December 6th, 2023 - EFM Partners With Winston Baker, Yanibes on New Finance Forum, AfroBerlin Initiatives Amid Growing German Industry Woes
Berlin’s European Film Market has unveiled a new finance forum in collaboration with conference producer Winston Baker and the inaugural edition of AfroBerlin, focusing on the African film industry, among its new initiatives in its forthcoming edition, which runs Feb. 15-21.
May 25th, 2023 - Gurinder Chadha Talks New Disney Princess Movie & How Harrison Ford Had An Influence On ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ Getting Made — Cannes
Gurinder Chadha revealed that Harrison Ford had an unknowing effect on her ability to get UK hit film Bend it Like Beckham off the ground when she made it two decades ago. At the time, the director was struggling to get financing from any of the UK public film funding bodies so she could make her now treasured film about a young British-Indian girl with a talent for soccer but whose family wouldn’t permit her to play.
May 17th, 2023 - “The Future Looks Bright”: Winston Baker CEO On Cannes, Events and Possibly Producing Contents
"Relationships are key," she says heading into the company's 13th year in Cannes and also addresses the pros and cons of organizing events all over the globe, including in Saudi Arabia.
December 6th, 2022 - Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner came to Jeddah to speak at RED SEA 360° organized by Winston Baker about soft money and tax incentives in the region.
There are multiple avenues to subsidize your budget through Funds, Rebates, Development and Support Programs.
Budgets for film production can be overwhelming, especially in the indie market. There are multiple things that you should consider when funding your film that can help! Co-Productions can have a massive impact on Tax Rebates and Support Programs – and this panel will walk you through how to look out for these, who has the best and most worthwhile offers, and what benefits can come from using these systems.
December 5th, 2022 - Saudi Arabia Tax Incentives Attract International Co-Producers
“We are talking about 350 million who speak the same language, despite different dialects and mindsets, so it’s a huge audience. It’s also a very young population. There is a huge portion of people who are very eager to consume content,” said producer and founder of Egypt’s Film Clinic Mohamed Hefzy.
The panel focused heavily on the importance of establishing local models of production instead of replicating what is done in Western countries. “The idea is not to adapt to other standards, is to see the perception the audiences here have of the films and how we can adapt to the specificities of a region,” said Van Der Staay. “The idea is not to renounce a culture so it fits in a sort of mold.”
Issues to be addressed include sales and distribution, international co-productions, funding and investing in content, streaming, storytelling in the metaverse, and opportunities across the Arab region.
There is a spotlight on Women in Cinema, featuring top female execs on panels, such as Rula Nasser, Jennifer Haddad, Adhrucia Apana, Charlene Deleon-Jones and Suad Bushnaq.
Other panelists include New Regency’s Michael Schaefer, Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval, Cinemoz’s Karim Safieddine and Maroun Najm, Film Mode Entertainment’s Clay Epstein, producer Donald Kushner, and Michael Uslan, producer behind the “Batman” franchise.
July 10, 2021 - AGC Studios Boss Stuart Ford Says ‘Wheels Are Turning’ for Indie Film Business in Cannes
“The independent financing and sales marketplace is still an incredibly fertile ground to finance content at a significant level,” he said. “It’s a very attractive business model, and it’s a very efficient business model.”
Ford appeared Saturday at the Cannes Film Market as part of an international film finance forum hosted by Winston Baker to discuss how the worlds of film finance and distribution will emerge from the uncertainty of the pandemic year.
December 7, 2020 - Marv Planning Around Seven More ‘Kingsman’ Films, Says New CEO
Marv Group CEO Zygi Kamasa has said that filmmaker Matthew Vaughn is plotting “something like seven more Kingsman films” as part of the company’s expansion plans.
“We want to grow the business and the output,” Kamasa told the Winston Baker UK Finance Summit late last week. “We have a Kingsman TV series in the works and there are two-three other franchises that are being developed alongside the Kingsman world.”
December 4, 2020 - Golden Globe-Winning Producer Colin Callender Says U.S. Streamers Are “Time Bomb” For UK TV Industry
“The good news is what they have become is a hungry new buyer of British content, but I think we need to distinguish the folklore and fantasy from reality,” Callender said during a virtual event organized by Winston Baker.
December 3, 2020 - 30WEST’s Dan Steinman Dissects “Fake Packaging” At Winston Baker UK Film Summit
There was lively discussion on the state of the film and TV industry during a panel at the Winston Baker UK Summit today which included Dan Steinman, Co-President and COO of 30WEST; Solstice Studios President & CEO Mark Gill; See-Saw Films COO Simon Gillis and Twickenham Studios Managing Director Cara Sheppard.
September 30, 2020 - New Funds, Evolving Deals, and a Pandemic-Resilient Catalog Market are Cause for Optimism at the Music Finance Forum
If anything, the coronavirus pandemic has bolstered the value of publishing and recording catalogs, while the flow of capital ready to be invested in music assets has not dried out. Such were the main takeaways from the virtual edition of the Music Finance Forum, presented by Winston Baker on September 24, 2020.
“We have a long term view because we believe that [IP assets] will continue to be resilient.” – Sherrese Clarke Soares, Tempo Music
April 3, 2020 - Rom-Com ‘Almost Love’ Makes Debut, IFC Serves Horror With ‘The Other Lamb’ – Specialty Streaming Preview
There are more than enough streaming and VOD titles of all genres in the specialty arena making their debut this weekend as they shift from theatrical to streaming for your quarantine entertainment. For those who need to quench their thirst for a rom-com, Mike Doyle’s Almost Love is set to premiere. The film is available on VOD today, but on April 7, writer and director Mike Doyle will be joined by producer Mandy Ward and lead actor Scott Evans to participate in Winston Baker’s webcast where they will discuss how they have shifted their release strategy.
March 15, 2020 - Winston Baker to Launch Livestreamed and Digital Content
Many major events around the world have been officially canceled or postponed in recent weeks due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As with everyone else, we are in uncharted waters as we figure out our next steps for our live events. Our top priority and focus is on the health and safety of all; however, we also realize the need for businesses to continue on some level and to stay connected. Next month, we will begin launching digital episodes featuring some of our keynotes, panels and presentations.
January 30, 2020 - Claire Scanlon, Thomas Jane Lead Lineup at Entertainment Finance Forum
The confab, presented by Winston Baker on Feb. 13 at Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center, will host a series of conversations on financing models between film, television and streaming. Claire Scanlon, who directed the Netflix rom-com Set It Up and episodes of such shows as GLOW and Fresh Off the Boat, will give a keynote speech about working across different platforms, from network television to the upcoming Mapleworth Murders on Quibi. Actor and filmmaker Thomas Jane and producer Courtney Lauren Penn, the founders of the Renegade Entertainment production banner, will also give a keynote speech about monetizing content on streaming platforms.
October 17, 2019 - Award-Winning Storytellers, Tech Founders and Investors Convene at Confluence Summit on October 24
Winston Baker's one-day conference will bring together founders and executives of WarnerMedia, Lionsgate, Skydance, Battery Ventures, BlackRock, Mayfield Fund, UTA Ventures, MasterClass, DoorDash, Crunchyroll, Patreon, Baobab Studios, Zoosk, Rotten Tomatoes, Omaze and more to San Francisco.
