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Welcome to the official website for the 2019 Annual Conference of the Art House Convergence.
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Sunday, January 20
 

5:00pm MST

Shuttles to Midway
Once you land in SLC and get your luggage, please proceed to Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 and meet at the transportation desk of Driver Provider. Terminal 2 hosts Delta and SkyWest. If you are flying any other airline, you will have to exit Terminal 1 and walk next door to Terminal 2. Don't worry, they are very close together!

Every shuttle time has a captain; this captain will be your point of contact for the shuttle. If you have any trouble finding the group or are running late, please text or call your captain. Please note, we cannot hold shuttles for more than a few minutes after their scheduled departure time.
Sunday January 20, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm MST
Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 SLC Airport
  Travel

5:00pm MST

Registration Desk Open
Pick up your badge, check out the schedule, get wayfinding tips, or find a staff member for any questions you may have!
Sunday January 20, 2019 5:00pm - 8:00pm MST
Registration Desk Zermatt Conference Center

8:30pm MST

Shuttles to Midway
Once you land in SLC and get your luggage, please proceed to the Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 and meet at the transportation desk of Driver Provider. Terminal 2 hosts Delta and SkyWest. If you are flying any other airline, you will have to exit Terminal 1 and walk next door to Terminal 2. Don't worry, they are very close together!

Every shuttle time has a captain, this captain will be your point of contact for the shuttle. If you have any trouble finding the group or are running late, please text or call your captain. Please note, we cannot hold shuttles for more than a few minutes after their scheduled departure time.
Sunday January 20, 2019 8:30pm - 9:30pm MST
Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 SLC Airport
  Travel

8:30pm MST

SURPRISE SCREENING
Sneak preview of new work-in-progress feature film...
Sunday January 20, 2019 8:30pm - 10:30pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
 
Monday, January 21
 

8:00am MST

Registration Desk Open
Pick up your badge, check out the schedule, get wayfinding tips, or find a staff member for any questions you may have!
Monday January 21, 2019 8:00am - 6:00pm MST
Registration Desk Zermatt Conference Center

8:30am MST

Art House Lounge Open
The Art House Lounge is open throughout the day and is the place to stop by for a snack or drink, meet up with friends between panels, or see what the film distributors having coming next.
Monday January 21, 2019 8:30am - 4:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Welcome Remarks
Let's kick off the 2019 Annual Conference of the Art House Convergence!
Monday January 21, 2019 9:00am - 9:15am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Plenary

9:15am MST

Networking: Development
Gather with fellow development professionals for a moderated discussion about issues in the field.
Moderators
avatar for René Bouchard

René Bouchard

Director of Development, Cinema Arts Centre
I am a not-for-profit development generalist with over 15 years of experience in every area of fundraising. With success in growing individual, corporate, foundation, government and special events revenue, my greatest passion and success has been in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding... Read More →
avatar for Patrick Shepherd

Patrick Shepherd

Associate Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Patrick Shepherd serves as the Associate Director of the Cleveland International Film Festival. He joined the organization as a seasonal staff member for the 23rd Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) in 1999. Patrick was hired in a full-time capacity as Development Director... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Development

9:15am MST

Networking: Education
Gather with fellow educators for a moderated discussion about issues in the field.
Moderators
avatar for Andrew Douglas

Andrew Douglas

Director of Education, Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Andrew became the first director of education at Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI), a non-profit cinema arts center near Philadelphia, in July 2005. Since then, he has developed the organization’s educational offerings, which now include programs for school groups and various community... Read More →
avatar for Allison Inman

Allison Inman

Education and engagement director, Belcourt Theatre
I host in-theatre engagement events -- filmmaker and academic Q&As, performances, seminars, film clubs, field trips -- and take the Belcourt’s Mobile Movie Theatre to schools, shelters, and community centers, finding cinephiles in every pocket of the city. Before the Belcourt, I... Read More →
avatar for Emily Keating

