16th Annual International Film Finance Forum
Friday, May 15th
2:00pm - 6:00pm
Main Stage, Palais des Festivals
Cannes, we are back - bigger, bolder and more global than ever!
Our Annual International Film Finance Forum in Partnership with the Marché du Film returns for it’s 16th year.
Join top industry leaders, financiers, studio executives, and visionary creators as they dive deep into the evolving film industry, exploring the latest trends shaping the future of content. We will cover the creator economy, shifting distribution models, the continued disruption of traditional financing, international partnerships and, of course, our overview panel - The State of the Industry; State of Finance.
We will also be joined by exclusive Fireside Chats - including a special conversation with the star and director of Corporate Retreat.
Expect powerful insights, major announcements, and more high-level speakers to be revealed soon.
Join us in Cannes for an unmissable gathering at the intersection of creativity, capital, and innovation.
All of our events are open to everyone with a Marche or Festival badge!
No further registration is required….seating is first come, first served!
Program
(subject to updates)
2:00pm - 2:15pm
| Welcoming Address
Amy Baker - CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker
Charles Rivkin - Chairman & CEO, Motion Picture Association (MPA)
2:15pm - 3:00pm
| State of the Industry; State of Finance
The entertainment landscape has never been more complex…or more full of opportunity for those who know where to look. This opening panel cuts through the noise to deliver a frank, unfiltered read on where the money is in 2026: which projects are getting financed, which financiers are still in the game, and what deal structures are actually working.
Moderator
Kayla Bowman - Executive Director, Media & Entertainment Corporate and Investment Banking - Fifth Third Bank
Panelists
Maxime Cottray - COO, XYZ Films
Uri Singer - President, Passage Pictures
Juliana Lubin - Producer & Senior Vice President of Investments, Ashland Hill Media Finance
3:00pm - 3:30pm
| Fireside Chat: Corporate Retreat
An intimate conversation with the creative forces behind Corporate Retreat - a gripping horror-thriller produced by Passage Pictures, in which a group of corporate executives' company retreat spirals into a violent fight for survival.
Aaron Fisher - Director & Writer, Corporate Retreat
Odeya Rush - Actor, Corporate Retreat
3:30pm - 4:15pm
| The Power (S)hift: Creator Economy; From Story to Global Brand
The rules of ownership in entertainment are being rewritten…and creators are holding the pen. This panel brings together recording artists, entrepreneurs, and independent filmmakers who have lived the full arc of what it means to build, own, and scale intellectual property on their own terms. From the hard lessons of the major label era to the emerging infrastructure that makes creator-owned IP financeable across formats and borders, this conversation goes beyond the buzzwords to explore the real mechanics of the creator economy - how IP gets valued, how it gets financed, and how the most ambitious creators are turning audience loyalty into lasting global brands without surrendering creative control.
Moderator
Tyler Sabino - Founder, The Shift Studios and Shifter(s) OS; Co-Creator, the Shifter(s) Series
Panelists
Vic Mensa - Grammy-Nominated Musician, Actor, Filmmaker and Entrepreneur
Brendan McCafferty - Founder, IPX
Edgar Esteves - Visionary Filmmaker, Entrepreneur & Innovator
4:15pm - 5:00pm
| Directors roundtable
Presented in Partnership with Utopai Studios and K5 International
Marco Weber - Co-CEO, Utopai Studios
Daniel Baur - CEO, K5 International
Rob Minkoff - Director - The Lion King, Stuart Little, The Forbidden Kingdom, Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Timur Bekmambetov - Director, Wanted, Night Watch, Day Watch
Roger Avary - Writer - Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, True Romance
Alex Proyas - Director, iRobot, Dark City, The Crow
5:00pm - 5:45pm
| Greenlight & Global: the new rules of indie film
How are independent films really getting made and reaching global audiences right now? This closing session pulls back the curtain on the modern greenlight: where creativity, strategy, and hustle collide, and how international partnerships, co-productions, platform relationships, and new distribution infrastructure are reshaping the path from idea to screen. Four panelists who each represent a genuinely different model bring sharp, real-world insights on financing, co-production, packaging, global strategy, and what happens after the greenlight - including an industry-level perspective from a founding member of Producers United. Energetic, candid, and forward-looking: this is the conversation every producer in this room needs to take into their next Cannes meeting.