October 4, 2019 - M&A, Brexit in Focus at Winston Baker U.K. Summit
Representatives of the British Film Institute, Film London, Village Roadshow owner Vine Alternative Investments and the Ink Factory discuss hot industry topics. Entertainment industry mega-mergers and the impact of Brexit were among the topics in focus at Winston Baker's inaugural U.K. Summit in London on Friday.
September 24, 2019 - AFM: Paramount Pictures' Futurist Ted Schilowitz to Deliver Industry Keynote
Schilowitz, who joined Paramount from Fox in 2017, where he was a consulting futurist, is the studio's go-to guy for new and emerging technology, in particular virtual and augmented reality. He will present AFM's industry keynote Nov. 9 as part of the market's Immersive Summit, presented by Winston Baker. The summit will focus on the commercial implications of VR and AR technology and the new opportunities they present for independent film.
September 24, 2019 - AFM 2019 to host inaugural television conference, AVOD session
Paramount Pictures’ in-house XR expert and futurist Ted Schilowitz will deliver the opening state of the industry keynote for the half-day Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker on November 9. After the keynote there will be three XR panels covering topics from storytelling to monetisation.
September 19, 2019 - Syncs' Influence, Streaming's Global Reach Discussed at the Music Finance Forum
Even in the modern streaming era, syncs are still helping break acts, according to music executives speaking at the Music Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker held last week in Los Angeles. During the debut conference's "The Future of Streaming: Rights, Royalties and Valuation" panel on Sept. 12, industry leaders discussed how exposure in other medias such as film and television can provide necessary extra visibility for an artist’s work.
September 13, 2019 - Publishing's Huge Valuations, Catalogs' 'Frothy' Market Dominate at the Music Finance Forum
Attendees of the by Winston Baker in Los Angeles would be forgiven if they thought they were teleported from the Skirball Cultural Center to a coffee shop. Rarely has the word “frothy” been uttered so many times in just a handful of music conference panels.
September 3, 2019 - Azoff Company's Susan Genco to Speak at Music Finance Forum in LA
The Music Finance Forum is organized by Katherine Winston and Amy Baker of Winston Baker and is targeting an audience of equity and debt financiers as well as strategic, creative and operational executives and seasoned dealmakers in the music sector. The one-day event will explore new revenue streams, mergers and acquisitions strategies and emerging business models.
June 26, 2019 - AFM to Put Spotlight on Immersive Content and Technology
The American Film Market will dedicate exhibition space to virtual and extended reality producers and is adding a new industry summit focused on immersive technology …
June 26, 2019 - Immersive content, technology showcase set for upcoming 40th AFM
Immersive content and technology get a prominent focus at the upcoming 40th anniversary AFM in November, highlighted by the Immersive Summit presented by Winston Baker on November 9…
June 15, 2019 - Shanghai Festival Forum: Chinese Film Seeks to Raise Professional Standards
Greater professionalism within the Chinese film industry could lead to higher standards and greater overseas success. That was the unsurprising conclusion of the “Global Film Industry Value Chain Forum” held in Shanghai on Saturday on the eve of the city’s showcase annual film festival…
May 17, 2019 - Cannes: Solstice Studios Boss Mark Gill on How to Survive (and Thrive) in the Indie Market
If you want your film to sell and make it into theaters worldwide, good is just no longer good enough.
“You have to be very good, or great, or you're dead,” said Mark Gill, the former Miramax and Millennium Films executive, who recently launched high-end production outfit Solstice Studios. “In today's market you need all the elements to come together. If you miss out …
May 14, 2019 - Cannes: David Linde, Mark Gill, Tom Quinn to Keynote Winston Baker’s Film Finance Forum (Exclusive)
Participant Media's David Linde, Solstice Pictures' Mark Gill and Neon's Tom Quinn have signed on to keynote at Winston Baker’s International Film Finance Forum. The annual conference, which kicks off Friday during the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, will feature three events, beginning with the Immersive Summit, in partnership with Marché du Film, which explores the AR, VR and XR industry …
May 2, 2019 - WINSTON BAKER | The Leading Entertainment Finance Conference Producer In The World
Winston|Baker’s 11th New York TV & Film Finance Forum, which took place on April 24, 2019, at the Dream Hotel Downtown, as usual, had an exciting lineup of speakers and panels. This year’s event was presented in association with the New York Mayor’s Office of Media…
April 10, 2019 - Nigel Sinclair, Celine Rattray, Thomas Benski among speakers at Winston Baker NYC forum (exclusive)
Nigel Sinclair, Celine Rattray and Thomas Benski are among speakers scheduled to attend the 11th annual Winston Baker TV & Film Finance Forum in New York on April 24 in association with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment…
February 28, 2019 - Quibi CFO offers glimpse into Jeffrey Katzenberg's $1bn mobile-first venture
Investor-funded content creation will come to an end in “the not-too-distant future”, the CFO of Jeffrey Katzenberg’s upcoming short-form platform Quibi told a Los Angeles conference on Wednesday (27).
February 28, 2019 - Subscription Streaming Driving Waves of Change in Entertainment Market, Speakers Say
The enormous cache and power of subscription streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon — and the proliferation of like services — are major drivers in entertainment market disruption and are giving content creators increased clout. That was the opinion of speakers at the Entertainment Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker Feb. 27.
February 27, 2019 - Netflix not to blame for all market woes, LA summit hears
Netflix is not entirely to blame for market woes in the independent sector, a panel of international sales agents said at the Entertainment Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker on Wednesday (27).
February 14, 2019 - Chinonye Chukwu to Address Filmmaking in the New Era at Winston Baker’s Entertainment Finance Forum
Winston Baker will host the Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles with Award-Winning Director Chinonye Chukwu and other leading female voices to address the emerging strategies and opportunities within the evolving entertainment business.
December 13, 2018 - Lights. Camera. Take ACTION!
Honor filmmakers and actors who have taken action and made a difference in the world along with The Creative Coalition. Join us in Park City, Utah on January 26th for back-to-back star-studded events.
November 27, 2018 - Tampa Bay Business Journal: People on the Move
(Amy) Baker joins 32 other prominent figures on Moffitt’s National Board of Advisors and will serve as a Moffitt ambassador and offer her expertise and counsel on issues relating to the cancer center. As managing partner of WINSTON | BAKER, Baker oversees the company’s global strategic planning, business development and vendor relationships.
November 09, 2018 - ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ screenwriter, VR leaders unite at second annual Confluence Summit
The second annual Confluence Summit presented by Winston Baker took place on October 25 in Menlo Park, bringing together professionals from both the tech and entertainment industries. From industry leaders simply attending the conference to those speaking on the panels, the Confluence Summit was another superb expansion on last year’s event, highlighting new developments in virtual reality, new technology and other forms of media.
October 10, 2018 - Visionaries Address the Future of Entertainment at Confluence Summit
Winston Baker brings together thought leaders from Paramount Pictures, Microsoft, Skydance Media, Activision Blizzard Studios, Niantic, Y Combinator, Sephora Accelerator and more for Silicon Valley event on October 25.
