Hulu, IMAX and Universal Studios Home Entertainment Among More than 120 Buying Companies to Make American Film Market Debut

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2012 American Film Market (AFM^®), set for October 31-November 7 in Santa Monica, is experiencing a surge in Buying companies that will be attending the AFM for the first time with more than 120 companies from 23 countries making their Market debut – a record high.  More than 750 companies from 70 countries will send over 1,500 representatives to the upcoming Market.  Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director and Executive Vice President of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, made the announcement today.

Wolf commented, "We are seeing a shift in the way sub-distributors acquire film as they steadily rely less on local distributors and more on direct acquisitions.  We also expect a significant increase in buyers from China."

Countries with the most new Buyers include Korea (25), China (13), United States (11), Japan (6), Turkey (6), and Russia (5), France (4) and Italy (4).

Notable buying companies from the U.S. attending AFM for the first time include: Cinedigm, Hulu, IMAX Corporation, Tribeca Enterprises, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

For the latest information and to register, visit www.AmericanFilmMarket.com or call 1-310-446-1000.  Like AFM on Facebook www.facebook.com/AmericanFilmMarket, and follow @AFMOFFICIAL on Twitter.

About AFM

The business of independent motion picture production and distribution reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market when the global film industry converges in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making on films in every stage of development and production, as well as screenings, conferences, networking and parties.

With 8,000 industry leaders from more than 70 countries, 700 screenings and the industry's largest Conference Series, AFM is the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers, directors, distributors, financiers, industry executives, producers, talent, writers, etc.  The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance^®. 

SOURCE American Film Market