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Nov 06, 2006
AMERICAN FILM
MARKET NUMBERS REACH ALL-TIME HIGHS
Exhibitors and Overall Attendance Pace Ahead of 2005
Santa Monica, CA, -- November 6, 2006 – The 27th
American Film Market (AFM), which opened on November 1, has again achieved
gains in overall attendance, it was announced today by Jonathan Wolf, Executive
Vice President, IFTA and Managing Director of the AFM.
Overall attendance to date (with two days of the event
remaining) should approximate the 8,400 attendees previously forecasted by
AFM. This number is reflective of
attendees across all categories, including exhibitors, buyers, industry badges,
press and guests. The AFM has seen
significant growth since its first November Market in 2004, with attendance rising
16% over the past two years. The overall
numbers based on information to date are at an all-time high of 8,208, a 2%
increase over last year’s 8,014.
The current tally of buyers as of today is 1,573 from 61
countries. This includes buyers that
registered directly, as well as buyers that were registered with an AFM
exhibiting company.
Countries that have shown significant increases in buyers
include Italy (up 22% in individuals and 20% in companies), Turkey (up 44% in
individuals and 20% in companies) and Japan (up 9% in companies). Latin/South America has shown the most amount
of growth with a 10% increase in individuals and an 11% increase in companies
with Mexico up
57% in individuals and 30% in companies. North American numbers are up 3% in
individuals. (Attached is a complete analysis of the buyers.)
On the exhibitor front, a record 435 companies from 36 countries
had a total number of 3,888 attendees, an increase of 2% over last year, which
includes their executives, producers, talent and guests.
As previously announced, a record 592 films, including 431
market premieres are screening at the AFM, up from 534 films in 2005. 54 films represented at the AFM are also
Official Selections at AFI FEST presented by Audi.
About the AFM
The business of independent motion
picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the American
Film Market (AFM), the premiere global marketplace. Founded in 1981, the AFM is a pivotal
destination for independent filmmakers and business people from all over the
world. Each year, more than 8,000
industry professionals converge in Santa Monica
for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres,
networking and parties. Participants come from over 65 countries and include
acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors,
distributors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s
press, and all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.
Unlike a film festival, the AFM is
a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in
deals will be sealed — on both completed films and those that haven’t started
shooting yet.
The AFM offers more than 900
screenings of approximately 600 films - 31 new films every two hours - the
majority of them world or U.S.
premieres. Titles range from big budget blockbusters that will be released by
the major studios in the U.S.,
to lower budget genre films and art films recognized at international film
festivals, all destined for theaters and television around the world.
The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television
Alliance (IFTA), the trade association representing the world’s producers and
distributors of independent motion pictures and television programs. For more information, please visit www.americanfilmmarket.com.
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