Emily Keating

Director of Education, Jacob Burns Film Center
As Director of Education at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Emily has overseen the development, implementation, and expansion of the education programs since their inception in 2001. The education programs are achieving national impact, equipping and inspiring nearly 15,000 students... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Education

9:15am MST

Networking: Marketing
Gather with fellow marketers, publicists, and communications professionals for a moderated discussion about issues in the field.
Moderators
avatar for Miguel Rodriguez

Miguel Rodriguez

Founder and Director, Horrible Imaginings Film Festival
Miguel Rodriguez is the founder and Executive Director of the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, a San Diego-based film festival dedicated to genre cinema, performance, and art. He is also a film curator and programmer for San Diego Latino Film Festival, The Film Geeks San Diego... Read More →
avatar for Denise Treco

Denise Treco

Director of Communications & Marketing, Jacob Burns Film Center
Denise Treco, a public relations and marketing professional with more than 25 years experience in various industries/sectors including nonprofit, publishing, and entertainment, joined the JBFC in 2004 as Marketing Director. A classic movie fan, her DVR is set record every Montgomery... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Patron Technology

Patron Technology

Premier
Patron Technology helps live event organizers create better experiences for ticket buyers and deeper relationships with sponsors through a complete, data-driven event technology solution.We are leading a shift in the industry that empowers event organizers to spend more time focusing... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Marketing

9:15am MST

Networking: Operations
Gather with fellow operations professionals for a moderated discussion about issues in the field.
Moderators
avatar for Gina Cuomo

Gina Cuomo

Director of Operations, Denver Film Society
Originally from Queens, Gina landed herself in the beautiful state of Colorado in 1997. She’s been a great fan of cinema since she was a little girl; never being able to leave the house without her VHS tape of Sister Act. Gina paid her dues working for theatre chains such as Regal... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for George William Myers

Monday January 21, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Operations

9:15am MST

Networking: Programming
Gather with fellow programmers for a moderated discussion about issues in the field.
Moderators
avatar for Barak Epstein

Barak Epstein

The Texas Theatre
The Texas Theatre, Oak Cliff Film Festival, Top Ten Records, Film/Video Gear Consulting, ex-filmmaker.
avatar for Cara Ogburn

Cara Ogburn

Programming & Education Director, Milwaukee Film
DS

Dylan Skolnick

Co-Director, Cinema Arts Centre

Monday January 21, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Programming

10:30am MST

Equity Workshop: Shifting the Culture in Your Art House
Alliance for Action has developed a tool for art houses to use for self-reflection and assessment. In this workshop we will use an in-depth discussion guide that helps art houses identify next steps towards becoming more equitable by asking questions like, "Where are we today?” “Whose space is this?” “What are our equity goals?” “What are the next steps we can take toward working on these goals?" This workshop will also build understanding of words like racial equity, racial justice, institutional racism, and intersectionality.
Glossary, Terms, Resources and Tools Alliance for Action Equity Assessment pdf
ShiftingTheCultureInYourArtHouse Web pdf
Monday January 21, 2019 10:30am - 11:45am MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Alliance for Action
  • Level 101

10:30am MST

Prioritization and Time Management in a Small Development Department
Are you your organization's sole fundraiser or a member of a small team? This session will share strategies for boosting productivity and efficiency so that you can learn to do more with less. Get helpful tips on how to set fundraising priorities so that you can maximize your return on investment and skillfully navigate annual giving, major gifts, corporate giving, grants, fundraising events, crowdfunding, and capital campaigns.
Speakers
avatar for René Bouchard

René Bouchard

Director of Development, Cinema Arts Centre
I am a not-for-profit development generalist with over 15 years of experience in every area of fundraising. With success in growing individual, corporate, foundation, government and special events revenue, my greatest passion and success has been in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding... Read More →
avatar for Kathryn Hecht