October 9, 2018 - CHRISTOS MICHAELS DEBATES SETTING UP INDIE PRODUCTIONS AT ZURICH SUMMIT 2018
Head of Film Christos Michaels was again invited to chair a live panel at the annual Zurich Summit, an elite, film-focused conference attended by members of the international film and entertainment community.
September 7, 2018 - ‘Ben Is Back’ Producer & Black Bear Pictures Chief Teddy Schwarzman On Theatrical Vs. Streaming — Toronto
It’s a question that The Imitation Game Oscar-nominated producer and Black Bear Pictures CEO/President Teddy Schwarzman assesses frequently in the current climate, and he expounded on that at Winston Baker’s Script to Screen Summit today at TIFF.
September 7, 2018 - Toronto: Teddy Schwarzman Reveals Why Black Bear Pictures Isn't Looking to Acquire U.S. Distributor
The film financier spoke to The Hollywood Reporter deputy film editor Tatiana Siegel about the changing media landscape and what the company's Julia Roberts drama 'Ben is Back' says about the opioid crisis at a keynote session at Winston Baker's Script to Screen Summit.
August 16, 2018 - Winston Baker Hosts Script to Screen Summit in Toronto for Emerging Storytellers
Join award-winning producers and dealmakers who have been at the forefront of diversified projects across platforms such as Teddy Schwarzman, John Penotti, Rena Ronson, Howard Barish, Jessica Lacy, Mark Ankner, Adhrucia Apana and Daniel Levin as Winston Baker, leading global producer of entertainment conferences, will be hosting its second edition Script to Screen Summit at the Delta Toronto Hotel in Toronto, Canada on September 7, 2018.
August 15, 2018 - Teddy Schwarzman to Keynote Script to Screen Summit in Toronto
Teddy Schwarzman, president and CEO of Black Bear Pictures and the producer behind the Oscar-winning Imitation Game, Mudbound and the upcoming Ben Is Back, is set to keynote Winston Baker's Script to Screen Summit on Sept. 7 in Toronto.
May 13, 2018 - Bankable talent needed for feature projects, say industry experts
If you can structure your project the right way, it releases pressure off the marketplace, which has never been harder. We’re no longer competing within film for talent, we’re competing with over 700 scripted TV shows,” said Mike Gabrawy, chief creative officer at Arclight Films on the talent shortage in the independent film space, at the annual International Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker on May 11.
May 12, 2018 - Taika Waititi lights up Cannes Film Financing Forum
At the annual International Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker at the Carlton Hotel on May 11, Paul Dano, whose directorial debut Wildlife opened Critics’ Week, and Taika Waititi, director of Hunt For The Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok, kicked off the afternoon in a talk moderated by Screen International contributing editor Wendy Mitchell.
May 11, 2018 - Cannes: Taika Waititi Talks 'Bubbles,' 'What We Do in the Shadows' Spinoff and 'Thor'
peaking in Cannes at the International Film Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker, together with actor-turned-director Paul Dano, the New Zealand filmmaker talked about his dark WWII comedy Jojo Rabbit, which stars Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell and is due to start shooting in two weeks in Europe.
May 7, 2018 - Taika Waititi and Paul Dano to Keynote at Winston Baker's International Film Finance Forum on May 11
Winston Baker will host its annual conference in Cannes with Award-Winning Director Taika Waititi, Award-Winning Actor Paul Dano and other special guests as they celebrate ten years of producing entertainment industry events around the world.
March 12, 2018 - MoviePass CEO Addresses Privacy Concerns, Says App Has Never Monitored Users’ Locations
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe said he misspoke at a recent industry conference in describing the kinds of data the company tracks on its users — and he emphasized that the startup will always allow customers to opt in to location-based marketing offers in the future.
March 10, 2018 - MoviePass Wants to Gather a Whole Lot of Data About Its Users
MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe thinks his service’s rapid growth will continue, projecting earlier this month that MoviePass will have 5 million subscribers by the end of 2018, and account for around 20% of all movie ticket purchases. But some of those future subscribers might be concerned about his company’s tactics, which Lowe recently said includes tracking users’ location before and after a trip to the movies.
March 9, 2018 - MoviePass Backs Off Plan to Track Subscribers’ Whereabouts at All Times
Don’t worry, MoviePass has decided it doesn’t need to be with you 24/7. The subscription service removed its “app location capability” following backlash from users who freaked out when they learned about the company’s plan to track their whereabouts at all times.
March 8, 2018 - MoviePass iOS app update removes ‘unused’ location tracking
Following a claim that it was tracking users, MoviePass has pushed out an update for its iOS app that removes the “unused app location capability.” The update follows an interview given by company CEO Mitch Lowe earlier this week; during it, he claimed MoviePass is collecting “an enormous amount of information” about its customers, including extensive location tracking.
March 8, 2018 - Do you care if MoviePass is tracking your location?
MoviePass has updated its iOS app today, with the changelog noting that the company has removed “unused app location capability,” as spotted by Engadget.
The update comes after CEO Mitch Lowe made comments at the Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles last week, claiming that the company was tracking users’ locations. “We watch how you drive from home to the movies. We watch where you go afterwards,” commented Lowe, according to a report from Media Play News.
March 7, 2018 - Do you care if MoviePass is tracking your location?
CLEVELAND, Ohio – MoviePass – commonly referred to as the Netflix for movie theaters – can be a wonderful thing, provided the app is working, it isn't blocking you from certain movies or theaters, and customer service is responsive. That isn't always the case, but for members, those annoyances are worth the $9.95 monthly fee ($7.95 a month for new subscribers, paid in full at sign-up) that gives them the opportunity to see a movie every day.
But recent statements by MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe have raised privacy concerns among its two million subscribers.
March 6, 2018 - MoviePass Claims It Won't Monetize Your Location Data After Causing Privacy Uproar
MoviePass is perfectly fine with ruffling a few feathers in an attempt to prove its business model. However, most of the ire to date has been from actual movie theater chains taking issue with its low-cost subscription model that is offered to moviegoers. That changed recently when MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe bragged about the service's data collection and location tracking, and suddenly its customers were a bit miffed, too. In response to the backlash, MoviePass put out a statement promising not to sell the data it collects.
March 5, 2018 - NEON assembling platform to distribute documentaries (exclusive)
NEON is in the early stages of putting together a programme to support what co-founder Tom Quinn referred to as the “sustainable theatrical release” of documentaries.
Quinn (pictured), whose company acquired Tim Wardle’s Sundance US Documentary Competition selection Three Identical Strangers in January, teased the initiative at a Hollywood panel on the evolution of the industry although he declined to go further, adding that it was still too soon to unveil comprehensive details.
March 5, 2018 - MoviePass wants in on every aspect of your movie night
MoviePass—the Netflix for cinemas that gets theatergoers into a 2D movie each day for a flat $9.95 monthly fee—is looking beyond the movie theater to make money. It wants a piece of every aspect of your movie night, from dinner beforehand to drinks afterward.
March 4, 2018 - MoviePass to Invest in as Many as a Dozen Films a Year, CEO Says
Theatrical subscription service MoviePass could invest in as many as a dozen films a year, said CEO Mitch Lowe at a presentation March 2 during the Entertainment Finance Forum presented by Winston Baker in Hollywood.
