ALL PANELS TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, DEC 6 @ THE STAND NYC

MAKING THE SALE: THE PRODUCER/SALES AGENT DYNAMIC – 10AM

MODERATOR – STEVEN BEER, PARTNER LEWIS BISGAARD & SMITH LLP
Steven Beer is a partner in the New York office of Lewis Brisbois and a National Chair of the firm’s Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice. Steven concentrates his practice on film, television, and music matters, where he represents industry-leading film, television, and music companies and has acted as counsel to numerous award-winning writers, directors, producers, and multi-platinum musical artists.  Steven has been listed annually in Super Lawyers New York Metro edition. Research and Markets listed him as one of the top lawyers in Entertainment Law, Settlements, and Negotiations. The Wrap online magazine cited Steven as one of “21 Great Thinkers of Indie Film.”

He also frequently writes and lectures about film finance, production and distribution, as well as music issues and matters related to young artists. Steven co-authors the Legal FAQ column for Documentary Magazine, published by the International Documentary Association. Allworth Press published Your Child’s Career in Music and Entertainment: The Prudent Parent’s Guide in 2015. In 2012, his article “The New Renaissance Paradigm – A Break-through Time For Artists” was published in the inaugural edition of the Berkeley Entertainment Law Journal and his article “Life After Sundance: Distribution and Marketing for the 99 Percent” was published in Indiewire.

MATT BURKE – SUBMARINE ENTERTAINMENT
Matt Burke is the VP of Sales at Submarine and has been with the company since 2012. Submarine Entertainment is a NYC-based sales and production company consulting and strategizing on the sale, distribution and development of documentaries, feature films and non-fiction series. Submarine has been involved with the sale of six of the last twelve Academy Award winning documentaries: American Factory, Citizenfour, 20 Feet From Stardom, Man on Wire, The Cove and Searching for Sugar Man. Other films in Submarine’s portfolio include: American Factory, Honeyland, One Child Nation, Echo in the Canyon, Tell Me Who I Am, Watson, The Amazing Johnathan Documentary, Edge of Democracy, The Kingmaker, Midnight Family, Sea of Shadows, Circus of Books, XY Chelsea, Ernie and Joe, Three Identical Strangers, The Oslo Diaries, Crime and Punishment, Joan Jett: Bad Reputation, The Legend of Cocaine Island, Shirkers, The Price of Everything, Pick of the Litter, Life Animated, Whose Streets, Weiner, Iris, Blackfish, The Wolfpack, Food Inc, Batkid Begins, The Overnight, Finding Vivian Maier, Best of Enemies, Tiny Furniture, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Muscle Shoals, Meru, Tangerine, Creep, Dior and I, The Unknown Known, Winter’s Bone, Tabloid, Witch Hunt, Chasing Ice, and The Cave of Forgotten Dreams, among others.

ISADORA JOHNSON – CINETIC MEDIA
Isadora Johnson is a sales agent at Cinetic Media since November 2022, bringing extensive experience from previous roles including associate manager of content acquisitions at HBO from September 2020 to November 2022, and publicist for Film at Lincoln Center from February 2018 to April 2020. Earlier in their career, Isadora served as a junior publicist and later as a publicity assistant at Basic Books from December 2015 to February 2018. Isadora holds a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies and English Literature from Kenyon College and a certificate in Publishing from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Additionally, Isadora completed high school at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

CARYLANNA TAYLOR – FILM SALES COMPANY
Carylanna Taylor is the Manager of Sales and Acquisitions at The Film Sales Company, a New York-based sales company that strategizes and secures distribution for independently produced films. Since its founding in 2002, the company has successfully raised financing for and sold over 200 films to a diverse group of domestic and foreign distributors. A graduate of the American Film Conservatory’s M.F.A. in producing and cultural anthropologist, Carylanna has worked in development with Oscar-winning production companies and has produced documentary and narrative shorts and features. Through her role at The Film Sales Company, she is delighted to help filmmakers have their films be seen and valued throughout the world.

DISTRIBUTION: NAVIGATING THE MARKETPLACE AS WELL AS FORECASTING THE FUTURE – 11:30AM

MODERATOR – ERIC KOHN – Head of Film Strategy and Development EDGLRD
Eric currently oversees film strategy and development at EDGLRD, the multimedia design collective founded by Harmony Korine and Matt Holt, where he is developing new IP concepts across filmmaking, fashion, gaming, and other media. Eric spent 17 years at IndieWire serving as chief critic, and contributed significantly to the discourse on the entertainment industry. His career began as a freelance journalist, contributing to The New York Times, New York magazine, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter.

RACHAEL LABES – IFC ACQUISTIONS EXECUTIVE
IFC Films | RLJE | Shudder, Coordinator, Acquisitions & Productions – Rachael is the Coordinator of Acquisitions and Productions across IFC Films, Shudder, and RLJ Entertainment. She has worked at IFC for over three years, playing an integral role in curating the release slates of the AMCN Film Group. She has coordinated the acquisition of films such as BlackBerry, Late Night with the Devil, Stopmotion, and The Taste of Things.