Kathryn Hecht

Founder/Executive Director, Alexander Valley Film Society
Kathryn is the founder and executive director of Alexander Valley Film Society. Prior to launching the Film Society, Kathryn worked as a communications director for nonprofit organizations on both the east and west coasts. She specializes in community building and engagement, storytelling... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform that enables nonprofits to raise more money and cultivate donor relationships by effectively automating administrative tasks and organizing constituent data. On average, clients increase their annual revenue by over 10% in their first... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 10:30am - 11:45am MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Development

10:30am MST

The Sky is Not Falling: Make Subscription Models and Incentive Plans Work For You
In music, television, and movie theaters, subscription services aren't going anywhere. What can we learn from this new "disruption"? How can we use our skills in member cultivation to foster new kinds of customer loyalty? Hear from art house innovators about the ways they are engaging the audience of the future and offering great deals without sacrificing their bottom line.
Moderators
avatar for Chris Collier

Chris Collier

Executive Director, Renew Theaters
One of the 2018-2019 AHC Conference Co-Chairs along with Taylor Chang.This is my 12th year with Renew and my 9th Art House Convergence. Work interests include an abiding fascination for to-do lists and learning ways to better streamline systems. Let me know if you want to talk about... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Christian Bräuer

Christian Bräuer

Managing Director, Yorck Kinogruppe
Christian Bräuer, Ph.D. in Political Science and banker by professional training, is Managing Director of Yorck-Kino GmbH and Programmkino Ost GmbH which are operating art cinemas within a tight alliance of 19 movie theatres and over 40 screens in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Dresden... Read More →
avatar for Tim League

Tim League

CEO/Founder, Alamo Drafthouse
I like movies.

Monday January 21, 2019 10:30am - 11:45am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing, Development

10:30am MST

Rights 101: Or How to Find the Rights Holder for That Movie You've Been Dying to Show
An important panel for programming beginners! Learn how to find the rights holder for the movie you're dying to screen. This lively hands-on workshop will give you the basic tools and skills you need to start researching film rights for yourself. After brief introductions on the major film libraries, the first steps that experts take when starting to search for film rights, and a quick primer on which movies are really in the public domain, the session will break up into small groups led by experienced programmers and distributors. Each breakout group will then search for movie rights. Bring a list of titles that you want to find!
Moderators
DS

Dylan Skolnick

Co-Director, Cinema Arts Centre

Speakers
BC
avatar for Jessica Rosner

Jessica Rosner

Freelance Film BookerI work with distributors and fimmakers booking current independent and foreign films and silent and classic cinema.

Monday January 21, 2019 10:30am - 11:45am MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming
  • Level 101

1:00pm MST

Shuttles to Midway
Once you land in SLC and get your luggage, please proceed to Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 and meet at the transportation desk of Driver Provider. Terminal 2 hosts Delta and SkyWest. If you are flying any other airline, you will have to exit Terminal 1 and walk next door to Terminal 2. Don't worry, they are very close together!

Every shuttle time has a captain; this captain will be your point of contact for the shuttle. If you have any trouble finding the group or are running late, please text or call your captain. Please note, we cannot hold shuttles for more than a few minutes after their scheduled departure time.
Monday January 21, 2019 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 SLC Airport
  Travel

1:15pm MST

Learn to Juggle: Coordinating Multiple Fundraising Campaigns
How do you coordinate a membership program with your annual campaign to obtain donations from some or all of the same individuals?  And what if you need to launch, continue, or complete a capital campaign at the same time?  This panel will discuss different approaches to integrate this work without duplicating efforts and causing donor fatigue.
Moderators
avatar for Patrick Shepherd

Patrick Shepherd

Associate Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Patrick Shepherd serves as the Associate Director of the Cleveland International Film Festival. He joined the organization as a seasonal staff member for the 23rd Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF) in 1999. Patrick was hired in a full-time capacity as Development Director... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for René Bouchard