“We’re going to be selective, but it could be a dozen films a year,” he said. “It could be more. When we find a film that we think we could have a big positive type of impact on, we will come up to the table.”
March 2, 2018 - MoviePass CEO Expects to Top 5 Million Subscribers By 2019
MoviePass will more than double its current subscriber base of 2 million before 2019, the movie-ticketing company’s CEO, Mitch Lowe, projected Friday. “We’ll be over 5 million paid subscribers by the end of the year and buying roughly 20% of all movie tickets” in the U.S., he said in a keynote Q&A at Winston | Baker’s Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles. MoviePass currently buys approximately 6% of all domestic tickets sold.
February 28, 2018 - MoviePass™ and Helios and Matheson Analytics, Inc. CEOs to Speak at the Entertainment Finance Forum in Hollywood
Winston Baker invited MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe and Helios and Matheson Analytics Inc. (NASDAQ: HMNY) CEO Ted Farnsworth to deliver a keynote at the Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles, March 2, 2018, to discuss the impact of data on the entertainment industry. The forum topic, Data is the New Oil: How Will MoviePass Monetize It? Will feature a discussion with Lowe and Farnsworth as they share how MoviePass utilizes data, their growth-focused business model, and their plan to revitalize the movie industry. Co-Editor-in-Chief of Variety Andrew Wallenstein will serve as the discussion’s moderator.
February 8, 2018 - Thought Leaders from MACRO Ventures, NEON, MoviePass, Lionsgate, Annapurna, MWM Studios and More Speak at Entertainment Finance Forum
Just days before the Oscars, Winston Baker's LA Forum will host producers, distributors, agents and financiers who have worked on 13, THE BIG SICK, BIRDMAN, BLADE RUNNER 2049, DOWNSIZING, GET OUT, HIDDEN FIGURES, HOME AGAIN, I,TONYA, MUDBOUND, PHANTOM THREAD, WHIPLASH and more.
December 7, 2017 - Winston Baker and AFCI Partner for Two-Day Event Ahead of Oscars
This one-of-a-kind conference was put on by Winston Baker, a company that produces events and conferences focused around film, finance and entertainment in the global market. Filled with film and tech executives from all parts of the two industries, the conference presented a look at the diversity of industry fields as well as leaders at the forefronts, from the economics of filmmaking to the creative processes behind it all...
November 27, 2017 - Bridging tech and entertainment at Winston Baker’s Confluence Summit
As a film and TV fanatic, I was grateful to have the opportunity to attend the Confluence Summit in Menlo Park. This one-of-a-kind conference was put on by Winston Baker, a company that produces events and conferences focused around film, finance and entertainment in the global market. Filled with film and tech executives from all parts of the two industries, the conference ...
November 27, 2017 - Bridging tech and entertainment at Winston Baker’s Confluence Summit
Winston Baker and the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) are teaming up. The entertainment conference producer and the industry association for film commissions worldwide have announced a partnership where they’ll combine efforts to produce a multi-day event in Los Angeles ahead of the Oscars for producers, distributors, commissioners, financiers and policy-makers March 1 and 2, 2018 at the W Hollywood Hotel.
October 2, 2017 - Producers must now ask 'what makes a film theatrical?'
”What makes it theatrical?” That, according to Christine Vachon (producer and co-founder of Killer Films), is now the fundamental question asked of every new project that her company considers for the cinema. Vachon, speaking at this weekend’s Zurich Summit on “How Producers Are Re-Inventing Themselves In The Changing Media Landscape,” said producers “now have to interrogate” every movie they want to make to ensure it is right for the big screen and not for another platform.
October 1, 2017 - Zurich: Alicia Vikander on Closing the Gender Gap
The irresistible rise of Alicia Vikander continues. A year after winning the best supporting actress Oscar for The Danish Girl, the Swedish star will soon been seen in her biggest production yet: playing Lara Croft in the reboot of the Tomb Raiderfranchise from MGM, Warner Bros. and GK Films. This comes after co-starring in Jason Bourne opposite Matt Damon, as well as garnering more awards buzz for The Light Between Oceans with Michael Fassbender and Tulip Fever opposite Christoph Waltz and Dane DeHaan.
September 27, 2017 - Winston Baker to Honor YouTube Co-Founder Steve Chen at Confluence Summit
'Spider-Man' trilogy director Sam Raimi, Lucasfilm’s ILM chief creative officer John Knoll and more will gather in Silicon Valley to address innovation, storytelling and collaboration.
Global entertainment conference producer Winston Baker will present the Architect of Change Award to YouTube co-founder Steve Chen at the inaugural Confluence Summit on Oct. 27, the company announced Wednesday.
September 27, 2017 - Winston Baker to Honor YouTube Co-Founder Steve Chen at Confluence Summit on October 27
Spider-Man Trilogy Director Sam Raimi, Lucasfilm's ILM Chief Creative Officer John Knoll, Award-Winning Animation Producer Don Hahn, Rotten Tomatoes Co-Founder Patrick Lee, Kabam Co-Founder Holly Liu and more gather in Silicon Valley to address innovation, storytelling and collaboration
September 11, 2017 - Alicia Vikander, Patrick Wachsberger and Michael Barker at Zurich Summit
Oscar winners, studio heads and tech geeks will gather in Zurich next month for Winston Baker's 4th Annual Zurich Summit, the film industry event held during the Zurich Film Festival. Providing some star power this year will be Academy Award–winning actress Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl), who will be wearing her producer hat, discussing the making of Euphoria, an upcoming Swedish-German co-production from director Lisa Langseth which Vikander produced and stars in.
June 8, 2017 - Imax CEO, iQiyi Boss to Speak at Winston Baker's Film Finance Forum in China
A who's who of the Asian film industry, including Yang Xianghua, senior vice president at Chinese streaming video giant iQiyi, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips partner Lindsay Conner, who represented Beijing-based Perfect World Pictures on their $500 million slate investment at Universal, are joining organizers Winston Baker in China on June 20 for the fifth annual Film Finance Forum.
May 20, 2017 - Brett Ratner in Cannes: 'Television is obviously the future'
In his keynote address at the Winston Baker Film Financing Forum today (May 19), an ebullient Brett Ratner revealed just how he rescued Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant when it went over budget; why he will soon be returning to directing; his plans to enter the TV business in a major way; and why he thinks VR is ideal for porn.
May 19, 2017 - Brett Ratner On RatPac As Filmmakers’ Guardian Angel & How “The Middle Has Fallen Out” At The Box Office – Cannes
Since launching RatPac five years ago, Ratner is an anomaly in the business, a savior not just for the major studios but more so for filmmakers when their films are in need of cash — read Alejandro González Iñárritu, who reached out to RatPac during production on The Revenant.
Mega producer Brett Ratner and Imax CEO Rich Gelfond will be among the industry heavyweights at the the events hosted by Winston Baker in cooperation with The Hollywood Reporter to be held on Friday, May 19, during the Cannes Film Festival.
May 8, 2017 - Winston Baker Announces New Partnership with Marché du Film and Launches Immersive Summit in Cannes
In its 8th year at Cannes, Winston Baker is proud to announce a new partnership and conference as part of the Croisette lineup. In partnership with Marché du Film, Winston Baker will present its first ever technology conference, the “Immersive Summit” to be hosted on May 19, 2017 to bring together leading minds in technology and film for discussions on monetizing innovation and breaking into the VR/AR world.
