Happy Thursday, Creative Army!

As you probably saw from my posts, I like to compare festivals and markets not against one another, but year over year. We had a fantastic Cannes last year, but there was still much apprehension in the air. Residue from COVID and the strikes, although even then, the international perspective remained optimistic.

This year, the vibe was overwhelmingly positive, and we’ve returned to business as usual. The general feeling toward any negativity is that it’s all headline-driven and L.A.-based. Essentially, everyone feels that L.A. is an echo chamber right now and encouraged people to step out and realize that there is an entire world of possibilities to get stories on screen. And, as evidenced by new, increased incentives and the filming boom happening in areas around the United States and the world, many are taking advantage of the situation. Again, as you've heard me preach, this is why you need to be thinking global.

In short, outside of L.A., optimism is ruling the day.

Some Highlights:

As you know, this was our 10th year as the official partner of the Marche. The exposure for our education and certification was constant and impactful. The awareness level has never been higher. Many badge holders were well aware, and quite excited, that they were receiving Stage 32 Certification.

We programmed 9 panels for FilmUSA. Every single panel was standing room only and overflowing into the walkways and door fronts of the other pavilions.

Our friends at FilmFestivals.com covered our entire schedule!

Stage 32 Presents: From Local Crews to Global Screens: Navigating the Filmmaking Boom

Wednesday, May 14th at 2:30 p.m.

The second day of the festival featured a Stage 32 discussion on the global expansion of filmmaking. Featuring some of the biggest names in the film industry, the panel offered invaluable insight into how to bring projects to life in unexpected places.

Moderator: Martin Petrov - Festival Director, IFFG

Panelists:

• Katie Pryor - Co-Founder, FilmUSA
• Lauren Simpson - Women in Film and Television International Board of Directors, President of Women in Film & Television Victoria
• Krassimira Belev - Producer, First Draft Productions
• Richard Botto - CEO, Stage 32

Stage 32 Presents: Rebuilding the Pipeline: How Producers & Filmmakers Can Get Greenlit in Today’s Landscape

Friday, May 16th at 2:30 p.m.

Friday at Cannes brought a thought-provoking panel breaking down the current state of the industry. The top experts shared their insights on how to thrive in the ever-evolving media landscape.

Moderator: Sara Elizabeth Timmins, Stage 32 Education Producer

Panelists:

• Michael Maizner, Founder and Managing Partner at Maizner & Associates, PLLC
• Jackie Ward, Senior Associate, Ramo Law
• Jack Sheehan, President, Archstone Entertainment
• Darrien Gipson, Executive Director, SAGIndie

Stage 32 Presents: The Art of the Deal: Innovative Financing for Indie Filmmakers

Saturday, May 17th at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday’s educational panel brought together financing experts to discuss obtaining and maximizing resources for indie films. The panelists shared insider strategies on private equity, international tax incentives, grants, and collaborative partnerships.

Moderator: David Zannoni, International Consultant, Stage 32

Panelists:

• Grady Craig - Senior Vice President, Bondit Media Capital
• Tiffany Boyle - President, Ramo Law, Producer, Vested
• Viviana Zarragoitia - Senior Vice President, TPC

Stage 32 Presents: The Great AI Debate - How AI is Impacting Our Industry

Monday, May 19th at 2:30 p.m.

We closed out the festival discussing one of the hottest topics of the year: AI. The panel was for AI skeptics and enthusiasts alike, featuring a group of forward-thinking executives and creatives at the intersection of film and AI. Together, they explored everything from opportunities to pitfalls, diving into how AI is transforming the creative landscape.

Moderator: Amanda Toney, Managing Director, Stage 32

Panelists:

• Richard Botto - CEO, Stage 32
• Sami Arpa - CEO, Largo.AI
• Alan Pao - President, Tunnel
• Sam Pressman - CEO, Pressman Film

We'll be releasing full videos of these expert panels here on the blog for you all soon!

We secured 2 features in the Hollywood Reporter.