Moderator
Amy Baker - CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker
Panelists
Laura Lewis - CEO & Founder, Rebelle Media | Founding Member, Producers United
Imani "Manny” Halley - Founder & CEO, Imani Media Group & Faith Media Distribution
David Orman - CEO & Co-Founder, Hiway
Forum Concludes
SPEAKING FACULTY
Charles Rivkin - Chairman & CEO, Motion Picture Association (MPA)
Charles H. Rivkin is Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the leading advocate of the global film, television, and streaming industry. Current MPA members include Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery.
Drawing on 30 years of experience as a media executive and a leading U.S. diplomat, Rivkin advocates for policies that drive investment in film and television production, protect creative content, and open markets worldwide. Rivkin is responsible for the MPA’s iconic movie ratings system and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the world’s largest anti-piracy coalition.
Prior to joining the MPA, Rivkin served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs and was the United States Ambassador to France and Monaco. He also served as CEO of two entertainment companies, the Jim Henson Company and Wildbrain.
Rivkin was personally awarded the Légion d’honneur with the rank of Commander by the President of France as well as la Grande Médaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris by the Mayor of Paris. He was also presented with the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award by the Secretary of the Navy. In 2021, Rivkin received the Spanish National Police Merit Cross — with distinction for content protection efforts — the highest law enforcement decoration bestowed on a civilian. He received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, graduating with distinction in political science and international relations, and his M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Aaron Fisher - Director/Writer, Corporate Retreat
Aaron Fisher graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He wrote, directed, and starred in the feature film “Inside the Rain”, co-starring Academy® Award nominees Rosie Perez and Eric Roberts. After a pandemic-shortened 2020 theatrical release, the film was acquired by Showtime, and is widely available on streaming platforms. “Inside the Rain” premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Narrative Feature, and went on to play the Nashville, Twin Cities (Centerpiece), San Diego (Best Comedy nomination), Big Apple (Best Feature winner), Cinema on the Bayou (Special Jury Award), and Los Angeles New Filmmakers film festivals. The film earned critical acclaim, with and 86% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. David Lewis of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote “In this assured, offbeat comedy, director-star Aaron Fisher shines both behind and in front of the camera.”
Odeya Rush - Actor, Corporate Retreat
Odeya Rush is known for her standout performances in critically acclaimed projects, including Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” for which she shared a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Cast, as well as Apple TV+’s “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” opposite Dakota Johnson. Her additional credits include “Goosebumps,” “The Giver,” and the Netflix feature “Let It Snow.” She is currently starring in the Fox drama series “Memory of a Killer.”
Vic Mensa - Grammy-Nominated Musician, Actor, Filmmaker and Entrepreneur
Vic Mensa is a GRAMMY-nominated musician, actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist from Chicago, Illinois. With roots in Ghana, Mensa’s work spans music, film, culture, and social advocacy, often exploring the connections between Africa and the African diaspora through powerful storytelling across mediums.
Alongside his music career, Mensa has established himself as a compelling on-screen presence. He has appeared across multiple seasons of the hit Showtime series The Chi and the Peacock reboot of Bel-Air, expanding his creative reach into television while bringing the same authenticity and cultural perspective that define his music.
Mensa has also begun building a distinct voice behind the camera. His extended music video for Blue Eyes was honored with Best Cinematography at the Conero Film + ADV 2025 Festival, recognizing its striking visual storytelling and artistic craft. He is currently preparing to release his forthcoming short film Halfrican, continuing his exploration of identity, heritage, and the global Black experience through cinematic storytelling.
His creative experimentation extends to digital platforms as well. Mensa’s Webby-nominated Orange Tree series on Instagram has become a cultural touchpoint, drawing millions of viewers with its candid conversations and reflections on art, politics, spirituality, and community.
Mensa’s artistic journey began in music. His passion for hip-hop started in fifth grade, and after early success with his band Kids These Days, he launched a solo career that quickly gained momentum. His early projects Straight Up and INNANETAPE generated widespread attention, with INNANETAPE surpassing 35,000 downloads in its first month. His debut studio album The Autobiography (2017) debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200, and his 2023 album Victor marked a powerful evolution in his sound and storytelling. In June 2025, he released his first fully independent EP, sundiata, exclusively through his own platform—a raw, self-directed project created for his core audience.