April 27, 2017 - Producer Donna Gigliotti: How #OscarsSoWhite Helped Bring 'Hidden Figures' to the Screen
Gigliotti, with an eye toward seeing more diversity onscreen, was already developing the film when the controversy erupted, but "financing that movie was absolutely helped by #OscarsSoWhite," she said Thursday as she spoke at the TV & Film Finance Forum East presented by Winston Baker.
April 27, 2017 - Vine Alternative Investments Acquires Rights to Several Relativity Films
Vine Alternative Investments on Thursday announced that it has acquired Manchester Library Company, a holding company whose slate of 30 films includes such Relativity Media titles as the Oscar-winning The Fighter, Limitless and Dear John. The announcement was made by Vine partner Stephen Kovach during an industry panel discussion at Winston Baker's TV and Film Finance Forum in New York.
March 30, 2017 - Donna Gigliotti to Keynote at Winston Baker's TV and Film Finance Forum in New York
The forum on April 27 will host award-winning producers of Hidden Figures, Lion, Boyhood, and Silver Linings Playbook; mergers and acquisition experts from Time Warner Inc. and ACF Investment Bank; as well as active financiers from Fifth Third Bank, Crayhill Capital Management, and more.
March 7, 2017 - Inside the Week's Hottest Parties With Emma Watson, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Paulson and More
Stars hit the town to attend such soirees as the premieres of 'Beauty and the Beast,' FX Network's 'Feud: Bette and Joan,' NBC's 'Shades of Blue' season two and more.
March 3, 2017 - Industry Execs Discuss Hollywood's Diversity Gap at Entertainment Finance Forum
Amazon Studios' Ted Hope was honored, followed by a keynote conversation highlighting statistics of gender and race inequality taking place in the film business.
March 3, 2017 - Amazon Studios Exec Ted Hope Honored at Entertainment Finance Forum
Amazon's Ted Hope was honored on Thursday morning at the Entertainment Finance Forum with the inaugural Hope Award. The honor, which was named after the exec, is meant to recognize an individual's ability to make great content while creating a sustainable business.
February 13, 2017 - Amazon's Ted Hope to Get Honor at Entertainment Finance Forum
Ted Hope, Amazon Studios’ head of motion picture production, will be honored at this year's Entertainment Finance Forum. The executive will receive the Winston Baker Hope Award, which is meant to recognize an individual that can make great content while creating a sustainable business.
November 2, 2016 - Alex Garcia to Get Visionary Award at Inaugural Los Cabos Film Investor Summit
Alex Garcia of AG Studios will be feted with the visionary award at Winston Baker's inaugural Los Cabos Film Investor Summit. The two-day event, running Nov. 10-11, is the next in a series of film financing conferences hosted by Winston Baker around the world. The summit runs in conjunction with the 2016 Los Cabos International Film Festival.
September 29, 2016 - NYC Film Office Launches Effort To Boost Women Filmmakers
The New York City film office has launched what it’s calling a “groundbreaking series of initiatives targeting the under-representation of women in film and television.”
September 25, 2016 - Zurich: Lionsgate's Patrick Wachsberger on His Journey From Jerry Lewis to 'Twilight,' 'La La Land'
Eventually, someone should make a film about Patrick Wachsberger's career. Few studio heads could point to a CV that includes a stint as Jerry Lewis' assistant.
September 24, 2016 - Zurich Summit: Snapchat, gaming, VR offer new creative opportunities
Technology represents new opportunities for the creative industries, but that doesn’t mean the robots are taking over.
September 24, 2016 - Zurich Summit: Economics of the gender gap don't add up, say experts
Both Hollywood and the independent film world are missing a financial trick by failing to engage with female audiences, top sales agents, financiers and producers warned at a panel on the economic impact of the gender gap in the film business at the Zurich Summit on Saturday.
September 24, 2016 - Heavy-hitters gather for Zurich Summit
The worlds of Hollywood, independent cinema, new technologies and the major film territory of China are set to collide this weekend at the annual Winston Baker Summit at Zurich Film Festival (Sept 22 - Oct 2).
September 20, 2016 - Top German Film Execs on Netflix's Global Dominance and the Importance of Star Power
Operating in a niche "we call commercial art house," DCM founders Marc Schmidheiny and Dario Suter — set to speak at Winston Baker's Zurich Summit, which takes place during the Zurich Film Festival — open up about opportunities, challenges and the future of virtual reality.
September 12, 2016 - Zurich: Lionsgate's Patrick Wachsberger to Get Game Changer Award (Exclusive)
The co-chairman of Lionsgate's Motion Picture Group, behind franchises such as 'The Hunger Games' and 'Divergent,' will be honored later this month at the Zurich Summit. Patrick Wachsberger, one of the most powerful and respected executives in the independent film business, will be honored with this year's Game Changer Award at the Zurich International Film Festival, it was announced Monday.
September 10, 2016 - Toronto: Paul Haggis Says Inactive Academy Members "Should Be Out"
The two-time Oscar winner and 'Casino Royale' writer also weighed in on the prospect of a black James Bond... If there’s a controversy over the Academy’s decision to oust older, inactive members in an effort to push for a more diverse base, Paul Haggis is unaware.
September 9, 2016 - Paul Haggis: time is right for black James Bond
The time is right for a black James Bond, and Eon producer Barbara Broccoli might be brave enough to hire one, said writer/director Paul Haggis, kicking off Friday’s Script to Screen Summit presented by Winston Baker here at Toronto International Film Festival (Sept 8-18).
August 29, 2016 - Winston Baker, Los Cabos unveil inaugural investor Summit
Winston Baker and the Los Cabos International Film Festival have announced the first Los Cabos Film Investor Summit, to take place in Mexico from November 10-11.
August 29, 2016 - Winston Baker Proudly Announces The 2016 Los Cabos Film Investor Summit
The Los Cabos International Film Festival will be hosting award-winning director Julie Taymor, producer Gastón Pavlovich and the who's who of film finance with Winston Baker this November including industry leaders from City National Bank, Shamrock Capital, Black Label Media, Wild Bunch, IM Global, and more.
August 11, 2016 - Paul Haggis to Keynote at Winston Baker's Script to Screen Summit in Toronto
Winston Baker, the leading global producer of entertainment and finance conferences, will present the first ever Script to Screen Summit on September 9, 2016 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Canada. The goal of the summit is to provide aspiring filmmakers with the knowledge, tools and contacts to get their projects up and running.
June 10, 2016 - Shanghai Film Festival: Winston Baker Returns with Film Finance Forum China
The forum “Going Global: The New Era of Production and Dealmaking,” will take place at the Crowne Plaza Shanghai on June 13.
June 8, 2016 - Winston Baker Returns to China to Address Global Strategies at Shanghai International Film Festival
Jackie Chan's producing partner Stanley Tong will speak at Film Finance Forum China along with executives from Wanda, Village Roadshow, Perfect World, Vantage Entertainment, Fundamental Films, Bliss and more
June 8, 2016 - Why Hollywood and China are Strengthening Ties.
