Today (November 11th) The American Film Market® (AFM®) Opened With a Bang at the Fairmont Century Plaza, in Century City, and runs through November 16th; as the world’s leading independent production, sales, distribution, and buying companies, along with film commissions, production service companies, and AI/technology players, prepare to convene at the Market for its anticipated return to Los Angeles, as for years it has been in Santa Monica. This year’s Market will open with more than 285 Exhibitors from 35 countries that will introduce hundreds of new projects and screen AFM world premieres, market premieres and promo reels as well as host presentations. AFM will be a bustling market with thousands of participants from over 80 countries in attendance, including Buyers and Distributors. AFM has 100’s of speakers and panels for The AFM Sessions, featuring executives and creators from companies and organizations including AGC Studios, Bleecker Street, Charades, HanWay Films, MCT, the NAACP, the Producers Guild of America (PGA), Republic Film, SAG-AFTRA, Samuel Goldwyn Films, TrustNordisk, Tribeca Enterprises, and Watrfall. 35 sessions will be presented across two stages on P2 at the Fairmont.
Alongside the Market sales activity, screenings and sessions, AFM’s new Innovation Hub, presented in collaboration with Cannes’ Marché du Film, will be open throughout the run of AFM and will showcase many companies and technologies shaping the future of filmmaking, from artificial intelligence and virtual production to emerging creative and business tools. LocationEXPO, which will introduce 30 film commisions and location service organizations from around the world, will also be open all days of the Market. Both are located on P2 at the Fairmont.
LocationEXPO® presented by United for Business:
Visit LocationEXPO, located on P2, and discover a world of filmmaking possibilities. Connect with 30 international film commissions, studio facilities, and service providers all in one place. From exclusive production incentives to stunning locations and expert support, LocationEXPO gives you the tools and connections to make your projects a reality.
- APE – Italian Association of Production Service Companies
- Arizona Film & Digital Media
- Baja Film Commission
- Cayman Islands Film Commission
- Costa Rica Film Commission
- Ecuador – Levector Films
- Egypt Film Commission
- Film Fiji
- FILM IN GEORGIA
- Film in Oklahoma
- Film Palmdale
- Film Santa Monica
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Louisville Film Office
- Mohave County Film and Media
- Orbital Studios
- Panama Film Commission
- PayKeeper Inc
- Pinal County, Arizona
- Polish Film Institute
- Southern Kentucky Film Commission
- Spain-Navarra
- State of Massachusetts
- Thailand Film Office, Department of Tourism
- Tokyo Film Commission
- United Illusions VP Studios
- Veneto Film Commission
- West Virginia Film Office
Innovation Hub:
Check out AFM’s newest exhibit space, the Innovation Hub in collaboration with Marché du Film – Cannes Next located on P2, where global film and technology connect. Explore the cutting-edge creativity and business technology tools shaping how films and episodic content are created, financed, and distributed.
- AI FLIX by Wardour Studios
- Fallbrook Film Finance, LLC
- Largo.ai
- Logline AI
- Mortal Studio
- Panjaya.ai
- RollCredits
- Veritone
Filmmakers & Networking Lounge presented by Filmhub:
Check out the Filmmakers & Networking Lounge, located on the P2 level, open to all attendees during show hours. The Filmmakers Lounge will host a number of exhibiting companies and include comfortable seating, tables, and full food and beverage service – creating the perfect environment for collaborating, networking, and relaxing.
- EGEDA
- FILMART – Hong Kong Trade Development Council
- Filmhub
- INSHORTS.AI
- IMDbPro
- San Diego Tourism Authority
- Veterans-TV
The highly anticipated sci-fi drama Fugitive from Asteron, adapted from Gen LaGreca’s award-winning novel and starring Henry Ian Cusick (Lost, MacGyver, The 100), Rory Gibson (The Young and the Restless), Morgan Bradley (American Skyjacker), and Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), has unveiled the film’s official trailer in advance of American Film Market 2025.
Directed by Dan T. Hall (Noble Vision, Greek Fire – Demon Spirit) and executive produced by LaGreca’s company Winged Victory Foundation, the film, currently in its final stages of post-production, was shot in both Southern California and Central Indiana.
In Fugitive from Asteron, young pilot Arial (Gibson) escapes from the oppressive Planet Asteron by stealing the spacecraft of the ruler, Feran (Cusick). With a mysterious cargo on board, Arial lands on the future Earth and adopts a new name, Alexander. Feran hotly pursues him for the cargo, a powerful, new instrument that is a vital part of Feran’s secret plans for Earth. Alexander allies with pilot Kristin Merrett (Bradley) to unravel the cargo’s nature and confront an urgent threat that jeopardizes Earth and all he holds dear. The story weaves together adventure, romance, and mystery, as Alexander embarks on a quest to save the Earth and an inner journey to discover freedom, human happiness, and the pursuit of a life worth living. Cain plays Mykronie Whitman, the head of the Interplanetary Travel Division at Merrett Aerospace Systems, who escaped from Planet Asteron 25 years ago.
