Converging cutting-edge tech alongside key players who drive the future of the entertainment industry, the bi-annual edition of FestForums® will descend on Santa Barbara later this fall, November 16-18 -- Registration for the third annual gathering is now open via the FestForums® website. Just ahead of the bi-annual event, held in NYC and Santa Barbara each year, the creators behind the esteemed forum are rolling out their first announcement and unveiling a comprehensive program for those interested in learning how to maximize their success in producing festivals.
An all-encompassing conference for music, food, beverage, and film festival industry leaders, FestForums® engages attendees on a multi-faceted level, providing enlightening talks, panels, and open networking opportunities to educate professionals, ensuring the festival market continues to thrive. Curating industry-specific activations, FestForums® Santa Barbara showcases unique opportunities as the role of film continues to expand in the festival space.
Honing in on fresh ways to evolve the longstanding independent cinema industry, the co-producers behind the three-day conference have coalesced experts from some of the most well known film festivals in the world, including Seattle Film Festival, Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival, Lexus Film Festival (curated by The Weinstein Company), California Film Institute, Tribeca, plus 100’s more in attendance. Over the past three years, FestForums®’ intensive schedule has incorporated powerful panels with industry leaders such as Quentin Tarantino, Fisher Stevens, Matthew Modine, Weinstein’s Richard Glasser, John Sloss, Geoffrey Gilmore, Bruce Dern, and Sundance Productions co-partner Laura Michalchyshyn that center on film’s growing importance to festival culture as well as played host to film premieres.
“Our commitment to
empowering festivals with networking and educational opportunities is at
the core of what FestForums® does best.” - Laurie Kirby, Co-Founder and Co-President, FestForums®
In addition to invigorating panels, FestForums® will also be hosting exclusive screenings using state of the art cinematic technology provided by Cinetransformer. Attendees will relax and enjoy this one of a kind cinematic experience with complimentary movie theater snacks in an ultramodern “cinema on wheels”. Cinetransformer was recently recognized by the Golden Trade Leaders in Paris with a Golden Trophy in Technology and has partnered with leaders in the film industry such as Warner Brothers, Paramount, Universal, and Disney XD.
FestForums® is also excited to announce the screening of one film in the Emmy Nominated film series: American Epic with a Q&A featuring producer and writer Allison McGourty and director Bernard MacMahon. Executive produced by Jack White, T. Bone Burnett, and Robert Redford and directed by Bernard MacMahon; American Epic seeks to resurrect America's lost musical history as it traces the evolution of blues, country, and more while reconnecting contemporary musicians from Nas to Willie Nelson recording techniques that have been long forgotten in today’s technology-driven world; giving the audience musical performances of a lifetime. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Burnett said of the film: "All of us have a common foe, and that's forgetfulness – where you forget where you came from and who you are. We all appreciate that link to our history. We need that."
Register today for FestForums® taking place this November 16-18th in Santa Barbara, California and be on the lookout for upcoming announcements regarding the Music, Food & Beverage, and more Festival educational tracks!