Bennett Pozil, executive vp and head of corporate banking at East West Bank, says the incentive for collaboration has never been stronger. Here's why.
May 16,2016 - Winston Baker Honors Women in Entertainment Finance and Announces New Programming
Global conference producer honors Maven Pictures Duo Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler during private women's brunch in Cannes and takes on Canada and Mexico.
May 13, 2016 - Cannes: Oscar-Winning Muslim Filmmaker Calls for Trump ‘Boycott:’ He Doesn’t ‘Need Any More Attention’
British-Indian filmaker Asif Kapadia blasted Donald Trump's proposed temporary ban on Muslim travel to America during a film forum Friday at the Cannes Film Festival.
May 13, 2016 - Cannes: "Boycott Donald Trump," Says 'Amy' Director Asif Kapadia
“If he was president, I wouldn't be allowed into the U.S.,” said the Oscar-winning filmmaker.
May 13, 2016 - Cannes: Participant's David Linde on China, Netflix and That Amblin Deal
Fresh from the Oscar success of 'Spotlight,' the indie production veteran outlined his company's strategy at the 7th annual Winston Baker Film Finance Forum in Cannes.
May 5, 2016 - D'Hive to Participate at Winston Baker's 7th Annual International Film Finance Forum in Cannes
Winston Baker, the leading global producer of film finance conferences, will be presenting the 7th Annual International Film Finance Forum and presenting a new session with D'Hive on May 13, 2016 at the Intercontinental Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France.
April 28, 2016 - David Linde and Stuart Ford to Keynote at Winston Baker's International Film Finance Forum in Cannes on May 13
This year's speaking faculty includes the financiers and producers behind such notable films as Still Alice, The Matrix, Lawless, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Y Tu Mamá También, The Kids are Alright, Margin Call, All is Lost, Saving Mr. Banks, and new projects such as American Honey, He Wanted The Moon, and London Town.
April 14, 2016 - Terence Winter Describes 'Vinyl' as Learning Experience, Wonders If Project Came "Too Soon"
The 'Sopranos' and 'Boardwalk Empire' veteran reflected on a career of storytelling during his keynote address at Wednesday's Winston Baker TV + Film Finance Forum in New York.
April 5, 2016 - Chinese Cook-ing
Prior to the recent announcement of Dick Cook Studios’ $500 million dollar deal with China’s Film Carnival, I had the pleasure of attending the China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit on March 25th in Grand Epoch City (Beijing’s Hebei province neighbor), co-hosted by Dick Cook and showcasing an ensemble of Hollywood heavyweights.
March 29, 2016 - New China-U.S. Film Summit Sprouts Mixed Messages About Collaboration
The growth of China’s movie industry has been so robust that guests from both sides of the Pacific gathered at the inaugural China/U.S. Motion Picture Summit on the outskirts of Beijing last week were practically falling over themselves trying to find the perfect superlative to describe it. And yet they couldn’t seem to agree about how to keep up the positive momentum.
March 28, 2016 - China-US Summit talks China co-pro, export blues
China’s domestic box office may be booming – and Chinese finance flowing into Hollywood movies – but speakers at the China-US Motion Picture Summit (March 25) discussed how successful Chinese co-productions and film exports remain scarce.
March 25, 2016 - Alfonso Cuaron Says He Wants to Make a Film in Chinese
Backstage at the inaugural China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit, the 'Gravity' director spoke of his ambition to work in the world's fastest growing major movie market.
March 10th, 2016 - Alfonso Cuaron to speak at China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit
The inaugural film industry confab, to be held near Beijing on March 25, will also include talks given by Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Bill Borden, producer of 'The Mermaid,' China's top-grossing film ever.
February 23, 2016 - Academy, Industry Head for China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit
AMPAS president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, PGA president Gary Lucchesi and Bill Borden, co-executive producer of Chinese record breaker "The Mermaid," will line up among the speakers at the China-US Motion Picture Summit next month.
March 5, 2016 - Entertainment Finance Forum -- Is Everything Old New Again?
The eighth annual Entertainment Finance Forum was presented by Winston Baker recently. Gathered in view of the Hollywood sign, attendees heard from a range of speakers.
March 2, 2016 - 'Spotlight' Producer Reveals Why DreamWorks Passed on the Oscar-Winning Film
The movie's long road to the big screen without help from the Hollywood studio system was detailed Wednesday at Winston Baker's Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles.
February 24, 2016 - Speakers unveiled for China-US Motion Picture Summit
Screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart), producer Don Hahn (The Lion King) and Bill Borden, co-executive producer of The Mermaid, are among the speakers for the first China-US Motion Picture Summit (March 25).
February 23, 2016 - Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Gary Lucchesi Among Speakers at China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit
The Academy and PGA toppers will appear at the inaugural conference in China on March 25.
February 23, 2016 - Academy, Industry Head for China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit
AMPAS president Cheryl Boone Isaacs, PGA president Gary Lucchesi and Bill Borden, co-executive producer of Chinese record breaker “The Mermaid,” will line up among the speakers at the China-US Motion Picture Summit next month.
January 11, 2016 - 2016 CHINA-US MOTION PICTURE SUMMIT IN CHINA
CHINA MEDIA CULTURE PROMOTION ASSOCIATION AND BEIJING FILM ACADEMY PROUDLY ANNOUNCE CITIC GUOAN AND DICK COOK STUDIOS’ 2016 CHINA-US MOTION PICTURE SUMMIT IN CHINA
January 6, 2016 - Dick Cook Studios, Chinese Conglomerate Citic Guoan to Host U.S.-China Film Summit
The business event, to be held near Beijing in March, will bring together Hollywood and Chinese executives and filmmakers for conferences and networking.
January 6, 2016 - Inaugural China-US Motion Picture Summit to address trends
Film-makers, writers, technology leaders due to be among speakers.
January 5, 2016 - China Media Culture Promotion Association And Beijing Film Academy Proudly Announce CITIC Guoan And Dick Cook Studios' 2016 China-US Motion Picture Summit In China
FILM CARNIVAL NAMED STRATEGIC PARTNER, WINSTON BAKER ON BOARD TO PRODUCE
January 5, 2016 - Dick Cook Studios, China’s CITIC Guoan to Present U.S.-China Film Summit
Dick Cook Studios and Chinese state owned enterprise CITIC Guoan are to present a new China-U.S. Motion Picture Summit, to be held in China in March.
January 4, 2016 - Winston Baker to Produce 2016 China-US Motion Picture Summit in China
The prestigious China Media Culture Promotion Association (CMCPA) and the Beijing Film Academy have announced the inaugural 2016 China-US Motion Picture Summit presented by Citic Guoan Co. Ltd. and Dick Cook Studios.
December 18, 2015 - Winston Baker Begins 2016 With Annual Entertainment Finance Forum in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES, CA-- Winston Baker, the leading global producer of film finance conferences, announces their 2016 event lineup and will kick off their global series with the annual Entertainment Finance Forum (EFF) from March 1 - 2, 2016 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
December 18, 2015 - Hollywood Reporter Partners With Winston Baker for Film Finance Conference Series
The series begins with the Entertainment Finance Forum on March 1-2 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel.