“The trailer for Fugitive from Asteron gives audiences a first glimpse of a story rooted in the timeless quest for freedom and truth,” says LaGreca. “Bringing this vision to the screen has been an extraordinary creative journey, and we’re delighted to share a sneak peek ahead of American Film Market 2025.”
“AFM is the ideal venue to connect with distributors who believe in bold, idea-driven filmmaking that entertains while igniting the imagination. We’re delighted to present our film to global buyers attending AFM,” adds D. Paul Thomas, a producer on the film.
La Greca’s most recent film, the drama/thriller Noble Vision, which tackles the bureaucracy and politics of the U.S. health care system, was released in fall 2024. The film garnered many awards on the festival circuit and currently is available on top digital platforms in North America. Jam Murphy (Through the Modern Looking Glass) and Jim Krueger (writer, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks) round out the all-star cast. Paul Ruddy is the film’s casting director. The film’s cinematographer is Mark David (American Cowslip) and line producer is Pauline Jones (Jurassic Domination). LaGreca and Thomas will be attending AFM, taking meetings with media, distributors and sales agents.
Gen LaGreca is an award-winning executive producer, film writer, and novelist. Her writings offer innovative plots and themes that inspire freedom and personal achievement. Her most recent movie Noble Vision has won over two dozen film-festival awards. Her four novels have won thirteen literary awards, garnered praise from magazine magnate Steve Forbes, Nobel laureate Milton Friedman, Past President of the American Medical Association Edward Annis, and others.
She has written the stage play adaptations of two of her novels, Just the Truth and Noble Vision. Her commentaries have appeared in Forbes, The Orange County Register, Real Clear Markets, and other publications.
LaGreca currently serves as president of the Winged Victory Foundation. Prior to fiction writing, she worked as a pharmaceutical chemist, business consultant, and corporate writer.
Winged Victory Foundation Inc. is Founded by Gen LaGreca, Winged Victory Foundation’s mission is to communicate and champion the ideas of freedom through the magic of storytelling and the arts. The charitable 501(c)3 organization produces programs and holds events for educational, artistic, and literary purposes, including producing and distributing films, stage plays, and novels, supporting dance and music composing, and offering grants to nonprofit theatre and community groups to produce its plays or show its films. 
Elsa Pataky (Fast and the Furious, Interceptor, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Matices), in the above photo; Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beast of War, Mystery Road: Origin), Jessica McNamee (Mortal Kombat, Battle of the Sexes), and Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, upcoming Moana Live Action) join the Jessica Alba, Tom Hopper and Angus Sampson in the spy thriller: THE MARK. Highland Film Group is producing and continuing sales at AFM, with production underway in Australia. It is Executive Produced by Westbrook Studios, and the Highland Film Group is Handling International Rights with Production currently Underway on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Previously announced cast includes Jessica Alba (Fantastic Four, upcoming Maserati: The Brothers): 
Tom Hopper (The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, The Umbrella Academy, Game of Thrones): 
and Angus Sampson (Mad Max: Fury Road & Mad Max: Furiosa, Insidious films, The Lincoln Lawyer).
Synopsis: THE MARK follows Eden (Jessica Alba), an enigmatic spy on a covert and dangerous mission. When she pulls single father Ben Dawson (Tom Hopper) into her world of high-stakes espionage, his life is turned upside down. Mistaken for the world’s deadliest assassin, Ben becomes the perfect decoy for Eden. She uses the mix-up to expose a powerful network of corrupt politicians, placing Ben in the crosshairs of ruthless crime syndicates and the CIA, led by the seasoned Special Operative Len Milton (Angus Sampson). With enemies closing in from all sides, Eden must keep Ben alive long enough to complete her mission – while Ben must summon his inner action hero to stay alive and return to the person who matters most: his daughter.
Produced by Jessica Alba under her Lady Metalmark Entertainment umbrella, Arianne Fraser (Land of Bad), Delphine Perrier (Arcadian) and Henry Winterstern (the Underworld franchise) for Highland Film Group, Kia Jam (The Misfits, Lucky Number Slevin) for K. Jam Media, alongside Kosaku Yada for Westbrook Studios (Bad Boys: Ride or Die, King Richard), Tracey Vieira (Land of Bad) for Hoodlum and Peter Jákl (Locked).
