WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2009

Tales from the Digital Frontier will be a series of cutting-edge presentations and panels on the afternoons of Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June. This unique programme will reveal how digital pioneers are using the internet and digital tools to market, distribute and sell their work, creating new alternatives to the theatrical-led model.

These are all new, up to the minute sessions. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from leading international experts who will be presenting the latest models around creating, financing and distributing film in the digital era.

Each afternoon of consecutive panels and presentations runs from 14:00-18:00 and will be followed by networking drinks.

Introduction by Liz Rosenthal, Director, Power to the Pixel

14:00 - 14:30 Lance Weiler, Award-winning Filmmaker and Digital Innovator (US)
A NEW MODEL FOR DISCOVERY AND DISTRIBUTION

Much has been written about the erosion of the independent film business over the last year. We’ve seen the shuttering of various distribution companies, poor box office for speciality films, a reduction of shelf space, not to mention the complete saturation of films in the marketplace due to the democratisation of production and distribution tools. We all know the problems, but where are the evasive new business models? How does one advance beyond first mover advantage, marketing gimmicks and press hooks? Where are the models that can be operationalised and developed into real options? Lance looks at the traditional, hybrid and DIY opportunities.

14:30 - 15:45 THE NEW EXHIBITORS
Presentations and roundtable

Moderated by Michael Gubbins
with
Michel Peters, Co-Founder & CEO, Content Republic (UK)
Helen Grace, Founder, Left Films (UK)
Brian Newman, President, Tribeca Film Institute (US)
Scilla Andreen, Co-Founder & CEO, Indieflix (US)

This session brings together leading online aggregators and innovators who are helping connect audiences to films across new platforms. With the rapid growth of new on-demand, online services and film and video social networking sites, who amongst them are effectively serving rights holders and audiences in significant new ways? Hear the truth about digital revenues and rights deals.

15 minute break

16:00 - 17:00 NEW FINANCING OPPORTUNITIES: BRANDS FINANCING CONTENT
Presentations and roundtable

Moderated by Michael Gubbins
with
Nicole Yershon – Head of Digital Innovation Labs, Ogilvy (UK)
David Bausola – Creator, Where are the Joneses & Co-Founder, Ag8 (UK)
Kelly Sweeney - Head of Original Productions, Bebo (UK) tbc

Outdated and in the past are the old “product placing” exercise and the uneventful TV commercial that endlessly repeated the old formulas around “buy-this-product”. Brands are becoming involved in commissioning new types of content. Today, luxury brands engage with audiences via proprietary cable TV channels; leading filmmakers direct TV commercials in campaigns that also portray highly recognisable actors in mini-scripted films for cinemas and television; brands commission feature and short films and fans re-create their own ads on YouTube and beyond. This session will look at how brands have become involved in commissioning content across platforms and explore the new dynamics between brand, media agency and creators.

17:00 - 18:00 360 FILMMAKING: THE NEW CROSS-MEDIA FILM MODEL
Presentations and roundtable

Moderated by Liz Rosenthal
with
Lance Weiler, Award-winning Filmmaker and Digital Innovator (US)
Ben Grass – Managing Director, Pure Grass Films (UK)

As the methods of film delivery transform, creators and producers need to develop new ways of storytelling, extend the opportunities to engage with audiences and build new partnerships with the new financiers, promoters and distributors of digital media. Extending stories across different media will lead to new audiences, new financing partners and will ultimately add new value to intellectual property. Two leading creators of cross-media film projects will demonstrate how they are finding news ways to engage with audiences, create new forms of film storytelling and develop new business models for their companies.

please click here for details of sessions taking place on Tuesday 23 June