Meet the Insiders: Film Distribution
New for 2013, Meet the Insiders is an opportunity to participate in vital discussions on the innovations and developments in the world of film across varying topics. Moderators will start by introducing and getting to know the Insider for the first 10 minutes, but the next 20 are an open forum where the audience is able to ask questions, discuss trends, connect with the film community, and gain insight and understanding of the industry from the insiders at the forefront of their respective fields.
Film Distribution gives direct access to Dan Berger from Oscilloscope Laboratories and Michael Barker from Sony Pictures Classics. Moderated by Vanessa Hope from Double Hope Films, the audience has the chances to ask first Dan and then Michael burning questions about everything from available distribution opportunities to best practices in defining a distribution strategy and more.
Presenters
Vanessa started her film career in China while teaching a graduate course on “Law and Society” on a grant from the Ford Foundation and completing her PhD at Columbia University. Fluent in Chinese, she produced two films in China, Wang Quanan’s THE STORY OF ERMEI (Berlin Film Festival, 2004) and Chantal Akerman’s TOMBEE DE NUIT SUR SHANGHAI (2007). Vanessa’s U.S. producing credits include Zeina Durra’s THE IMPERIALISTS ARE STILL ALIVE! (Sundance, 2010), Joel Schumacher’s TWELVE (Sundance, 2010) and the feature documentary WILLIAM KUNSTLER: DISTURBING THE UNIVERSE by Sarah and Emily Kunstler (Sundance, 2009). Vanessa is in the edit on her feature documentary directorial debut about America’s foreign policy relationship with China, THE CURRENCY OF POWER and a series of short films on Chinese characters and stories for the web.
Prior to her film career, Vanessa worked on foreign policy issues with Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow and Director of Asia Studies, Elizabeth Economy. She also worked at the National Committee on US-China Relations. Vanessa graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with a BA in Anthropology and China Studies.