Happy Wednesday, Creative Army!

The Cannes Film Festival in France is right around the corner!

For those of you who missed it, we recently announced the official Cannes 2025 Stage 32 events schedule and partnerships right HERE on the Stage 32 Blog.

Being involved each year in coordinating industry-leading panels with remarkable expert panelists from all over the world is one of our greatest honors and pleasures. This year, we're particularly proud of the lineup that we've put together, and we can't wait to present them to Cannes attendees in the Film USA Pavilion.

Below, you can read all the details about these panels and the incredible panelists leading them!

Announcing the Official Stage 32 + Cannes 2025 Panels:

Wednesday, May 14th- 2:30 pm

From Local Crews to Global Screens: Navigating the Filmmaking Boom

Filmmaking has exploded outside of Hollywood with opportunities all over the United States and around the world, driven by untapped talent pools and a surge of tax incentives. Join Stage 32 for an exciting panel featuring industry experts who are riding the wave of this global expansion. Discover how filmmakers are leveraging international and regional incentives to bring their projects to life in unexpected places, while building skilled local crews and uncovering fresh, undiscovered talent. Whether you’re aiming for a local gem or a global hit, this panel will show you how to turn opportunity into cinematic success.

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

Those who attend the panel will be invited to attend a networking cocktail event after the panel.

To RSVP: Click Here

Friday, May 16th- 2:30 pm

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

The entertainment industry has weathered a wild ride—from the Great Content Gold Rush, where streamers churned out unprecedented volumes of film and TV with lucrative talent deals, to the seismic shifts caused by the 2023 strikes that stalled production pipelines and reshaped deal structures. Now, as the dust settles, what’s next? Join Stage 32 for an essential panel featuring top experts who will break down the current state of the industry. Discover what projects are getting greenlit in this “new normal,” how independent creators can compete with talent offers, and the best strategies for collaborating with guilds to keep your production moving. Packed with insider insights and practical advice, this panel will empower you to rebuild, adapt, and thrive in today’s evolving filmmaking 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, SAG-Indie

Those who attend the panel will be invited to attend a networking cocktail event after the panel.

Open to Stage 32 members with Cannes Marché du Film credentials.

To RSVP: Click Here

Saturday, May 17th- 2:30 pm

The Art of the Deal: Innovative Financing for Indie Filmmakers

Independent filmmaking is thriving, fueled by a wave of creative financing solutions that empower storytellers to bring their visions to life. Join Stage 32 for an insightful panel featuring seasoned experts who have collectively worked on hundreds of films. This discussion will dive into the nuts and bolts of innovative funding strategies—private equity, international tax incentives, grants, and collaborative partnerships—revealing how to maximize resources for your indie project. Learn proven tactics to secure backing, navigate complex financial landscapes, and turn your script into a finished film. Whether you’re a first-time filmmaker or a seasoned pro, this panel will equip you with the tools to master the art of the deal and get your story on screen.

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

Those who attend the panel will be invited to attend a networking cocktail event after the panel.

Open to Stage 32 members with Cannes Marché du Film credentials.

To RSVP: Click Here

Monday, May 19th- 2:30 pm

The Great AI Debate - How AI is Impacting Our Industry

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the film and television landscape at lightning speed, sparking both excitement and unease among creators. From scriptwriting tools and visual effects to automated editing and immersive storytelling, AI is reshaping how stories are told and produced. But what does this mean for the future of filmmaking? Join Stage 32 for an innovative panel featuring industry experts as they dive into the heart of the AI revolution. This discussion will explore how AI is opening new creative doors, challenging traditional workflows, and raising critical questions about ethics, jobs, and artistic innovation. Whether you’re an AI enthusiast or skeptic, this panel will unpack the opportunities, pitfalls, and everything in between—equipping you with insights to navigate this brave new world of storytelling.

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

Those who attend the panel will be invited to attend a networking cocktail event after the panel.

Open to Stage 32 members with Cannes Marché du Film credentials.

To RSVP: Click Here

Meet Our Expert Moderators & Panelists:

Martin I. Petrov, Festival Director IFFG

Martin I. Petrov is a film festival professional, film producer, strategist, and film events specialist. He is the founder and festival director at the International Film Festival Glasgow (IFFG) in Scotland since 2014. He is a member of the European Film Academy since 2020.