Throughout his career, Mensa has collaborated with artists including Kanye West, Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Wyclef Jean, and Skrillex. His work has earned nominations for a GRAMMY Award, NAACP Image Awards, and the mtvU Woodie Awards.
Beyond entertainment, Mensa made history as an entrepreneur founding 93 Boyz – Illinois’ first legally Black-owned cannabis brand. The same year, he made a notable entry into the art world with his curatorial debut, SKIN + MASKS: Decolonizing Art Beyond the Politics of Visibility, at Chicago's Kavi Gupta Gallery.
Across music, film and cultural initiatives, Mensa continues to build a multidisciplinary body of work rooted in storytelling, identity and global culture.
Edgar Esteves - Visionary Filmmaker, Entrepreneur & Innovator
Edgar Esteves is a Los Angeles–based director, filmmaker, and entrepreneur recognized for crafting visually striking stories that resonate across global audiences. Born in Venezuela and raised in South Florida, Edgar has built a career at the intersection of music, culture, and cinematic storytelling. His work has amassed billions of views, helping shape the visual identity of modern music culture while expanding into branded campaigns and long-form storytelling.
In 2014, he founded Blank Square Productions, a powerhouse production company known for bold creative execution and high-caliber productions. Edgar’s work as both a director and production company owner has allowed him not only to tell stories of his own, but to create space for other directors, artists, and collaborators to share their voices with the world. That commitment to representation and cultural storytelling has crossed over into collaborations with global brands including Nike, Amazon, Pepsi, Foot Locker, and Apple.
Edgar’s creative world continues to expand beyond music videos into film, original IP, and technology. Most recently, with his deep roots in Africa and Afrobeats, Edgar has been working with musician and activist Vic Mensa on adapting the original IP HALFRICAN — a bold story exploring identity, citizenship, and what happens when people trapped inside the same system turn on one another instead of confronting the structure that confines them. Public materials for the project describe it as centered on a Black American artist facing detention and scrutiny, alongside a multiracial ensemble navigating blame, belonging, and systemic contradiction.
Alongside his film work, Edgar is also building for the future through tech platforms designed to open doors for the next generation of creatives. His ventures include SHADOU, a self-actualization and career acceleration platform built to give aspiring filmmakers real access to production opportunities, and CREWY, a crew management platform that helps productions source top-tier creative talent more efficiently.
Edgar’s career has always been rooted in culture — in the communities, sounds, and movements that shape how people see themselves and each other. From music videos to documentaries, branded campaigns to emerging tech, his work is guided by a belief that storytelling should feel alive, relevant, and representative of the people it touches.
From directing culturally resonant visual work to building platforms that help others rise, Edgar Esteves continues to push creative, cultural, and technological boundaries. His mission is not only to make unforgettable work, but to help build an ecosystem where more voices, more visions, and more stories have the opportunity to be seen.
Laura Lewis - CEO & Co-Founder, Rebelle Media
Laura is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rebelle Media which she co-founded with former colleague and best friend, Amanda Palley, to develop and produce stories for the robust romance audience. Laura executive produced Hulu’s hit television series Tell Me Lies and produced films such as Mr. Malcolm’s List and Long Weekend.
Prior to Rebelle, Laura was a media finance agent at Creative Artists Agency where she worked on films including Dallas Buyers Club, The Imitation Game, Bachelorette, Sleeping with Other People, Begin Again, Still Alice and The Butler amongst many others. She began her career as an executive for Twentieth Century Fox and Edward Saxon Productions.
Laura has a BA from Duke University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, is a member of the Producer’s branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, the Television Academy, and a founding member of Producers United. She’s been cited by Variety as one of Hollywood’s New Leaders and as a Woman of Impact. She lives in New York, Los Angeles and an American Airlines lounge. She’s the mom of a willful Yorkie, Gus.
Brendan McCafferty- Founder, IPX
Brendan McCafferty is the Founder of IPX, a platform redefining how creator-owned intellectual property is valued, transacted, and scaled. IPX sits at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and finance - building the infrastructure for a world where creators don't just make content, they build lasting, financeable IP. Brendan has executive produced and directed multicamera cinematic broadcasts for Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, Rick Ross, Comedy Central.
