The business of independent motion picture production and distribution - a truly collaborative process - reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market. Over 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.

Founded in 1981, the American Film Market (AFM) has grown steadily to become the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed — on both completed films and those that haven’t started shooting yet — making AFM the must-attend industry event.

The AFM transforms Santa Monica. The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and the Le Merigot Beach Hotel are converted into a busy marketplace. All 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire eight-day event and eight digital and video screening rooms are added just for the AFM. Participants may view more than 900 screenings of approximately 500 films - 31 new films every two hours - the majority of them world or U.S. premieres. Titles range from big budget blockbusters that will be released by the major studios in the U.S., to lower budget art and genre films recognized at international film festivals, all destined for theaters and television around the world.

With 8,000 attendees, 900 screenings, and seminars programmed by leading industry organizations, the American Film Market continues to be the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers and business people from all over the world.

Fries Film Group: Thirty Years Young

By Lyle Holmes

November 6, 2007 3:29 PM | |

Celebrating thirty years in the industry, the Fries Film Group, is one of those companies resilient enough to navigate the huge changes of the last three decades. Their success is due in large measure to the man whose name is on the door, Charles M. Fries.


In the midst of a very busy day at the American Film Market, Mr. Fries (pronounced frēz.) sat down to talk to Boxoffice® about the future of the industry, sales agents, and Mathew Perry.


Boxoffice®: A lot of distributors and sales agents came into the business in the early 1980s with the advent of video. In the mid-nineties with the addition of DVD more companies entered the business. Ten years from now what are we going to be talking about?


Fries: The future will certainly include digital downloads and digital television throughout the world. It’s where we’re going. It’s difficult to predict how quickly.


Our discussion is interrupted as a buyer arrives to sign his contract. It is after all a market. Fries and a lean staff smoothly juggle several clients at a time. They appear to be professional and efficient, which are probably keys to the Fries Film Group surviving as an international sales agent since 1977. Mr. Fries returns.


Boxoffice®: You’re all over the world. How do you keep tabs on what’s developing in the different territories?


Fries: Territories are constantly in flux. A territory that’s hot now may not be next year. You never know exactly where the growth will come from. It’s changing all the time.


Boxoffice®: Like Russian was suddenly hot last year.


Fries: Exactly. We talk to a buyer in a particular territory to understand the trends and what they’re dealing with. We’re engaged with more than one buyer in a territory, so we cross check what we’re being told in our conversations. Plus you’re in the industry long enough you carry all that around in your head. There’s no book you can buy.


Boxoffice®: That’s one of the benefits of using a sales agent.


Fries: I think any independent project has to be represented by an international sales agent. That’s just smart.


Boxoffice®: You’re on the road a lot to markets and festivals around the world. How does AFM compare to Berlin or Cannes or some of the Asian markets.


Fries: We treat the US just like any other territory. That said, AFM is important. Berlin is more of a festival, although the market there is growing, but Cannes is still the big market.


We’re interrupted again. I get a chance to take in the posters hanging over my head. Mathew Perry looks down at me from the poster of Numb. When Mr. Fries returns we talk about this new project.


Boxoffice®: The conventional wisdom is that comedy doesn’t travel well. You have a new project starring Matthew Perry and Mary Steenburgen. How do you deal with comedy as an international sales agent?


Fries: You’re right. Comedy, say in the style of Seinfeld is tougher for foreign audiences because his type of comedy is about things that are unique to America and much of his (comedy) is based on the language. Where as Matthew Perry, much of what he does is physical as well and that translates. Also, Friends has been sold in just about every territory around the world. Matthew is a recognized name.


Boxoffice®: Will you take Numb to US theaters?


Fries: Yes. In February.


Boxoffice®: I like the poster. A little edgy.


From where we are sitting, I can see more buyers have entered the suite, greeted by a poster of Numb.


Boxoffice®: Thank you for your time. We’ll be watching in February.

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