In 2025, he started his own production company, Lately Productions, based in the UK.

With long experience in film curation, Martin also works closely with distributors and young creators, tailoring festival strategies for independent filmmakers. He also produces annual industry and large-scale networking events at the Cannes, Venice, and Berlin film festivals.

Martin also co-produced the Montreal International Animation Film Festival - Animaze for 5 years.

He has long-standing partnerships and collaborations with festivals, platforms, and film media with global outreach, and is currently making his first steps into film production.

Sara Elizabeth Timmins - Education Producer, Stage 32

Sara Elizabeth Timmins is a veteran film and television producer who was recently on the producing team, along with Mark Wahlberg’s production company, of the Emmy-nominated HBO series MCMILLIONS. Her latest film, THE UPSIDE OF FALLING DOWN, was introduced at Cannes and stars Antonia Gentry (GINNY & GEORGIA), Calum Lynch (LORD OF THE RINGS, BRIDGERTON), and award-winning director Oran Zegman (HONOR SOCIETY, MARRIAGE MATERIAL).

She established her production company Life Out Loud Films to create quality, inspiring impact films that champion women. Her films have been seen in theaters, HBO, The Hallmark Channel, Starz, Showtime, and internationally. She has worked with Oscar & Emmy-winning talent like Jane Seymour, Ellen Burstyn, Chris Cooper, Josh Lucas, and Mackenzie Foy, as well as writers like NY Times Best Selling Author David Baldacci.

Every film she has produced has featured award-winning talent and secured international distribution. She has leveraged her success and experience in producing to educate and inform the global entertainment industry through producing Stage 32 education and her consulting firm No Film School. No Trust Fund. No Problem.

Sara Elizabeth has spoken worldwide about the entertainment industry, including Stage 32 Education, the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film, FilmTT in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Black Nights Film Festival: TV Beats Edition in Estonia.

Believing she has a responsibility through film to spark conversations that inspire action and ignite change. She specializes in Dramas, Rom-Coms, Family, Biopics, Young Adult, and Female-driven features and television movies.

David Zannoni, Stage 32 International Certification Consultant

David Zannoni is an international executive, producer, and industry consultant who's worked in entertainment for almost two decades. His experience spans a wide variety of areas, including film and television development and executive production, collection account management, and escrow. He has been involved in over 300 film and television productions worldwide.

David has spoken all over the world for entertainment industry organizations such as Stage 32, National Association of Latino Independent Producers in the US (NALIP), the Winston Baker Film Finance Conferences, the Rio Film Market, and the Bogota Audiovisual Market (BAM). He is an international consultant for Freeway Entertainment, global leader in collection account management. David has also worked together with Balassa Films, Visualnet, and other production companies and organizations.

David serves as the president of the Mexican Chamber of the Film Industry (CANACINE) in the State of Quintana Roo, also known as the Mexican Caribbean, where he resides and runs his business, and from where he provides his global consultancy services to Stage 32 and others.

David is frequently present at film markets and festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, the American Film Market (AFM), and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

A Dutch-Italian citizen born in the Netherlands and currently residing in Mexico, David is fluent in English, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian, and basic in German.

Amanda Toney - Managing Director, Stage 32

As Managing Director for Stage 32, Amanda oversees operations and partnerships for the global business. She has produced over 3,000 hours of online education created exclusively for Stage 32 and works with hundreds of entertainment industry executives from around the world to serve as educators and mentors. She has spearheaded partnerships with such prestigious organizations as Netflix, the Cannes Film Festival Marché du Film, Canon, American Film Market, SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, PGA, WGA and DGA, as well as brands such as AT&T, Peerspace, Pond5, Mandy, Bondit Media Capital and her personal favorite partnership, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is the official vodka of Stage 32.