DYLAN LEINER – SR VP ACQUISITIONS & PRODUCTION SONY PICTURES CLASSIC
As Executive Vice President of Acquisitions, Production and Business Affairs at Sony Pictures Classics, Dylan Leiner oversees the acquisitions, production, business affairs / administration activity for the company and has been involved with a broad range of films, including BETWEEN THE TEMPLES, KNEECAP, WICKED LITTLE LETTERS, THE TEACHER’S LOUNGE, LIVING, THE FATHER, WHIPLASH, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, THE RIDER, A SEPARATION, AMOUR, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN, PERSEPOLIS, RUN LOLA RUN and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, among others, including the upcoming THE ROOM NEXT DOOR and I’M STILL HERE. During his tenure at the company, Sony Classics has garnered over 150 Academy Award nominations and over 30 Oscar wins. Dylan has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as a member of its 35 under 35 “Next Generation Group” and by Crain’s New York Business among its “40 executives under 40”. He is Co-Founder and Co-Director of the New York based film mentorship program, The Marcie Bloom Fellowship in Film, now in its 17th year and has organized thought leadership exchanges with international groups such as Unifrance, La Femis and the Sam Spiegel Film School & Film Lab. A former college soccer player, Dylan Co-Founded and oversees the non-profit New York Film and Entertainment Soccer Tournament (NYFEST), an annual charity event benefitting underserved youth and taking place during the Tribeca Film Festival.

JOHN VON THADEN – SVP ACQUISTIONS MAGNOLIA
John Von Thaden is the Sr. Vice President of Acquisitions at Magnolia Pictures / Magnet Releasing. He joined the company in 2011, and recently has participated in the negotiation of films such as Force Majeure, Frank, The Double, and upcoming releases Results, Iris, The Wolfpack, and Tangerine. In 2024, Magnolia picked up and distributed Dances With Films Documentary “Immediate Family”, which was released theatrically and streaming on all major platforms. John is based in NYC and graduated from Boston University.

THE CASTING DIRECTOR/PRODUCER DYNAMIC – 1PM

MODERATOR – MICHAEL SLADIK – SAGindie NEW YORK
Michael Sládek is a filmmaker whose feature length credits include the docu-comedy Con Artist, the narrative comedy Devils Are Dreaming, and the documentary BAM150. He’s also made numerous award-wining short films, music videos, branded content, industrials, and live theater pieces. Currently serving as the NY Consultant for SAGindie, Sládek also teaches in the film department at Wagner College and is a member of SAG-AFTRA.

BES FIFER – THE EQUALIZER, THE GIRLS ON THE BUS, RAY DONOVAN, ETC
With nearly 20 years of experience, award-winning casting director Bess Fifer has become a prominent force in shaping careers across both film and television through her unwavering dedication to authentic, diverse, and inclusive casting. Her impactful work​ on SEVERANCE for Apple+ earned her an Emmy nomination, while her casting for Netflix’s IT’S BRUNO garnered her the 2020 Artios Award for Excellence in Casting – Short Form​ Series. Bess’s expertise extends to notable projects such as the Emmy-nominated ESCAPE AT​ DANNEMORA for Showtime and the critically acclaimed THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY​ with Rachel Tenner Casting. Her associate casting credits include influential series like​ MARVEL’S DAREDEVIL and LUKE CAGE with Julie Schubert Casting, and she contributed to​ the groundbreaking first season of STRANGER THINGS with Carmen Cuba Casting. She​ also worked with the legendary Peter Bogdanovich on SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY with Jen​ Rudin Casting. Beyond her professional achievements, Bess enjoys swinging kettlebells, listening to 90’s​ rap, and brunching with her closest friends. She resides in New Jersey with her husband​ Mark and their beloved pets, Cozmo, Benny, and Albert Rosenfield.

DESTINY LILLY – THE COLOR PURPLE, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, ETC
Casting Director and New York Women In Film Board of Directors Vice President – Destiny Lilly is a casting director with a deep love for innovative new projects. She is a creative matchmaker who brings creative teams together with performers to birth new and exciting partnerships. Destiny is an advocate for actors in the room, and believes the casting process can be a positive experience for people on all sides of the process. She currently serves as the President of the Casting Society (CSA), and is an Emmy-nominee and the recipient of 3 Artios Awards.

PAUL SCHNEE – PALM ROYALE, WINTER’S BONE, THE HELP, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, ETC
Paul Schnee is originally from Wilmington, Delaware and is a graduate of Kenyon College. After graduating, Paul worked at ICM for agent Sam Cohn, then as assistant to director Mike Nichols. He and Kerry formed Barden / Schnee Casting in 2008. Paul is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The British Film and Television Academy, and The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers. He lives in Brooklyn NY with his wife and daughters. Just a few of his many credits include: Winter’s Bone, The Girl On The Train, Spotlight, The Help, Pitch Perfect 1-3, Mirror Mirror, World Trade Center, etc.