Juliana Lubin - Producer & Senior Vice President, Investments, Ashland Hill Media Finance
Juliana Lubin is a film executive and producer with over fifteen years of experience in film packaging, finance, and sales. She most recently executive produced AT THE SEA directed by Kornel Mundruczo's (PIECES OF A WOMAN) starring Amy Adams, which was selected for the competition program at 2026 Berlinale. Also in 2026, Ms. Lubin executive produced RETURN TO SILENT HILL, based on the iconic video game franchise.
Currently, Ms. Lubin serves as Senior Vice President, Investments at Ashland Hill Media Finance, which has deployed over $200 million in motion picture funding over the past three years. She was named to Variety’s Dealmakers Impact List in 2022.
Prior to joining Ashland Hill, Ms. Lubin held senior positions at hedge fund VX119 Media Capital and Banc of California, where she managed a broad portfolio of film and television investments.
Maxime Cottray - COO, XYZ Films
Maxime Cottray is the COO at independent film studio XYZ Films, where he oversees the company’s financing, business affairs and day-to-day operations. In addition, Maxime produces and executive produces many of the company’s titles, including the cult classic MANDY as well as the recent commercial and critical hit, OVER YOUR DEAD BODY. Furthermore, owing to his background in film financing, Maxime is responsible for the execution of all financing arrangements for both the company and individual films produced and distributed by the company, including spearheading the raising of XYZ’s multi-million-dollar production financing fund in collaboration Finnish venture capital company IPR.VC. Before joining XYZ in 2017, Maxime spent six years at the film financing group Ingenious Media in London where he was responsible for sourcing, evaluating and negotiating investments in the media industry. A native English, French and German speaker, Maxime resides in Los Angeles.
Kayla Bowman - Executive Director, Media & Entertainment Corporate and Investment Banking - Fifth Third Bank
Kayla Bowman joined Fifth Third as an Executive Director in 2024. She leads a portfolio of media and entertainment clients focused on independent film, television, and music, contributing to the evolution of innovative financing solutions for rights holders, producers, and content owners. Her coverage spans single project financing and asset aggregation vehicles, alongside operating and distribution entities. Ms. Bowman has played a key role in establishing the platform as a market leader across these industries, including the development and expansion of a dedicated securitization platform that supports scalable, institutional investment in creative asset classes. During her career, she has financed dozens of independent films and television series.
Prior to joining Fifth Third, Ms. Bowman spent seven years at MUFG, beginning her career as an analyst and advancing to Vice President. During her tenure at MUFG, she specialized in independent film and television financing and was instrumental in building the firm’s music financing and related securitization practice. Ms. Bowman began her career at Comerica in their industry vertical.
Ms. Bowman is a licensed attorney in the state of California. She holds a JD/MBA from Loyola Law School and Loyola Marymount University, and earned her BA from Syracuse University, graduating magna cum laude.
imani “Manny” Halley - Founder & CEO, Imani Media Group
Imani “Manny” Halley is an American film and television producer, talent manager, and prominent entertainment executive. As the Founder and CEO of Imani Media Group and Faith Media Distribution, Halley has established himself as a driving force in urban cinema and content distribution. Based in Los Angeles and Atlanta, his strategic leadership has built a robust catalogue of over 14 successful titles. His companies have collaborated with major platforms such as Netflix, Tubi, BET, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video to produce and distribute a diverse slate of acclaimed film and television projects.
David Orman - CEO & Co-Founder, Hiway
David Orman is CEO and Co-Founder of Hiway, a media infrastructure platform built for the direct-to-fan economy. He has spent over 20 years working across venture capital, sport, digital media, and content monetisation.
David began his career at Eurosport before holding leadership roles at Queens Park Rangers FC, Templewood Merchant Bank, and a private family office. In 2014, he co-founded Hatch-House, a venture consultancy focused on emerging technology and media business models.
In 2023, David started to rethink how media companies store, share, and monetise content using next-generation infrastructure. That work became the foundation for Hiway, where he now focuses on building tools that give creators, producers, and rights holders direct control over their audiences, data, and revenue.
