Lionsgate's Joe Drake to Deliver Keynote at Film Independent's 6th Annual Filmmaker Forum, Presented by indieWIRE October 29-31, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced that Joe Drake, Lionsgate's Co-Chief Operating Officer and President of its Motion Picture Group, will be the keynote speaker at the 6th annual Filmmaker Forum, presented by indieWIRE, to be held October 29-31 at the Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles. Drake was President of Lionsgate International from 2000-2001, then left to become founder and CEO of his company, Mandate Pictures, which evolved into a leading entertainment company dedicated to the self-financing, development and production of motion pictures and other filmed entertainment for worldwide distribution. Since 2007, Drake has run the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate, overseeing all areas of the company's theatrical production, distribution, marketing, acquisition and international theatrical operations, as well as sharing responsibility for its corporate budgeting, planning and strategic growth initiatives.

"No one can better instruct filmmakers making their film today than Joe Drake.  He knows financing, distribution, sales, and the current domestic and foreign marketplace inside out," said Dawn Hudson, Executive Director of Film Independent.  "He's one of the most respected executives in entertainment, and he's running one of the most successful independent studios.  What's more, Joe is willing to give filmmakers forthright information that will help them make a quality film and build their career."  

indieWIRE, the leading news, information, and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers, the industry and moviegoers alike, has partnered up with Film Independent for the 2010 Forum as a presenting sponsor.  Additional sponsors include Premier Sponsors Kodak, SAGIndie/Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, and Withoutabox, a division of IMDb.com and Principal Sponsors Universal Studios, Rovi and Montana Film Office.

Summit Entertainment's Fair Game kicks off the three-day Forum at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night, followed by a Q&A and reception with director Doug Liman.  

"We're so pleased to have the multi-talented Doug Liman, one of the most original voices in American film, joining us to present and discuss his latest film.  His unique vision and passion for his work will serve as an inspiration for filmmakers attending the Forum," said Maria Bozzi, Director of Film Education.  

A fascinating glimpse into the dark corridors of political power, Fair Game is a riveting action-thriller based on the real-lives of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame and her husband, diplomat Joe Wilson.  When Joe is drawn into a government investigation, and the administration ignores his findings, Joe writes a New York Times editorial, igniting a controversy that affects Valerie's career when her covert status is exposed by a White House press leak.  Starring Academy Award® nominee Naomi Watts and two-time Academy Award® winner Sean Penn, Fair Game is directed by Doug Liman and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth.  Fair Game opens in limited release on November 5, 2010 and expands on November 19.

Opening night will also honor the Film Independent/Sloan Producers Grant recipient.  The $25,000 production grant is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which seeks to create and develop new scripts and films about science and technology and to see them into commercial production with national and international distribution.  Past Film Independent/Sloan Producers Grant recipients include Film Independent Fellows Jenny Deller and Kristin Fairweather in 2009 for Future Weather, James Young in 2008 for The Man Who Knew Infinity, and Monique Caulfield in 2007 for Basmati Blues.  The closing night reception will be co-hosted by Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).  

As previously announced, the remainder of the weekend will be filled with intensive panel discussions, one-of-a-kind case studies, and networking sessions.  Additional panelists include:

• Karim Ahmad, Programming Manager, ITVS
• Effie T. Brown, Producer, The Inheritance, Polish Bar
• Matt Dentler, Head of Marketing and Programming Operations, Cinetic Rights Management
• Michael Donaldson, Partner, Donaldson & Callif
• Lisa Erspamer, Chief Creative Officer, Oprah Winfrey Network
• Aron Gaudet, Director, The Way We Get By
• David Green, Director, Zombie Roadkill
• Robert O. Green, Principal, Another Green World Productions
• Sten Iversen, Montana Film Office
• Ronna Kress, Casting Director, The Blind Side, Australia
• Aaron Lam, Producer, Zombie Roadkill, The Resistance, 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust
• Lisa Leeman, Director, One Lucky Elephant
• Stephen Nemeth, Executive Producer, Climate Refugees
• Jamie Patricof, Producer, Blue Valentine
• Borut Pfeifer, Producer, Skulls of the Shogun
• Gita Pullapilly, Producer, The Way We Get By
• Jon Reiss, Author, Thinking Outside the Box Office
• Michael Roiff, President, Night and Day Pictures
• Jordan Ruden, Director of Production, GOOD
• Jac Schaeffer, Writer/Director/Producer, Timer
• Eddie Schmidt, President, IDA
• Daniel Stamm, Director, The Last Exorcism
• Anne Thompson, Author, Thompson on Hollywood
• Thomas Woodrow, Producer, Bass Ackwards
• Dean Zanuck, Producer, Get Low

IndieLink Tables are another integral experience for attendees and sponsors at the Filmmaker Forum.  Hosting an IndieLink Table offers companies the opportunity to meet one-on-one with attendees for brief sessions.  Additional companies that have been added include: Catch 22, indieWIRE, konsonant/(Music for Film), Paradigm Consulting, and United Talent Agency.

Conference passes are $300 for Film Independent members and $350 for non-members.  For more information about this year's Filmmaker Forum or to purchase a pass, visit FilmIndependent.org or call 310.432.1222.

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

Film Independent is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization that champions independent film and supports a community of artists who embody diversity, innovation, and uniqueness of vision. Film Independent helps filmmakers make their movies, builds an audience for their projects, and works to diversify the film industry. Film Independent's Board of Directors, filmmakers, staff, and constituents, is comprised of an inclusive community of individuals across ability, age, ethnicity, gender, race, and sexual orientation. Anyone passionate about film can become a member, whether you are a filmmaker, industry leader, or a film lover.

With over 250 annual screenings and events, Film Independent provides access to a network of like-minded artists who are driving creativity in the film industry. Film Independent offers free Filmmaker Labs for selected writers, directors, and producers; provides cut-rate services for filmmakers; and presents year-round networking opportunities. Film Independent's mentorship and job placement program, Project:Involve, pairs emerging culturally diverse filmmakers with film industry professionals.

Film Independent produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, celebrating the best of American and international cinema and the Spirit Awards, a celebration honoring films and filmmakers that embody independence and dare to challenge the status quo.

For more information or to become a member, visit FilmIndependent.org.

ABOUT INDIEWIRE – www.indiewire.com

indieWIRE is the leading news, information, and social networking site for the international independent film community, including comprehensive coverage of indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well as industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews, and movie reviews. Its website includes special sections for high-profile film festivals, the new indieLOOP community site, filmmaker and industry weblogs, as well as resources and tools for emerging and established filmmakers.

Awarded the Webby for best film website, indieWIRE was lauded as a "must read" by Variety, branded the "online heartbeat of the world's independent film community" by Forbes, dubbed "best indie crossroads" by film critic Roger Ebert and praised as "everything you need to know about independent film" by CNN. indieWIRE has become the online home for top Hollywood journalists like Anne Thompson, Leonard Maltin and Todd McCarthy.

SOURCE Film Independent