December 17, 2015 - Winston Baker Hosted Successful Inaugural Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum in Hawaii
Ground-breaking international forum featured Nina Yang Bongiovi, Schuyler Moore, Nansun Shi & more...
December 09, 2015 - Hawaii International Film Festival is a Pacific Beacon!
In late November I had the privilege of being a guest at the Hawaii International Film Festival where a wonderful film business seminar was being held during and at the Fest in Honolulu...
November 15, 2015 - Local filmmakers to talk story with entertainment industry leaders at HIFF
HONOLULU - Want a chance to learn from and perhaps collaborate with some of the world's most influential players in the entertainment industry? Check out the Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum going on at HIFF November 18-20.
November 13, 2015 - Hawaii Film Festival to host Asia Pacific Finance Forum
The Hawaii International Film Festival has partnered with Winston Baker to launch the first Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum this month.
October 14, 2015 - Winston Baker to Present First Ever Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum at the Hawaii International Film Festival
Major International Forum to Feature Nina Yang Bongiovi, Sunny Dhillon, Roy Lee, Matthew Liu, Thomas McGrath, Nansun Shi, and Bruce Tuchman.
October 13, 2015 - Winston Baker lines up inaugural finance forum in Hawaii
The producer of entertainment finance conferences has announced its first Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
October 13, 2015 - Winston Baker to Present Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum
Winston Baker has announced its inaugural Asia Pacific Entertainment Finance Forum, which will take place during the Hawaii International Film Festival, with Variety as a media partner.
September 29, 2015 - Zurich Summit: industry braces for consolidation
US producers and execs from HBO, HanWay and China’s Wanda Group discuss distribution challenges and impending consolidation.
September 27, 2015 - Zurich Summit: film needs long-term approach to gaming
The film industry needs to look at the games industry as a long-term prospect, not a short term money-spinner.
September 27, 2015 - Tennis Time in Zurich
Today’s film competition was off the red carpet and onto the green courts, as Zurich Film Festival and the Zurich Summit hosted their popular annual tennis tournament, bringing out the competitive side of some of the globe’s top film executives.
September 16, 2015 - Christoph Waltz, Marc Forster set for Zurich Summit
This year’s Zurich Summit (Sept 26-27) is to feature keynotes from Thomas Ebeling, CEO of German media giant ProSiebenSat.1, Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz and Quantum of Solace and World War Z director Marc Forster.
September 2, 2015 - Christoph Waltz to head Zurich Film Festival's Swiss jury
Oscar-winning actor will also hold a keynote conversation at the Zurich Summit and present a screening of Inglourious Basterds.
June 17, 2015 - How Does Online Film Distribution Revolutionize The Chinese Film Industry?
Chinese viewers are embracing digital distribution to a greater degree than ever before, offering filmmakers a new way to reach audience and monetize their films, said iQIYI Pictures President Li Yansong at a panel discussion hosted by Winston Baker.
June 16, 2015 - Lions Gate’s Chinese Partner TIK Films: To Think Globally, Work Locally
A growing number of Chinese film companies intend to collaborate with Hollywood studios but cultural differences often make it a tricky business. The best way to overcome it is to hire local people to negotiate with them, said Eric Rong, president of TIK Films, a subsidiary of Hunan TV & Broadcast Intermediary Co.
June 16, 2015 - Where Is Chinese-Foreign Co-production Going?
Winston Baker delivered, once again, a co-production panel this afternoon, starting with a speech made by MIAO Xiaotian, General Manager of China Film Co-Production Corporation. The Chinese government and other countries have signed more co-prod treaties: the Shanghai International Film Festival is one of the ideal locations to talk about this topic due to the city’s various incentives to promote the film industry.
June 5, 2015 - China's film industry keeps on growing and Winston Baker knows it
The latest event in Winston Baker’s highly successful international Film Finance Forum® series will feature a speaking faculty of seasoned leaders from American, Chinese and international entertainment industries who will discuss China’s growing film market.
June 4, 2015 - Rich Gelfond, Stuart Ford Line Up For Film Finance Forum in Shanghai
Top executives from China and the U.S. will address the expanding presence of China’s online giants in the business and the future of the country’s local film production, and consider the implications of the growing alliance between Hollywood and China through a case study of the recent deal between Hunan TV and Lionsgate.
June 3, 2015 - Winston Baker's 3rd Annual Film Finance Forum China to Discuss Nation's Growing Market
The forum will feature a Keynote Conversation with IMAX, delivered by industry juggernaut Rich Gelfond, the Chief Executive Officer of IMAX. Under Gelfond's leadership, IMAX recently announced its plans for a Hong Kong IPO for its booming business in China, news that sent the company's stock soaring to all-time highs. Winston Baker's special session is an invaluable opportunity to gain insight into Gelfond's experience, savvy, and global success.
May 21, 2015 - Winston Baker Honors Claudia Bluemhuber at Women of Entertainment Finance Event in Cannes
In celebration of the special event, Winston Baker presented the inaugural Pioneer of the Year Award to Claudia Bluemhuber, a long time speaker and supporter of the Film Finance Forum ® Series. As she presented the award, Amy Baker explained, “We honor Claudia for her work as a producer who is paving the way for female talent and for her innovative work as a film financier.” Claudia is the CEO and a Managing Partner of Silver Reel Partners.
May 16, 2015 - Finance Panel: Friends in High Places
Billionaires in the film business are given a bad rap. That was the consensus from a panel with the provocative title, Is It Real Movie Money Or Just Another Big Yacht Passing?, at the 6th Annual Winston Baker Film Finance Forum on Friday afternoon in Cannes. A high level panel including Micah Green, Co-head Film Finance and Sales Group CAA, Mark Hutchison, Partner NKSFB and Bill Lischak, Co-President, Oddlot Entertainment, pointed to the transformative role played by “high net worth individuals” in today’s film industry.
May 15, 2015 - Cannes: Top Executives Demystify China’s Growing Film Market
“China’s BO market potential is a mystery, but the way that the system operates is not,” said Jeffrey Chan, COO of Bona Film Group. “With the exception of the import quota, the distribution system is basically the same as everywhere else.” David U. Lee, head of Leeding Media, helpfully explained why box office records are being broken with such regularity.
May 13, 2015 - Winston Baker Announces Lineup for International Film Finance Forum in Cannes
Winston Baker has unveiled the lineup for its sixth annual International Film Finance Forum, sponsored in part by Variety, to coincide with the 68th Cannes Film Festival. Featured events during the half-day program include a panel on digital strategies and a director’s keynote panel with Lone Scherfig (“An Education,” “One Day”) and writer and director Ariel Vromen (“The Iceman”).
May 5, 2015 - Winston Baker Celebrates Seven Years and Hosts Top Producers at Film Finance Forum in Cannes
Leading global forum will feature award-winning producers, directors, distributors, financiers, agents, and executives from The Weinstein Company, CAA, IM Global, Mediapro, Wild Bunch, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, iQiyi, IFC Films, Digital Film Cloud Network, Hyde Park and more.