As a television producer, she recently sold a scripted series to Amblin Television, which she attached an A-list showrunner from an Apple show. She also sold a premium unscripted show to USA. As a film producer, Amanda has worked on Alix for Catlyst Studios filmed in Columbia, Paradise Falls: A Christmas Story filmed in Costa Rica, the psychological thriller What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont, Metaphorms, a Hungarian film, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival and Dolphin Girl which premiered at the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. She has also helped incubate Chick Fight, starring Malin Akerman, Alec Baldwin, and Bella Thorne, and 10-31, which is being produced by Eli Roth and Orion Pictures. She is an Executive Producer on Vagic with Amy Baer at Gidden Media, as well as My Clone's an A*Hole with National Lampoon.

Amanda has spoken all over the world at the Cannes Film Festival (France), Venice Film Festival (Italy), American Film Market (US), Hollyshorts Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), Hamburg Film Fest (Germany), Trinidad & Tobago Film Commission (Trinidad), Fest Festival (Portugal), Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia) and Harvard (US) on the business of the entertainment industry.

Richard Botto - CEO, Stage 32

Richard "RB" Botto has created the online platform and marketplace designed to democratize the entertainment industry, Stage 32. By leveling the playing field for all film, television and digital content creators and professionals worldwide, Stage 32 provides networking and training opportunities as well as direct access beyond the gatekeepers.

RB is also a producer whose films have played at dozens of festivals around the world including the Sundance-award-winning feature Another Happy Day, written and directed by Euphoria creator Sam Levinson. He was on the producing team of What Lies Ahead starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumont, Alix based in Columbia, Paradise Falls based in Costa Rica and Rain Beau’s End starring Ed Asner and Sean Young. He is the Executive Producer on projects with Gidden Media and National Lampoon. Through Stage 32 he has helped incubate Chick Fight, starring Malin Akerman and Alec Baldwin, produced by Yale Productions and Ramo Law, and 10-31, produced by Eli Roth and Orion Pictures and Crushed on Tubi.

As a working writer RB sold his original television series to a mini-major studio and attached an A-list showrunner from Apple at the helm. He works on active writing assignments and has sold two feature film scripts.

As an actor, he began his career as a theater actor in New York and his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the Raindance Film Festival.

Additionally, RB's #1 best-selling book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers: Indie Film and the Power of the Crowd, was published by Routledge under the American Film Market Presents banner, is available on Amazon and Audible, where it has garnered over 100 5-star reviews.

RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist all over the world at such festivals and conferences as the Cannes Film Festival (France), American Film Market (US), Tribeca Film Festival (US), Austin Film Festival (US), SXSW (US), Cinequest (US), Winston Baker (US), Hollyshorts Film Festival (US), Raindance Film Festival (UK), Hamburg Film Fest (Germany), Trinidad & Tobago Film Commission (Trinidad), Fest Festival (Portugal), Black Nights Film Festival (Estonia) and Harvard (US) on the business of the entertainment industry.

Lauren Simpson - Board of Directors, Women of Film & Television International

Lauren Simpson began her film journey at California State University Long Beach, earning a Bachelor of Film and Television from Swinburne University and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business. With a diverse background including roles at Filmlnk Movie Magazine and Event Cinemas, she excelled as an International Service Producer, creating impactful commercial and narrative content globally.

As the founder of Iris Arc Pictures, she produced Godless: The Eastfield Exorcism, distributed by XYZ Films and Umbrella Entertainment. The film premiered at the Overlook Film Festival and won the Audience Choice Award at both Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival before its limited theatrical run and subsequent release on Foxtel, Binge and Shudder in AUNZ and as a Tubi Original in the USA.

Lauren is dedicated to promoting gender equality and diversity in the industry, serving as President of Women in Film & Television Victoria (WIFT Vic) and a Board Member of Women in Film & Television International (WIFTI), advocating for inclusive representation both on and off screen.

Krassimira Belev - President, First Draft Productions

Krassimira Belev is a multi-hyphenate powerhouse—a screenwriter-producer-actor—whose feature film The Therapy, independently financed and produced through her unrelenting vision, has secured a prestigious place at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. Shot entirely in Bulgaria, Krassimira handpicked an all-local cast and crew, infusing the project with authenticity and bold creativity.

Hailing from Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, she’s no stranger to wearing multiple hats, having written, co-produced, and starred in her debut short film Undo.