René Bouchard

Director of Development, Cinema Arts Centre
I am a not-for-profit development generalist with over 15 years of experience in every area of fundraising. With success in growing individual, corporate, foundation, government and special events revenue, my greatest passion and success has been in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Silverman

Sponsors
avatar for DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform that enables nonprofits to raise more money and cultivate donor relationships by effectively automating administrative tasks and organizing constituent data. On average, clients increase their annual revenue by over 10% in their first... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 1:15pm - 2:30pm MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Development

1:15pm MST

The Kids Are Alright: The Cinematic Landscape of the Future
It's time to hear from young people about how and why they consume media. Experts under 30 will discuss effective strategies for developing loyalty amongst their peers and will share their ideas about the future of our industry. With a focus on nurturing long-term engagement, this interdisciplinary panel will address programming, marketing, audience outreach, and education.
Moderators
avatar for Clint Bowie

Clint Bowie

Artistic Director, New Orleans Film Festival
Artistic Director of the New Orleans Film Society

Speakers
avatar for Frank Jaffe

Frank Jaffe

Head of Altering, Altered Innocence
avatar for Kiwi Lanier

Kiwi Lanier

Sidewalk Film Festival
avatar for Julia Ricci

Julia Ricci

Film Programming Coordinator, Heartland Film
As Film Programming Coordinator for the Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival and the Heartland International Film Festival, Julia manages the film submission, review, and selection process as well as filmmaker and industry hospitality and transportat... Read More →
avatar for Savannah Taylor

Savannah Taylor

Project Manager, Designer, Indie Grits Labs, Nickelodeon Theatre
Savannah Taylor is a designer based out of Columbia, SC. She is the in-house designer for Columbia Film Society, where she manages and executes design projects for both the Nickelodeon Theatre and Indie Grits Labs. She has designed three campaigns for Indie Grits Festival, and is... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 1:15pm - 2:30pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance, Programming
  • Level 101

1:15pm MST

The Three Most Important Questions You Should Be Asking
Every day organizations work to introduce themselves to new customers. But despite best intentions, 75% of first time ticket buyers don't return a second time. Why? They are not being asked to return. Organizations need to actively engage in identifying, retaining, and upgrading their customers ― turning them into patrons and ambassadors. Join us to learn the three most important questions you should be asking about how to engage with your audience and turn them into ticket-buyers, members, donors, and evangelists.
Moderators
avatar for Louise Henderson

Louise Henderson

Windsor Park Arts Theatre & Crested Butte Film Festival

Speakers
avatar for Kevin Patterson

Kevin Patterson

Senior Account Executive, PatronManager
I’ve been fortunate to contribute to the success of performing arts organizations on the national and regional levels as a producer, arts administrator, and executive director. Now as part of PatronManager, I get to serve as a guide to organizations that are striving to grow by... Read More →

The Most Important Questions Session Handouts pdf
Patterson Arthouse Presentation pdf
Monday January 21, 2019 1:15pm - 2:30pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing, Development
  • Level 101

1:15pm MST

Re-Imagining Concessions 101
Ready to jazz up your snack bar? Hear from experts serving everything from buttery popcorn to dinner service about their best practices for staying organized, streamlining operations, earning revenue, connecting with local vendors, and providing tasty treats.
Moderators
avatar for Gina Cuomo

Gina Cuomo

Director of Operations, Denver Film Society
Originally from Queens, Gina landed herself in the beautiful state of Colorado in 1997. She’s been a great fan of cinema since she was a little girl; never being able to leave the house without her VHS tape of Sister Act. Gina paid her dues working for theatre chains such as Regal... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Charlie Frankel

Charlie Frankel

Founder, Art House Cinema Solutions
Charlie Frankel founded Easy-Ware in 2001 on the belief that all nonprofits should have access to comprehensive and affordable software solutions. Throughout his 30+ years of nonprofit experience, Charlie has served on the boards of more than seven different nonprofits, including... Read More →
avatar for Steve Herring