April 25, 2015 - 6th Annual International Film Finance Forum at the Cannes Film Festival
Winston Baker will host its annual international program during the 68th Festival de Cannes at the prestigious Carlton Hotel located on the Boulevard de la Croisette. This particular forum will be a half-day program on the afternoon of May 15, 2015 geared towards global strategies for financing films, mitigating risk, aligning interests with partners worldwide, and identifying viable distribution in the age of “watch it when you want and where you want it."
April 23, 2015 - Dream Big, Plan Bigger: Winston Baker’s Film Finance Forum East
The aptly named Dream Downtown Hotel, in the hip meatpacking district of New York City, hosted Winston Baker’s 7th Annual Film Finance Forum East on April 14, 2015. Managing partners Katherine Winston and Amy Baker designed an intimate and informative conference, aimed at industry professionals and hopefuls who dream of making it big in the movie business.
April 15, 2015 - John Sloss on VOD Numbers, the Changing World of Film Finance and How France Has the Right Idea
"Everything is changing. The form of the content, the way it's being financed, the way it's being delivered, the way it's being consumed."
April 7, 2015 - Winston Baker Finance Forum to Feature ‘Boyhood,’ ‘Still Alice’ Producers
Winston Baker’s seventh annual TV and Film Finance Forum East for investors and film and TV executives will take place April 14 at the Dream hotel in downtown Manhattan. The one-day forum features notable entertainment professionals such as producers Christine Vachon (“Still Alice”) and John Sloss (“Boyhood”), and financiers Dan Steinman (“The Imitation Game”) and Wayne Marc Godfrey (“Cake”).
March 24, 2015 - John Sloss to Deliver Keynote at 7th Annual TV and Film Finance Forum in New York
Winston Baker's one-Day Forum for investors and film and TV Executives will feature financiers, producers, and agents of Silence, Boyhood, The Imitation Game, Cake, Zero Dark Thirty, 12 Years a Slave and More
March 11, 2015 - Industry Finance Leaders Talk 90-Day Window and the Future of Film
Three titans of film industry finance predicted the future of film consumption as part of the inaugural Entertainment Finance Forum at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Tuesday morning. Confab was presented by Winston Baker. The topic of the keynote conversation was “State of the Industry: The Future of the Big Screen.” James Moore, CEO and managing partner of Vine Alternative Investments, moderated the discussion between Christophe Lambert, CEO of EuropaCorp, and Peter Adee, founder and CEO of 88 Media.
February 11, 2015 - Winston Baker Teams with Variety on Entertainment Finance Forum L.A.
With the entertainment industry making a revolutionary shift in the way it delivers storytelling, distributes content and markets to specific audiences, there’s a lot of room left for investors to support innovative TV, film and digital endeavors. At the Entertainment Finance Forum L.A. conference, to be held March 9-11 at the Hollywood Roosevelt, conference producer Winston Baker, in association with Variety, will provide insight for investors and financiers and address challenges, strategies and investment opportunities in entertainment. The conference will offer sessions and workshops on fundraising, marketing, distribution and profitability. Guest speakers include the Weinstein Co. prexy-COO David Glasser and James Moore, CEO of Vine Alternative Investments Group, which has raised a $500 million fund for TV, film and entertainment investments and has invested in Legendary Pictures, Lakeshore and Alcon.
October 21, 2014 -Winston Baker Names TrueSpark as Charity Partner
Winston Baker announces a national partnership with TrueSpark, a non-profit education organization engaging teens about positive character through films. As a national partner, Winston Baker will support TrueSpark's mission to positively impact the lives of American youth by providing character-based educational programs at school and youth organizations.
September 6, 2014 - Brazil Pay TV and Internet Are Booming
Presented recently at Winston Baker’s TV & Film Finance Forum Latin America in Rio de Janeiro, report reveals that Brazil’s pay TV market is expected to grow 13.3% between 2013 and 2017 compared to a global average of 3.8%. Internet access will likely grow by 14.7% in contrast to a global average of 11.1% and filmed entertainment should grow by 6.7% compared to a global average of 3.6%.
July 25, 2014 - Zurich Film Fest Co-Founder to Co-Launch Zurich Summit
Zurich Film Festival co-founder and artistic director Karl Spoerri and the Film Finance Forum’s Katherine Winston and Amy Baker have announced the launch of the Zurich Summit, an event designed to be a hub for entrepreneurs, leading figures and innovators from the filmed entertainment and media industries.
July 25, 2014 - Zurich Summit to launch in Sept
July 21, 2014 - Winston Baker realiza el segundo Annual TV and Film Finance Forum
2014.07.21 | Winston Baker, empresa dedicada a la producción de conferencias sobre financiación de cine, confirmó la realización del segundo Annual TV and Film Finance Forum Latin America, que se llevará a cabo el miércoles 13 de agosto en el Copacabana Palace, en Río de Janeiro.
July 16, 2014 - Winston Baker LatAm Forum Ramps Up in Rio as World Cup Concludes
LOS ANGELES, CA – (Marketwired - Jul 16, 2014) - Winston Baker, leading global producer of film finance conferences, today announced the 2nd Annual TV and Film Finance Forum Latin America...
July 15, 2014 - Winston Baker to Host 2nd Annual TV and Film Finance Forum Latin America
Global financial and film conference producer Winston Baker announced today it will host the 2ndAnnual TV and Film Finance Forum Latin America on August 13. The one-day forum...
July 8, 2014 - Film Finance Forum anuncia su segunda edición en Latinoamérica
Rio de Janeiro se prepara para recibir la segunda edición del TV + Film Finance Forum Latinoamérica, foro dirigido a profesionales interesados en conocer en profundidad las...
June 15, 2014 - Shanghai Conference: Digital Realities Confront Chinese Film Dreams
Digital and demographic changes force traditional film companies into rethink. Co-productions lose allure.
May 18, 2014 - The New Money
Experts at the fifth International Film Finance Forum in Cannes say there is liquidity in the market and a need for more content.
May 15, 2014 - Cannes: Finance Forum kicks off Friday
Speakers include David Glasser, Pierre-Ange Le Pogam and Jessica Lacy.
May 12, 2014 - Pierre-Ange Le Pogam, Grace of Monaco
When veteran producer Pierre-Ange Le Pogam first came to Cannes in the 1970s, he slept in a tent. Some 40 years later, the former Gaumont and EuropaCorp exec is on the Croisette with his fledgling company Stone Angels and opening night film Grace Of Monaco. Melanie Goodfellow reports.
May 5, 2014 - Winston Baker Comes to China
April 24, 2014 - Screen, Winston Baker team on Cannes Finance Forum
Screen International becomes media partner on 5th Annual International Film Finance Forum.
April 15, 2014 - Alcon Entertainment Launches Music Division
Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind such features as “The Blind Side” and “Beautiful Creatures,” has partnered with Sleeping Giant Media on a music division titled ASG Music Group.
April 15, 2014 - Second Screen Activity Takes Center Stage at Film Finance Forum East
When it comes to second-screen activity around television programs, execs think it’s just a matter of time before advertisers warm up to its potential as a marketing platform.
February 19, 2014 - Winston Baker to Host Film Financiers Representing Billions at Los Angeles Forum
Winston Baker, the leading global producer of film finance conferences announces the program and speaking faculty for the 6thAnnual Film Finance Forum ® West in association with Variety.