Armed with a BA in Theatre and Performance from The University of Hull and an AOS degree in Method Acting from The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, Krassimira cut her teeth in London’s indie scene, acting in various short films and collaborating with the experimental "Let's Make a Scene" collective.

Now, her international experience and fierce determination have propelled The Therapy to the Cannes stage, marking her as a visionary talent rewriting the playbook of modern cinema.

Katie Pryor - Co-Founder, FilmUSA and Executive Director of Baton Rouge Louisiana Film Commission

Katie Patton Pryor is a co-founder of Film USA, a national 501(c)(6) trade organization that brings together film commissions from across the country to collaboratively promote the U.S. film industry on the global stage and advocate for the establishment of a Federal Film Office. Through a shared commitment to industry growth and visibility, Film USA fosters national collaboration, amplifies U.S. storytelling abroad, and helps shape strategic policy for the American screen sector.

Katie also serves as the Executive Director of the Baton Rouge Film Commission, where she has worked since 2017 to support local productions, attract investment, and grow Louisiana’s creative economy. Her work at both the local and national levels reflects a deep belief in the power of partnerships and place-based storytelling to drive cultural and economic development.

With a background in political consulting and film production, Katie approaches industry-building through a lens of advocacy and impact. She regularly collaborates with peers and partners as a speaker at international conferences and film markets, representing both Louisiana and the broader U.S. industry.

Her passion for workforce development and education is reflected in her role as Founding Board President of the Louisiana Academy of Production and as an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University, where she teaches on emerging trends, the social impact of storytelling, and inclusive representation in film.

Katie contributes her time to several boards, including Film Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival, and the Baton Rouge Community College Film and New Media Production Advisory Board. She also holds a gubernatorial appointment to the Naval War Memorial Commission.

A longtime advocate for women in media and leadership, Katie contributed to the Mayor’s Transition Committee for Women’s Advancement and was honored with the Iris Empowered Women Award by Women in Film & Television (WIFT) in 2023.

Michael Maizner - Founder, Managing Partner, Maizner & Associates

Michael is an entertainment labor attorney with over 20 years of experience advising and representing clients in their dealings with entertainment guilds and unions. Michael represents U.S.-based and international television and theatrical motion picture companies, new media companies and platforms, podcast producers, advertisers and advertising agencies, and studio facilities in the negotiation and interpretation of collective bargaining agreements with the AFM, SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, IATSE, Teamsters, and other entertainment industry guilds and unions. He also counsels clients in connection with guild and union organizing activities, corporate structure and signatory relationships, financial assurances, and waivers. He also defends companies in connection with claims for residuals, Supplemental Markets fees, benefit plan contributions, and other guild and union disputes.

Michael's labor relations experience is honed from over 10 years of experience at a boutique entertainment labor law firm and almost 4 more years at a large, multi-national full-service entertainment law firm. Prior to starting his own practice, Michael was hired as head of labor relations for Amazon Prime Video and then served as Director of Labor Relations at Netflix where he provided studio labor relations counsel and specialized entertainment-related labor advice to creative executives, business affairs, legal affairs, production finance, and physical production teams for Netflix's original series shooting around the globe, and helped to lead the growth of Netflix's New York office.

Michael is also considered by many as a go-to resource for advice relating to the application and interpretation of child performer laws throughout the United States. He also frequently represents clients in getting child performer contracts approved in New York, California, Tennessee and elsewhere.

Jackie Ward - Senior Associate, Ramo Law

Jackie Ward is a valued asset to her clients, representing producers and production companies with a focus on rights grants, acquisitions, and clearances. Her expertise spans a complex chain of title, life rights, and fair use matters, guiding clients through every stage of a production’s life cycle. Jackie’s clientele includes the Emmy-award winning projects “Girls State," Skydance Sports’ “American Dream” and CNN’s “Have I Got News for You."

Notably, Jackie spearheaded the closing for Rebel Wilson’s $30 million action-comedy "Bride Hard" and is currently negotiating the financial closing for the "The Beast," starring Samuel L. Jackson and produced by Fifth Season, Film 44 and Unified Pictures. Her finance closings have surpassed $100 million in 2024 alone.