Steve Herring

CEO, Living Room Theaters
Steve Herring has served as the CEO of Living Room Theaters since 2013 and has been involved with LRT's first theater location in Portland since its opening in December of 2006. In 2010, Steve helped to open LRT's second location in Boca Raton, FL in a one-of-a-kind public/private... Read More →
CK

Connor Kirkwood

Director of Theatre Operations, Hollywood Theatre
General operations, volunteer management, festival coordination, all things concessions.
avatar for Denise Treco

Denise Treco

Director of Communications & Marketing, Jacob Burns Film Center
Denise Treco, a public relations and marketing professional with more than 25 years experience in various industries/sectors including nonprofit, publishing, and entertainment, joined the JBFC in 2004 as Marketing Director. A classic movie fan, her DVR is set record every Montgomery... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Digital Cinema United

Monday January 21, 2019 1:15pm - 2:30pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Operations
  • Level 101

1:15pm MST

Repertory Case Studies
Hear from seasoned programmers about their experiences and successes in repertory film programming, promotion, and marketing. Panelists will share specific metrics, techniques, profit and loss statements, pro forma planning, financial reporting, and programming examples. Each presenter will discuss strategies for balancing repertory programming with the missions and values of their organizations.
Moderators
avatar for Cara Ogburn

Cara Ogburn

Programming & Education Director, Milwaukee Film

Speakers
GC
avatar for Brittany D. Friesner

Brittany D. Friesner

Associate Director, Indiana University Cinema
I am currently serving as interim director of Indiana University Cinema. In my usual role as associate director, I develop film programming, lead IU Cinema’s Creative Collaborations program, and manage the Cinema’s marketing and engagement efforts, including donor cultivation... Read More →
TL
AM
avatar for Madeleine Probst

Madeleine Probst

Managing Cinema Producer, Watershed
I am an experienced producer of film events, talent and people with extensive experience of advocating for the cinema sector regionally, nationally and internationally. I’m passionate about people, community, music and cinema. I started out as a DJ and worked for largest independent... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 1:15pm - 2:30pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming

2:15pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Exhibition on Screen
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Monday January 21, 2019 2:15pm - 2:45pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

2:45pm MST

Success in the Public Sector: Telling Your Story and Navigating Funding
** Please note, because the NEA is required to comply with the partial government shutdown, we recently learned that Jax Deluca will be unable to attend this year's Art House Convergence.**

Learn to effectively navigate the public sector and express the social and cultural benefits of your cinema! This panel will give helpful guidance about how to engage your community, tell your story, and build sustainable relationships with funding sources. This session includes the case study of the successful initiatives at the Barrymore Film Center, a presentation by the National Endowment for the Arts, and a facilitated group discussion and Q&A.
Speakers
avatar for Tom Meyers

Tom Meyers

Executive Director, Barrymore Film Center
I am the Executive Director of both the Barrymore Film Center and the Fort Lee Film Commission of Fort Lee, NJ. The BFC broke ground this past October and will be open in late fall 2019 - the BFC will include a 260 seat cinema, museum on the history of film, archive and education... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform that enables nonprofits to raise more money and cultivate donor relationships by effectively automating administrative tasks and organizing constituent data. On average, clients increase their annual revenue by over 10% in their first... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 2:45pm - 4:00pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Development
  • Level 101

2:45pm MST

Art House to School House
This interactive session provides case studies of art houses that have effectively and strategically developed media arts education programs for schools. They will share best practices on curriculum development, standards alignment, partnership models, and funding support. Organizations thinking about working with teachers and students — and those that already do — will leave with new tools and ideas.
Moderators
avatar for Emily Keating

Emily Keating

Director of Education, Jacob Burns Film Center
As Director of Education at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Emily has overseen the development, implementation, and expansion of the education programs since their inception in 2001. The education programs are achieving national impact, equipping and inspiring nearly 15,000 students... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Allison Coffelt