Executive Producers: Will Smith and Miguel Melendez on behalf of Westbrook Studios, alongside Tracey Nyberg for Lady Metalmark Entertainment, Justin Chadwick, Ceasar Richbow (Protector), Latavius Powell (The Florist), Jason Hope (Ashley), Tracey Robertson (Land of Bad) and Nathan Mayfield (Land of Bad) for Hoodlum, and Jeff Kranzdorf (The Courier), Gevork Semeriyan and Abraham Kesablyan for Falcon Films. The film is set on The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Tracey Vieira, Producer said ,“We’re thrilled to welcome Elsa, Mark, Jessica and Rena to The Mark. This is a film rooted in tension, heart and propulsion — and these are actors who bring truth, charisma and power to every frame. The Gold Coast is an incredible production home for us, and as a proud local Queensland company, it means a great deal to be producing a film of this scale here with this calibre of Australian and international talent.” Highland Film Group is handling international rights and co-financing the project alongside Aperture Media Partners, with production underway in Queensland, Australia. The film is supported by the Australian Government through the Location Offset, the Queensland Government through Screen Queensland’s Production Attraction Strategy, and the Local Government through the City of Gold Coast’s Screen Attraction Program.
Highland Film Group’s current slate also includes the acclaimed cyber heist thriller LifeHack from producer Timur Bekmambetov; Brad Anderson’s psychological thriller Moral Capacity starring Dacre Montgomery, Diane Lane, Sofia Boutella and Tim Robbins; the espionage action thriller Stratagem starring Noomi Rapace and Teo Yoo; Martin Campbell‘s thriller Just Play Dead starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green; the action crime thriller Wardriver starring Dane DeHaan and Sasha Calle; Adrian Grunberg’s action-thriller Protector starring Milla Jovovich; and the action crime thriller The Deputy starring Duke Nicholson, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish and Stephen Dorff.
K. JAM MEDIA: Kia Jam is the founder and President of K. Jam Media. Kia has participated in over $2 billion globally in entertainment transactions and has independently produced and/or financed more than 30 motion pictures over the past 25 years. His most recent films, Killer’s Game, starring Dave Bautista and Sir Ben Kingsley, and Strangers: Chapter 2, were released by Lionsgate. His prior credits include The Misfits, Lucky Number Slevin and The Postcard Killings. Upcoming projects include Easy’s Waltz with Al Pacino, The Strangers: Chapter 3 and The Day the Clown Cried.
WESTBROOK STUDIOS: Launched in 2019 by founders Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, Miguel Melendez, and Ko Yada, Westbrook is focused on empowering artists to tell stories that connect the world. In film, Westbrook most recently released Bad Boys 4: Ride Or Die (Sony), which grossed over $400 million at the global box office. Upcoming film projects include Netflix’s Fast & Loose with David Leitch’s 87North, Warner Bros’ I Am Legend 2 starring Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan, Listen starring Noah Centineo, and Amazon/MGM’s Night Of The Living Dead sequel written by LaToya Morgan and to be directed by Nikyatu Jusu.
In TV, Westbrook is producing the fourth season of the NAACP Image Award-winning Bel-Air (Peacock) and the travel adventure series “Pole to Pole” (National Geographic and Disney+). Westbrook is also behind the eight-time Emmy and SAG Award–nominated series “Cobra Kai” (Netflix), the three-time Daytime Emmy–winning series “African Queens: Njinga” (Netflix), and the travel adventure series “Welcome to Earth” (Disney +).
HOODLUM: is an Emmy® and BAFTA Award-winning production company founded in 1999 by Tracey Robertson and Nathan Mayfield and operating between Australia, the US and the UK. Joined by Tracey Vieira in 2019, the company’s global slate runs across scripted and unscripted television and feature film with projects in development and production with BBC Studios, Netflix, CBS International and more. Hoodlum’s most recent productions include the drama series “Two Years Later” for Paramount+, the action-thriller Land Of Bad, starring Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth, and the drama series “In Our Blood” for the ABC.
Hoodlum also recently produced the romantic comedy feature films Christmas On The Farm, which premiered on Stan, and A Perfect Pairing for Netflix, which hit number 1 globally. The fourth season of “Five Bedrooms” also recently premiered on Paramount+ in Australia and Peacock in the US.
WRAPBOOK, is the next standard in payroll and production accounting—a force multiplier that empowers production finance and accounting teams to accomplish more, faster, with greater data integrity. Jeff Caruso, SVP Sales and Success, is moderating AFM’s Finance I – From Packaging to Payback: Investment, Incentives & International Markets panel on November 12th!
The American Film Market® (AFM®) is where the global film and television business comes to life every November. The only independently produced international sales market, hundreds of finance, production, sales and distribution companies and thousands of professionals from every segment of the industry, convene at AFM for six days of discovery, development, deal making, networking, marketplace discussions and world-class conferences. The AFM is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®) and serves as the annual fundraiser for the association.
The Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®) is the global trade association for independent film and television production, finance, distribution, and sales companies. The organization represents the independent sector before governments and international bodies and provides significant entertainment industry services to independent companies around the world.
