Mentors - Distribution 2: Narrative
Meet with industry professionals who can give advice and answer questions about distribution, distribution options, and more for Narrative films.
Mentor session signup is open to all Film, Gold and Platinum badge holders at a first-come, first-served basis. Registrants who signed up online must check-in 30 minutes before your mentor time slot to guarantee your spot. Limited on-site signup is also available for a small number of mentor sessions spots and will begin 30 minutes before the first time slot of each session.
To sign up for a mentor session click on the link for the mentor you are interested in meeting with:
Cristina Garza -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/281
Dan Guando -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/111
Evan Husney -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/109
Keith Leopard -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/113
Steven Beckman -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/110
Laure Parsons -- http://mentor.sxsw.com/mentors/274
Presenters
Cristina is the Head of Distribution at CANANA, a indie production and distribution company based in Mexico City founded in 2005 by Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna and Pablo Cruz. Before arriving to CANANA, Cristina lived in New York for ten years and served as Manager of International Sales at FiGa Films, an international sales and micro-distribution company. She also co-founded FilmCatcher.com, an online video magazine for independent films. She is currently the U.S. Delegate for Critics Week of the Cannes Film Festival, rides a 10-speed Peugeot, and lives with her husband and chocolate lab in Mexico.
Dan Guando is Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at The Weinstein Company, where he has worked for the last eight years. During his time at TWC, Dan has overseen the acquisition and release of THE ARTIST, BLUE VALENTINE, THE TILLMAN STORY, SARAH’S KEY, DIRTY GIRL, SUBMARINE, CORIOLANUS and the upcoming BULLY, THIS MUST BE THE PLACE, and last year’s SXSW hit UNDEFEATED.
Minneapolis-born Evan Husney began in professional entertainment at the age of 11, helping his promoter/manager father A&R albums that included a polka compilation curated by satirist “Weird Al” Yankovic, and several discs for the famed ‘as seen on TV’ label K-Tel Records. Many years later Husney joined Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, as the company's new director where he has overseen the theatrical release of Oscar® nominated BULLHEAD and the upcoming SXSW '11 favorite THE FP and the uproarious Danish comedy KLOWN. Previously he worked at premier boutique label Severin Films, where as Integrated Marketing Director he oversaw such top-selling DVD releases as HARDWARE, SANTA SANGRE and THE STUNT MAN as well as the theatrical release of midnight cult phenomenon BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR.
Responsible for managing business development, identifying new strategic initiatives, partnerships and distribution deals. Also manages all aspects of Millennium’s IVOD business.
A media professional with several years of experience in distribution and production, Laure Parsons is a consultant and filmmaker specializing in new approaches and technologies. Previously Director of Home Media Sales and Marketing at Zeitgeist Films, she has also worked for National Film Board of Canada, New Yorker Films and Tribeca Film Festival. Laure is currently directing and producing ACCELERATION, a documentary about people involved in artificial intelligence. Previously, she worked in film and TV production at Make Believe Media in Vancouver, BC. She can be found at x + x connect and filmfwd.com.
Steven Beckman heads the acquisitions department at Cinetic Rights Management / FilmBuff, a leading provider of film content to audiences throughout the world. Steven identifies and acquires relevant projects for FilmBuff and strategizes their release plans, primarily through maximizing opportunities in the new media landscape. Steven also handles all North American film sales for Cinetic Rights Management. Steven graduated from NYU with a B.A. in History and minor concentrations in Economics and Cinema Studies.
Monday, March 12