Allison Coffelt

Education & Outreach Director, True/False Film Fest & Ragtag Cinema
Education programs of film festivals and cinemas, school district partnership, media literacy, high school programs for teachers and students, social justice, inclusion and equity, development, podcasting and audio, writing, reading, creative nonfiction.
avatar for Suzanne Montgomery

Suzanne Montgomery

Presenter, Utah Film Center
Suzi Montgomery is the Media Arts Education Director at the Utah Film Center where she leads a team of educators dedicated to tapping into the dynamic nature of film as an instructional resource. She has a strong background in archaeology, freelance journalism, science radio documentary... Read More →
AS
avatar for Brittany Sylvester

Brittany Sylvester

Teacher, Granite School District- Cyprus High School
Brittany has been a secondary educator for 10 years. She has taught 7th-12th grades and currently teaches social studies at Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah. She is passionate about professional development and helping teachers to engage students in content using a variety of m... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 2:45pm - 4:00pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Education
  • Level 101

2:45pm MST

FFA Roundtable on Female Filmmaker Initiatives
Film Festival Alliance and Alliance for Action will discuss current initiatives being developed to promote gender parity in programming for festivals and cinemas. Feedback from the group will help to shape these ideas, ignite new ones, and focus on how equality in programming can be accessible to all.
Moderators
avatar for Lela Meadow-Conner

Lela Meadow-Conner

Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance
A wicked good kid from Boston, Lela has been working in the film festival industry for more than sixteen years, as a founder/Executive Director for Tallgrass Film Festival, and a consultant for other festivals including the Bentonville Film Festival and Woods Hole Film Festival. In... Read More →
avatar for Lex Sloan

Lex Sloan

Executive Director, Roxie Theater
I am proud to be part of the leadership of the historic, iconic, Roxie Theater in San Francisco. I also am a proud member of the Alliance for Action and am passionate about championing equity issues in art house/independent film exhibition and distribution. Come talk to me about the... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 2:45pm - 4:00pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance, Programming

2:45pm MST

Is It Safe In Here? A Conversation on Trigger Warnings, Content Consideration, and Audience Consent
How do we make our audience feel safe without resorting to self-censoring? As programmers, we wield the power and responsibility of choosing what we screen. We want each patron who enters our spaces, regardless of identity, to feel welcomed, included, and safe. During this session a team of programmers and scholars will consider how challenging material impacts our audiences, and what we can, or should, do about it.
Moderators
SP

Speakers
avatar for Beth Barrett

Beth Barrett

Artistic Director, SIFF
avatar for Taylour Chang

Taylour Chang

Director, Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art
avatar for Isabel Fondevilla

Isabel Fondevilla

Director of Programming, Roxie Theatre
KR

Monday January 21, 2019 2:45pm - 4:00pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming, Film Festival Alliance

3:00pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Design on Screen
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Monday January 21, 2019 3:00pm - 3:30pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

3:45pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Sony Pictures Repertory
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Monday January 21, 2019 3:45pm - 4:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

4:15pm MST

Monday Keynote Address with Butheina Kazim
Butheina Kazim is the co-founder of Cinema Akil, an independent cinema platform that brings quality films from across the world to the audiences in the United Arab Emirates. Showcasing directors and filmmakers across the decades, Cinema Akil aims to create awareness and interest in film and the cinematic arts. Launched in 2014 as a nomadic cinema, Cinema Akil has held over 60 pop-up nomadic cinemas attracting over 35,000 attendees in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In September 2018, Cinema Akil opened its first permanent location in Al Quoz, Dubai making it the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first arthouse cinema. For more information, please see page 12.
Speakers
avatar for Butheina Kazim

Butheina Kazim

Co-Founder, Cinema Akil
Butheina Kazim is the co-founder of Cinema Akil, an independent cinema platform in Dubai. She was a Fulbright scholar of Media, Culture and Communication at NYU and has worked as a project manager in television and radio stations in the UAE at media conglomerates Arab Media Group... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Plenary

4:30pm MST

Shuttles to Midway
Once you land in SLC and get your luggage, please proceed to Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 and meet at the transportation desk of Driver Provider. Terminal 2 hosts Delta and SkyWest. If you are flying any other airline, you will have to exit Terminal 1 and walk next door to Terminal 2. Don't worry, they are very close together!

