Having been reborn last year in Century City, the world’s leading independent film bazaar has signaled that its upcoming market in November will refocus on how content is increasingly financed, produced and embraced by consumers across big and small screens during its upcoming 47th edition.
Under the slogan “The New Global Screen Economy,” the world’s largest independent film market produced by the Independent Film & TV Alliance aims to reflect emerging technologies and changing audience trends in an increasingly fragmented independent ecosystem. That’s while exhibitors and buyers go about their business, especially pre-sale, from November 10-15 in and around Fairmont Century Plaza and the nearby AMC Century City 15 complex.
“Our work is at an inflection point, and we cannot move forward by looking back,” Jackie Breneman, president and CEO of IFTA, said in a statement about AFM 2026. “We need to take a more intentional approach and focus on creating new opportunities. This is the central role that AFM plays. The commitments we are already seeing this year reflect the momentum building across the industry and point to what will not only be my first AFM, but also one of the most dynamic and defined in recent years.”
In total, 90 exhibitors have already been confirmed as AFM looks to retain its position as a prominent deal-making hub for the international film and TV industry. Financing, production, sales and distribution companies already booked for AFM 2026 include Lionsgate, Neon, AGC Studios, Voltage Pictures, XYZ Films, A Higher Standard, Anton, Gaumont, Protagonist Pictures, Arclight Films, Beta Cinema, Blue Fox Entertainment and others.
As independent works increasingly shift beyond traditional big-budget casts to high-concept plays, star-driven TV dramas, and now small mini-dramas aimed at global mobile phone users, AFM is looking to shape the next iterations of the media business, rather than follow them, Brennerman insisted.
“With the ‘New Global Screen Economy’, we are creating a framework for the entire spectrum of industry to come together, align and shape what comes next,” she added in her statement.
Beyond the US market, AFM is also eyeing global players, especially from South Korea and European giants Germany, Britain, France and Italy.
