The process of financing a film and the details that go into the contract can be difficult to navigate, especially when working across borders. This has been made even more complicated with recent restrictions placed on funds leaving China.  Expert dealmakers give insights into the process and secrets to their success.

Moderator: Erich Schwartzel, Film Industry Reporter – The Wall Street Journal
Stephen Saltzman, Partner, Entertainment & Media – Paul Hastings LLP
Jing Cao, Counsel, Entertainment & Media Finance – O’Melveny & Myers
Bennett Pozil, Head of Corporate Banking, Executive Vice President – East West Bank
Todd Makurath, COO – AGBO Films

Rance Pow, Founder & CEO of Artisan Gateway

With streaming content taking over, and digital services developing original content and becoming new-age studios, how do traditional theaters fit in to this new model?

Moderator: Erich Schwartzel, Film Industry Reporter – The Wall Street Journal
Chris McGurk, CEO/Chairman – Cinedigm
Michael Hong, CEO and Co-Founder – Digital Media Rights
Erick Opeka, Executive Vice President & General Manager – Cinedigm Networks
George Chung, CEO/Founder – Jungo TV

Exploring the importance of content that works in both China and the US, or whether it needs to.

Moderator: Patrick Brzeski, Asia Bureau Chief – The Hollywood Reporter
Adam Presser, Senior Vice President, International – Warner Bros. Entertainment
Sarah Platt, Head of International Business Development – Wanda
Maria Lo Orzel, Head, China Task Force – Producers Guild of America
Tom Jacobson, President – The Jacobson Company

One-on-One Interview with Randy Greenberg, Executive Producer, THE MEG
Moderator: Patrick Brzeski, Asia Bureau Chief – The Hollywood Reporter

Presented by the Casting Society of America

Now, more than ever, international talent is being utilized to appeal to international box office audiences. Casting directors from around the world discuss their latest projects and studio’s objectives.

Moderator: Rebecca Sun, Senior Reporter – The Hollywood Reporter
Terri Taylor, Casting Director (Crazy Rich Asians, Whiplash)
PoPing AuYeung, Casting Director (Skiptrace, The Meg)
Debra Zane, Casting Director (Mulan, The Hunger Games)
Marc Hirschfeld, Casting Director (Marco Polo, Black Sails)
Kristy Carlson, Senior Vice President, Casting – Warner Bros. Pictures  (Wonder Woman, Justice League)

Presented by the Visual Effects Society

From Monster Hunt and The Monkey King to Moana and Inception, Visual Effects producers discuss the pre-, on-set and post-production process for creating some of the most memorable scenes.

Moderator: Jeff Kleiser, Visual Effects Supervisor (X-Men, Fantastic Four)
Ellen Poon, Visual Effects Supervisor & Producer (Monster Hunt, Moana)
Jacques Stroweis, Visual Effects Supervisor (The Monkey King 2)

From the screen to the boardroom, how has women’s role in the industry changed? Where do we think it will go from here?

Moderator: Madelyn Hammond, President – Madelyn Hammond & Associates
Amy Baer, Founder, Gidden Media
Xian Li, Senior Vice President, Production – SK Global Entertainment
Emily Dell, Director/Writer and Director of Education – ScreenCraft
Lucia Liu, Agent, Asian Business Development Dept. – United Talent Agency (UTA)
Liz Destro, Producer/Founder – Destro Films

A look at how AR/VR, Drones, and advancements in technologies are helping to transform productions.

Moderator: Michael Chambliss, Production Technology Specialist, International Cinematographers Guild IATSE Local 600
Jeffrey Travis, Founder & CEO/Creator – Positron/Voyager®
Andrew Shulkind, Director of Photography
Michael Mansouri, Co-founder – Radiant Images
Scott Connolly, Founder & Chief Creative Technologist – The Astronauts Guild

Presented by the International Cinematographers Guild

Exposure in the global marketplace is everything. How to get it changes as fast as technology and the 24/7 news cycle. Hear how some of the industry’s most seasoned publicists work together to create domestic and culturally specific international publicity campaigns to capture global audiences.

Moderator: Sheryl Main, Unit Publicist (Terminator, The Expendables)
Tim Menke, Senior International Publicist – Paramount Pictures
Chrissy Queseda, Vice President, Still Photography – Sony Pictures Entertainment
Jan Craft, Vice President, Publicity – Warner Bros. Pictures
Leigh Godfrey, VP of Digital Marketing – Universal Pictures
Michael Klastorin, Production/Unit Publicist (Back to the Future II and III, Zombieland)

Young Chinese filmmakers, producers, directors tell their success stories of why they now feel Chinese films are doing so well in China.

Moderator: Tom Jacobson, President – The Jacobson Company
Luis Iga Garza, Filmmaker
Yiying “Nikki” Li, Filmmaker
Xiaobo “Daniel” Ma, Animator/Motion Designer