Every shuttle time has a captain; this captain will be your point of contact for the shuttle. If you have any trouble finding the group or are running late, please text or call your captain. Please note, we cannot hold shuttles for more than a few minutes after their scheduled departure time.
Monday January 21, 2019 4:30pm - 5:30pm MST
Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2 SLC Airport
  Travel

5:30pm MST

Trailer Wars
Trailer Wars is a battle-of-the-bands style competition in which ten art houses will screen their best in-house trailers. You, the audience, will vote for the victors. Winners of each round will move on with a new trailer until a champion is crowned. During the competition, the participants will be interviewed about their theaters, the production of their trailers, and their marketing strategies. This session is a fan favorite.
Monday January 21, 2019 5:30pm - 6:45pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Plenary

7:00pm MST

Monday Dinner
Sit down to dinner with your colleagues and new friends after a full day of panels, speakers, and workshops.
Sponsors
avatar for Spotlight Cinema Networks

Spotlight Cinema Networks

Leadership
Spotlight Cinema Networks is the only cinema advertising company 100% dedicated to serving not-for-profit and for-profit art house theatres in the U.S. Only Spotlight offers a unique revenue-generating advertising program tailored to the art house audience. Spotlight delivers a sophisticated... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 7:00pm - 8:30pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

8:30pm MST

Opening Night Party
After the first day of panels, speakers, and workshops, meet and network with your fellow Art House Convergence attendees at the Opening Night Party.
Sponsors
avatar for Agile Ticketing Solutions

Agile Ticketing Solutions

Presenting
Agile Ticketing Solutions is an all-in-one venue management suite that provides best-in-class event planning, donor, membership and marketing technologies for historic theatres, art houses and performing art centers. From the lobby to the screen, Agile Ticketing Solutions is designed... Read More →

Monday January 21, 2019 8:30pm - 11:00pm MST
Z Chop Haus Zermatt Conference Center
  Meals and Parties, Networking

9:45pm MST

Late Night Karaoke
Wind down the end of our first night by letting loose on the karaoke mic! Bonus points for a song from a movie!
Monday January 21, 2019 9:45pm - 11:30pm MST
Chalet Lounge Zermatt Resort
  Late Night Activities, Networking

9:45pm MST

Film Screening - THE WIND
An unseen evil haunts the homestead in this chilling, folkloric tale of madness, paranoia, and otherworldly terror. Lizzy (Caitlin Gerard) is a tough, resourceful frontierswoman settling a remote stretch of land on the 19th-century American frontier. Isolated from civilization in a desolate wilderness where the wind never stops howling, she begins to sense a sinister presence that seems to be borne of the land itself, an overwhelming dread that her husband (Ashley Zukerman) dismisses as superstition. When a newlywed couple arrives on a nearby homestead, their presence amplifies Lizzy’s fears, setting into motion a shocking chain of events. Masterfully blending haunting visuals with pulse-pounding sound design, director Emma Tammi evokes a godforsaken world in which the forces of nature come alive with quivering menace.

