The 41st American Film Market was the first AFM to take place online, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the the world of independent film has kept its chin up amid daunting challenges.
Jonathan Wolf, AFM’s managing director, noted, “The expense of coming here is working in favor for those who can’t make all the major markets every year and only come to Santa Monica every two or three years. All those people were here this time.” Wolf noted that he was pleasantly surprised that technical issues were at a minimum. “We had five people on the help desk and we were overstaffed,” he added.
O’Shea said he is not discounting the value of meeting person to person and added, “But we’re adjusting to changing circumstances. The costs of getting insurance and getting bonded are a challenge. People are very engaged. There’s a real need for new product. The most important thing you can do is show is that you’re moving forward and bringing new things, showing footage. That creates momentum. We’re doing that with Drew Barrymore’s ‘The Stand In,’ which we completed earlier this year.