One for Amanda’s participation in The Hollywood Reporter Presents: Global Opportunities & Authentic Representation, a fascinating panel discussing inclusive and accurate representation in film and television. This event brought together diverse voices from across the globe to discuss the launch of Kurdistan’s first film commission and film fund, a bold step in the direction of authentic representation in cinema, which is going to lead to a Stage 32 Certification/Kurdistan Film Commission deal for training in the region!

Toney shared how her company, Stage 32, could collaborate with the new film commission. “We have evolved into certified education, so we’ve now been certifying both film and television creatives,” she explained. “We’re now working with over 50 film commissions around the world. So we’re looking to hopefully work with Kurdistan to help certify talent, to support productions that come together.”

Click here to read the full article!

And one announcing our partnership with Women in Film and TV International. This announcement spread quickly. It was highly profiled throughout the market and festival.

WIFTI is an incredible organization dedicated to empowering women working in the entertainment industry. Together, we will collaborate with all fifty-seven chapters worldwide to merge our mission of accessible education with their mission of championing women’s voices across film and television.

Click here to read the full article!

Stage 32's Executive Black Tie Villa Party

Our Black-Tie villa event for our educators and executives was not only a classy affair, but a complete smash. It was, by far, the most talked-about event of the festival. It was also featured in the Official Cannes blog!

Click here to read all about it!

Le Bar a Vin Film Commissioner Wine Event

We held a private wine event at the oldest wine bar in Cannes for film commissioners around the world. Over 40 international film commissioners attended. The entire team gave a talk around Stage 32 Certification, and the producers of our Certification Success Story from Costa Rica gave a speech about how the film, PARADISE FALLS: A CHRISTMAS STORY, wouldn’t have happened without the Costa Rica Film Commission hiring Stage 32 to certify people in the area.

Further, we cracked 3 deals with commissioners to utilize Stage 32 Certification in their areas. In short, this event was a massive success, and we have so much more coming that we can't wait to share with this incredible community soon!

Stage 32 + The PJ Party!

For the 3rd year, we were partners with the famous Cannes Pajama Party! Living up to Vogue Magazine’s rating of the #1 party at the festival, pajamas and unlimited champagne once again proved to be the perfect combination for an unforgettable night of networking.

Stage 32 + The American Pavilion Partner for the Annual Stage 32 Networking Meetup!

On Sunday, we hosted our Annual Stage 32 Networking Meetup. As if networking with fellow Stage 32 members was not incredible enough, it took place on the stunning banks of the French Riviera at the American Pavilion. Dozens of thought leaders, educators, executives, and brand ambassadors were met, and meetings have been scheduled to bring even more into the Stage 32 ecosystem, so that we can continue providing this community with the highest quality mentorship and education possible.

Gary and RB's Brown Sugar!

If all that wasn’t enough, and keeping on brand, we took over a bar! The “back street” of Cannes is where everyone goes at night to network and connect. Upon arriving at Cannes, we saw our favorite bar on the street had closed down, and we sprang into action. Within hours, we had our bar, the popular Brown Sugar, which became "Gary (the owner) and RB’s Brown Sugar" for most of the week. We had branding on the awning and on the doors. This was hailed as legendary! Gary and RB's Brown Sugar brought together hundreds of industry professionals for an unforgettable weekend of creating deals, idea swapping, and relationship building.

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at these fantastic events, click here or on the image below!

I want to take a minute to give a huge thanks to our boots on the ground team- Managing Director, Amanda Toney, Head of Community, Ashley Smith, Education Producer, Sara Elizabeth Timmins, and Certification International Liaison, David Zannoni. Everyone played a massive part in the successes we had this year.

Executives, creatives, and filmmakers from every corner of the globe expressed a renewed excitement about where the industry is heading. It was a powerful reminder that while the U.S. plays an important role in the entertainment landscape, it’s just one piece of a much larger creative puzzle. The broader industry is alive with possibility. The momentum is global, the opportunities are real, and the spirit of collaboration is stronger than ever. Don’t let the naysayers or doom-and-gloom headlines convince you otherwise; the future is bright, and it’s ours to build together.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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