Jackie’s client-centered approach and innovative strategies set her apart in the industry. She is at the forefront of rights and clearance deals, carrying out the development of stage rights acquisitions through distribution and delivery. Her deep understanding of all facets of production maximizes her client’s property value, making her an invaluable asset to any project.

In addition to Jackie’s work at Ramo Law, she represents Breaking Through the Lens, a non-profit that provides secure avenues to finance films by way of grants, curated meetings, and industry mentorship for any filmmaker who experiences marginalization due to gender.

Jack Sheehan - President, Archstone Films

Jack Sheehan had stints at Sony and Universal before entering the WME mailroom and getting accepted into the storied Agent Trainee Program in the Motion Picture group. Jack then joined Lotus Entertainment where he rose to Vice President Sales and Acquisitions and handled deals on films such as Halle Berry’s “Kidnap”, Keanu Reeves’ “Replicas”, and “Z for Zachariah” with Chris Pine & Margot Robbie. From there he was brought on to Archstone as President of Worldwide Sales & Development where he helps the team build out a slate of films and series and runs their sales and acquisitions businesses.

Darrien Michele Gipson, SAGindie Executive Director

Darrien Michele Gipson is the Executive Director of SAGindie, an educational organization for independent filmmakers. Darrien is a graduate of UCLA, where she received her BA in English Literature; and USC, where she earned an MFA from the Peter Stark Producers Program. She was the Vice President of Development for DEF Pictures before joining SAGindie in 2002 as Festival Coordinator. Through SAGindie, she traveled extensively to film festivals, film schools, and conferences, hosting workshops and teaching filmmakers how to hire professional actors using SAG-AFTRA’s low budget contracts. Since becoming SAGindie’s Executive Director in 2006, Darrien has expanded the organization to reach more festivals and help even more creators on all platforms to bring their projects to fruition. She continues to travel around the world speaking on panels, mentoring writers and filmmakers, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entertainment industry.

Tiffany Boyle - President, Ramo Law

For more than 10 years, Tiffany Boyle has leveraged her business-oriented sales and packaging skills to bring hundreds of films and documentaries to fruition. Through her critical review of content and strategic use of Ramo Law resources, Tiffany creates successful content packaging that bridges the needs of both client and industry demands.

Tiffany connects filmmakers with producers, co-producers, executive producers, co-finance partners, distributors, agencies and other industry representatives. She has brought in financing or leading sales on films such as Paul Schrader's ”The Card Counter,” Executive Produced ”Joyland,” the first official Pakistani selection in the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, and serviced financing and sales on romantic crime ”Die in a Gunfight”; she led the sales and packaging for “Initiation” (SXSW 2020) and ”One of These Days” (Berlin 2020); and she recently served as Executive Producer on films including, ”Line of Duty” starring Aaron Eckhart, bringing in financing in post, “Chick Fight,” which she developed from the script stage, brought in the producer, director and half of the financing, “Mama Bears,” where she brought in financial donations to the film as well as WME to represent and find distribution for the film, and “Borderland” starring Felicity Jones, currently in post-production.

Experienced with project budgets ranging from micro-sized to $30 million, Tiffany has helped to establish and expand high-value sales and packaging resources, uniquely accessed outside of the traditional management company and agency model, since joining Ramo Law in 2009. With this experience, she has been able to help foreign production companies and investors create a foothold in the US marketplace.

Grady Craig - Senior Vice President, BondIt Media Capital & President of Buffalo 8

Grady is a seasoned media executive, currently serving as Senior Vice President at BondIt Media Capital and President of Buffalo 8, where he oversees production services and cross-company operations across the BondIt Family of Companies, including the 35-year-old industry staple, ABS Payroll.

After founding and running the company that helped put him through school, Grady successfully sold the business and joined BondIt as one of its first employees. Since then, he has supported over $300 million in financing across 300+ film, television, and live music touring projects.

With a deep background in innovative deal structuring, Grady specializes in sourcing private equity, navigating international tax incentives, and building strategic partnerships that help independent filmmakers close financing gaps. His approach combines a clear understanding of the creative process with the mechanics of smart financing—making him a trusted partner for filmmakers looking to scale their vision in today’s dynamic market. Grady has spoken at leading film markets around the world—from the American Film Market to the Cannes Film Festival—and holds dual degrees in Economics and Film Studies, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, from Boston College.