Uri Singer - President, Passage Pictures
Uri Singer and his team at the production company Passage Pictures have built a reputation as a luminary for developing and producing acclaimed literary adaptations, having successfully brought a wide range of IP to life on screen. Singer's films have been featured at festivals including Sundance, Venice, NYFF, TIFF, and London BFI. His award-winning Sundance films include TESLA with Ethan Hawke, MARJORIE PRIME, with Jon Hamm and Geena Davis, and EXPERIMENTER, with Peter Sarsgaard and Winona Ryder. He produced the $145M movie WHITE NOISE with Netflix, directed by Noah Baumbach, which was the opening film at Venice and NYFF. He is also producing an adaptation of Don DeLillo's masterpiece "Underworld", with Ted Melfi writing and directing. Among his other projects is an adaptation of James Ellroy’s BLOOD’S A ROVER set at MGM/Amazon, and the Marc Rich biopic KING OF OIL set at Universal.
Tyler Sabino - Founder, The Shift Studios and Shifter(s) OS; Co-Creator, the Shifter(s) Series
Tyler Sabino is the Founder of The Shift Studios and Shifter(s) OS, and Co-Creator of the Shifter(s) Series, a global platform at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and business. He operates as a Narrative Architect, helping founders, creators, and brands turn ideas into clear positioning, scalable distribution, and real revenue.
Tyler was a lead producer on Verzuz, one of the most impactful digital music platforms of the last decade, driving hundreds of millions of viewers and reshaping how culture shows up online. At Triller, he led strategic partnerships and helped launch the company’s Web3 division, including producing one of the first large-scale concerts in the metaverse.
Today, through The Shift Studios, he partners with culture-defining companies and talent to translate story into growth. His work sits at the intersection of identity, distribution, and ownership, helping clients build brands that extend beyond content into lasting businesses.
He is also the Co-Creator of the Shifter(s) Series, a global event platform built in collaboration with Winston Baker, bringing together founders, creators, athletes, and executives shaping the future of media and commerce.
Across every venture, his focus is simple: build brands and ecosystems where story drives business.
Amy Baker - CEO & Co-Founder, Winston Baker
Amy Baker, CEO of WINSTON | BAKER, Amy oversees the company’s global strategic planning, business development and vendor relationships. Amy Co-Founded the FILM FINANCE FORUM® in 2008, which provides the premier series of events dedicated to bringing seasoned finance and entertainment executives together from around the globe. Winston Baker is a global leading entertainment industry content curator, addressing strategies for Entertainment Finance, Film, Television, Music, Sports and Ent-Technology. Amy has successfully organized sold out conferences, film festival programming and private events across the United States, Europe, Saudi Arabia, China, Pacific Asia and Latin America, along with a lineup of exciting virtual programs.
Thank you to our Partners
GOLD PARTNERS
Supporting Partners
Hiway
Hiway is the infrastructure layer for the creator economy. It gives content owners a single system to store, share, distribute, monetise, and track their content, without giving up control to platforms or intermediaries.
Built for filmmakers, producers, distributors, festivals, and rights holders, Hiway replaces fragmented workflows with one control panel. Content can be shared privately with partners or launched direct-to-fan through a single SmartLink, with built-in payments, rights controls, and real-time analytics.
Hiway is often described as “Shopify for content”. It does not compete with platforms. It powers them. Content owners keep their IP, their audience data, and the majority of their revenue, while Hiway handles delivery, payments, and reporting behind the scenes.
The platform is already live, generating revenue, and being used across film, festivals, and enterprise content libraries. At a time when international partnerships, co-productions, and creator-led distribution are accelerating, Hiway provides the infrastructure that makes those models practical, transparent, and scalable.
www.onthehiway.com
Fifth Third Bank
In a sector with unlimited growth potential that’s tempered with significant and evolving risk, your financial solutions team needs an eye on the horizon and feet on the ground. The Fifth Third Media & Entertainment Group understands the challenges—and opportunities—inherent in an evolving landscape and can provide comprehensive financial solutions to help meet them head-on. Founded in 1858, Fifth Third has had the singular purpose of helping to improve the lives of our customers through sound banking principles and superior service. Visit 53.com/TMT.
The Motion Picture Association, Inc. (MPA)
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) serves as the leading voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world. Its member studios are: Netflix, Paramount Pictures, Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
Thank you to our Media Partners
We are always supporting the fight against cancer through amazing organizations such as Moffitt Cancer Center whose mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Learn more by visiting their webiste: www.moffitt.org