILES OF MOUNTAINS 103,020 MILES OF ROADS 1,650 SQUARE MILES OF DESERT SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS 9 MONTHS YEAR 63 CITIES WITH + 100,000 INHABITANTS icaa.es shootinginspain.info Thank You! Industry Days are made possible by the help of our partners and supporters: This project is supported in part This program partially This project is partially supported by a CityArts by an award from the National supported by a grant from the Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Endowment for the Arts. Illinois Arts Council Agency Cultural Affairs & Special Events The Pitch Supporters This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Proceeds from the Chicago International Film Festival benefit Cinema/Chicago’s year-round programs including the CineYouth Festival, Summer Screenings, and the Education Program. With over 100 features and shorts, you’re closer to a true film festival experience than you think. Film Can Take You There. October 14 – 25, 2020 chicagofilmfestival.com 5 6:00pm - 7:00pm (CST) Wednesday, Networking Hour with Kartemquin Films October 14 and IFA Chicago 5:00pm - 6:15pm (CST) State of the Industry: The Catastrophic Effects and Potential Opportunities of 3:00pm - 4:15pm (CST) Friday, Making Media in a Pandemic Screenwriting Master Class: The global pandemic has disrupted the John Logan October 16 entertainment industry in unprecedented Three-time Oscar® nominee and winner of 11:00am - 12:00pm (CST) ways. Can independent films survive, Golden Globe, BAFTA, and WGA awards, Film is Global: and if so, how? Are streaming companies John Logan has written such films as Skyfall, the only ones who can save them, and Accessing International Sales Spectre, Hugo, The Aviator, and Gladiator, if not, who? What is our future and how in Uncertain Times as well as created and produced the can we make it better? Join this group of television series Penny Dreadful and written seasoned experts as they sift through the How can U.S.-based filmmakers connect dozens of award-winning plays. Learn how current wreckage and reveal much-needed with international sales agents, and what to write scripts from a master, indeed. answers and insights. do they need in place before they can make those deals and harness distribution Moderated by Panelists: in foreign territories? Find out from these Tim Grierson (Screen International) Anthony Kaufman (moderator) experienced sales agents about how they Mynette Louie (producer, The Tale) seek out films and how the pandemic is Elsa Ramo (entertainment attorney) Tickets: $10 affecting foreign sales. Eugene Hernandez (New York Film for non-Industry Days pass holders Festival; co-founder Indiewire.com) Panelists: Dori Begley (Magnolia Pictures) Betsy Steinberg (moderator) Naima Abed (Memento International) Edward Parodi (Film Constellation) Joe Yanick (Yellow Veil Pictures) Thursday, 2:00pm - 3:00pm (CST) October 15 Making the Leap: From Web Series to 12:00pm - 1:00pm (CST) 5:00pm - 6:15pm (CST) Studio Projects How to Make a Good Movie and Keynote Conversation: a Little Profit on a Low-Budget: At the Vanguard with More and more filmmakers are Case Study on Saint Frances Dede Gardner, Producer of transitioning successfully from Moonlight and The Big Short independent web series to episodic deals Director Alex Thompson and writer-star at major entertainment companies. Join Kelly O’Sullivan made last year’s Chicago Two-time Academy Award-winning Sam Bailey, co-creator of Brown Girls and hit film Saint Frances; the movie won producer and Co-President of Brad Pitt’s producer of Netflix’s Dear White People); multiple festival awards, was released by production company Plan B Entertainment, Deniese Davis, producer of Issa Rae’s “The Oscilloscope, received great reviews, but Dede Gardner has produced such award- Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl” earned just $200,000 at the box office. Get winning films as Moonlight, Vice, The Big and HBO’s Insecure, and Makiah Green, the nitty-gritty details on development, Short, Selma, 12 Years a Slave, and The Tree Manager of Original Series at Netflix, for financing, and distribution from the Saint of Life. For TV, she recently produced Barry this candid and informative discussion on Frances team, and what success really Jenkins’ Underground Railroad and Dennis getting networks’ attention and navigating means for a low-budget film. Kelly’s Third Day. Gardner will discuss her the studio world. process for cultivating new talents and Panelists: developing and producing great works of Panelists: Scott Macaulay (moderator) topical and artistic cinema and television. Aymar Jean Christian (moderator) Kelly O’Sullivan Sam Bailey (Brown Girls) Alex Thompson Moderated by Deniese Davis (Insecure) Nate Hurtsellers Gil Robertson Makiah Green (Netflix) Ian Keiser (African American Film Critics Association) Tickets: $10 for non-Industry Days pass holders 6 6:00pm - 7:30pm (CST) Saturday, Networking Hour with Illinois October 17 Film Office 12:00pm - 1:00pm (CST) Don’t Panic I: How to Make Films in the Pandemic 5:00pm - 6:15pm (CST): Sunday, What are the protocols, precautions, Game Changer: and costs, and technical, practical and October 18 A Conversation with ethical issues involved in making media Effie Brown now. Filmmakers on the frontlines break down the details. CEO of Gamechanger Films, which is the first film financing fund by and for Panelists women, people of color, LGBTQ+ and Erica Duffy (moderator) people with disabilities, Brown is also Garrett Bates (producer) an award-winning film, television, and Nausheen Dadabhoy (cinematographer) digital producer as well as a champion for inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. 2:00pm - 3:00pm (CST) 1:00pm - 2:15pm (CST) Producer of such award-winning projects Don’t Panic II: How to Fund Master Class with as Real Women Have Curves and Dear Films in the Pandemic White People, Brown will discuss her Terence Blanchard work as a creative executive, advocate, With economic uncertainty and ® and celebrating our differences while insurance issues unresolved, what are Oscar nominated and six-time bringing us closer together. the ways that filmmakers can fund Grammy-winning trumpeter/composer movies now? From grants to private Terence Blanchard has been a Moderated by equity to branded content, these consistent artistic force for three Leonardo Nam (Westworld) experts offer some options that may decades. From his expansive work still be available. composing the scores for Spike Lee’s films, ranging from Jungle Fever and 6:00pm - 7:30pm (CST) Panelists: Malcolm X to BlacKkKlansman and Da Networking Hour with Nicole Bernardi-Reis (moderator) 5 Bloods, along with his memorable Full Spectrum Features and Yvonne Welbon (Chicken & Egg music for such films as Kasi Lemmons’ Harriet and Regina King’s upcoming Chicago Film Office Pictures, Sisters in Cinema) Brenda Robinson (GameChanger) One Night in Miami, Blanchard Brian Newman (Sub-Genre) creates and amplifies stories with Josh Foster (Cinetic Media) sound in mesmerizing and powerfully emotionally ways. Blanchard will offer 5:00pm - 6:00pm (CST) inspiration and insight into his work. Don’t Panic III: Moderated by How to