BondIt's recent highlights include $2M-indie Terrifier 3 achieving $90M in the box office, Anna Kendrick's Woman of the Hour reaching #1 on Netflix, and Bobby Farrelly's comedy, Driver's Ed, currently in post-production.

Viviana Zarragoitia - Senior Vice President, TPC (fka Three Point Capital)

Viviana Zarragoitia is a Senior Vice President in Three Point Capital's film financing division, which finances tax incentives and distribution agreements for film/TV. Viviana has been involved in the financing of over 100 independent films and received over 70 Executive Producer credits. She is an entertainment finance professional with over 18 years of experience in the entertainment industry, starting her career at Millennium Films, Bold Films, and Lionsgate.

Sami Arpa - CEO, Largo.ai

Sami Arpa is the founder and CEO of Largo – a Switzerland based company that provides data-assisted intelligence to the audio-visual industry. From content analysis and financial forecasts to character & casting analysis and packaging tools, the Largo platform is designed to empower traditional content creation workflows and help producers, distributors, and studios make smarter, more informed decisions. He has a Ph.D. in computer vision from the prestigious Swiss university, EPFL. He has directed two films - “Les bruits des pas” and “L’evasion.” He is also the founder and president of Ouch Film Awards, which is a film festival that takes place in Lausanne.

Alan Pao - CEO, Tunnel

Los Angeles native Alan Pao transitioned from the tech sector to the film industry in 2000. Since then, Pao has produced, executive produced, written, directed, edited, VFX and post supervised over 200 feature films including notable titles such as the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or nominee “Under the Silver Lake,” “It Follows,” “Fall,” “The Comeback Trail,” and “The November Man,” among many more.

Pao founded Tunnel, where he pioneered a proprietary digital intermediate workflow for end-to-end picture finishing. Since then, he has transformed Tunnel into one of the leading full-service production and post-production companies in the industry. Pao currently directs various key operations at Tunnel, including film financing, color correction, post sound, visual effects as well as architecting supply chain automation solutions for major film studios.

Sam Pressman - CEO, Pressman Film

Sam stepped into his position as CEO of Pressman Film, taking on the role of his late father, legendary producer Edward R. Pressman. Sam combines his long-standing relationships with investors, talent, and industry insiders with his extensive knowledge of independent financing and passion for technological innovation to lead Pressman Film into an exciting new era of continued growth and success. Before assuming the role of CEO, Sam worked under his father Ed Pressman on Werner Herzog's BAD LIEUTENANT, Matt Brown's THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, Barry Levinson's PATERNO-and alongside Ed on Keith Maitland's DEAR MR BRODY, Charlotte Colbert's SHE WILL, Mary Harron's DALILAND, and Rupert Sanders' THE CROW. Sam is also set to executive produce a new interpretation of AMERICAN PSYCHO, with Luca Guadagnino directing from a script written by Scott 2. Burns.

Under his leadership, this year Pressman Film launched a first-of-its-kind development slate raise on the Republic.com platform which raised over 2m. Most recently Pressman produced ABOUT A HERO a hybrid documentary interrogating film which premiered as the opening night film of International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. In addition to the groundbreaking VR experience EVOLVER, Sam has taken a keen interest in emerging technologies with projects such as the Tribeca short film IN SEARCH OF TIME, created using Al diffusion models and dedicated to the memory of his father, the film was the first Al generated motion picture to be screened at a major festival. This year Pressman re-enters the immersive competition at Cannes with THE VIVID UNKNOWN by John Fitzgerald and Godfrey Reggio and produced alongside Onassis ONX, Agog, Foundry and Asteria Film Co.

Sam produced a week-long event at Oculus NYC called "Human After All: The Surreal Matrix of Al, Art, and the Motion Picture" filled with exhibitions, conversations, and panels, grappling with the emergent questions of Al's impact on art and humanity. With a deep reverence for his father's contributions to independent cinema and a firm commitment to carrying on the Pressman penchant for storytelling, Sam approaches his role as producer with a sense of humility and a fierce determination to create films that honor the company's legacy.

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