How To Work the American Film Market (AFM)

Learn from a PGA producer and international sales veteran who has sold over 50 films and acquired 150+ titles, including La La Land and Now You See Me 2!

Get a Prepping for AFM Timeline and Checklist you can start using today to plan your own market strategy!

The American Film Market is where independent film business actually gets done — where producers, sales agents, distributors, financiers, and international buyers gather to discover projects, forge partnerships, and close deals that shape what gets made next. If you're serious about moving your projects forward on the international stage, AFM is one of the most valuable rooms you can be in. But the opportunity only pays off if you know how to work it — and that's exactly what you'll learn how to do.

Here's the problem: many filmmakers walk into AFM with unrealistic expectations, hoping a great pitch deck or a lucky hallway conversation will open doors on its own. If you've ever wondered who you should actually be meeting, how to approach decision-makers with confidence, what materials you need in hand, or how to position your project for a real business conversation — you're not alone. Without a strategy, it's easy to leave AFM with little more than an expensive badge instead of the relationships and momentum you came for.

That's where Alexia Melocchi comes in. As a PGA producer and partner at Little Studio Films, Alexia brings over 30 producer credits and three decades of international relationships spanning Italy, Greece, Latin America, Spain, France, the CIS, and the Middle East. She's worked both sides of the table — selling more than 50 films and acquiring over 150 studio and independent titles, including La La Land, Beautiful Boy, and Now You See Me 2. Today she works directly with writers and filmmakers on packaging, co-production structuring, and distribution strategy, giving you a rare, genuinely global perspective on how the marketplace really operates.

In this session, you'll get a full picture of how to work AFM — from understanding the different players in the marketplace, to researching companies and building your target list, to tailoring your pitch for financing, sales, distribution, or co-production conversations. You'll also walk through meeting etiquette, networking strategy, and how to follow up effectively long after the market ends. By the time you leave this webinar, you'll know exactly how to prepare, who to approach, and how to turn every AFM meeting into a real opportunity.

PLUS! You will receive this handout to help you:

• Prepping for AFM Timeline and Checklist

   

  Praise for Alexia's Education:

  "Loved her class, because it laser-focused and re-focused on my weakest link – my pitch! Her feedback was invaluable, and improved my pitch with every round." - Rick B.

  "Alexia is a phenomenal teacher and mentor! Her vivacious and warming personality took over and made the webinar educational and entertaining. Alexia has way of connecting with people that's very sincere and genuine. She also has an extensive background of real world experiences in the film world which in my eyes, makes her a dynamic speaker." - Philip S.