IFC Midnight | 90 mins | NR
Monday January 21, 2019 9:45pm - 11:45pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Late Night Activities
 
Tuesday, January 22
 

8:00am MST

Registration Desk Open
Pick up your badge, check out the schedule, get wayfinding tips, or find a staff member for any questions you may have!
Tuesday January 22, 2019 8:00am - 6:00pm MST
Registration Desk Zermatt Conference Center

8:30am MST

Presenting: National Data Surveys
Join Avenue ISR and SMU DataArts for a grand tour of data and insights. DataArts will show you the benefits of entering data into your Cultural Data Profile and will unveil the new NEA-funded art house module which has a focus on community impact. Avenue ISR presents results from the sixth annual audience survey with a deep dive into understanding changes in movie watching habits, reaching and engaging new audiences, and more. You will walk out of this session with a new understanding of changes in our audience, our industry, and our place in contemporary culture.
Speakers
avatar for Woody Smith

Woody Smith

President, Avenue ISR
Woody Smith is a veteran consultant with more than 14 years of helping nonprofit and for-profit clients achieve sustainable growth and success. He is the President and Founder of Avenue ISR, a company dedicated to using Insight (I) to inform Strategy (S) that leads to measurable Results... Read More →
avatar for Arin Sullivan

Arin Sullivan

Deputy Director, SMU DataArts
Arin Sullivan is the Deputy Director of SMU DataArts, providing oversight of the relationship between products, programs, and technology and ensuring that the organization has the capacity and the connections to achieve that work. An actor and stage manager at heart, prior to joining... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 8:30am - 10:00am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  All Tracks

8:30am MST

Art House Lounge Open
The Art House Lounge is open throughout the day and is the place to stop by for a snack or drink, meet up with friends between panels, or see what the film distributors having coming next.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 8:30am - 6:00pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Distributor Presentation: More2Screen
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 9:00am - 9:30am MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Behind the Screens: Teaching Cinema Exhibition
Give your audiences an insider’s view of your curatorial strategy. Adapted from the Emerson College course "Behind the Screens: The Mechanics of Cinema Exhibition,” this workshop will help you teach your audiences about the differences between art houses and multiplexes, the relationships between filmmakers and distributors, the value of communal viewing, and much more. The course can be adapted for film students, aspiring exhibitors, filmmakers, and the general public. Learn how to tell your organization’s story and deepen your community’s appreciation for your programs.
Speakers
avatar for Wesley Emblidge

Wesley Emblidge

Marketing & Education Coordinator, Coolidge Corner Theatre
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Wesley Emblidge came to Boston in 2013 to study film at Emerson College. During and after his studies Wesley immersed himself in the Boston film scene, interning at the Brattle Theatre, working for the Bright Lights Film Series, and volunteering at... Read More →
avatar for Anna Feder

Anna Feder

Director of Programming, Bright Lights Film Series at Emerson
Anna Feder has been working with film festivals in various capacities for over two decades. She served on the board of Press Pass TV for six years, an organization dedicated to supporting youth pursuing video journalism. She also served as the Networking Program Manager for the Creative... Read More →
avatar for Connie White

Connie White

President/Film Buyer, Balcony Booking
After falling in love with film while living in Paris on a student visa, Connie returned to Massachusetts and applied for a job at Harvard Square’s historic Brattle Theatre. Over the next three decades, she operated theaters, launched film festivals, worked in distribution, and... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Education
  • Level 101

9:00am MST

FFA Roundtable: Outside The Box — The State of Submissions

How will recent shake-ups in the submission platform impact festivals? How do we protect ourselves with no regulations in place? And what does the fragility and fluidity of these platforms mean for us an industry?
Moderators
avatar for Judy Laster

Judy Laster

Executive Director, Woods Hole Film Festival
Judy Laster is the founder/director of the Woods Hole Film Festival, now in its 27th year. The Festival, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is an 8 day Festival screening more than 130 feature and short films from around the world. In addition to the Festival, WHFF programs two year... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance

10:30am MST

Changing Workplace Culture and Preventing Harm
Join us for a conversation about how we can make art houses and film festivals more supportive, inclusive, and safer. Hear from specialists committed to equity, healing, and preventing harassment about long-term strategies for developing a healthy organizational culture, and share ideas about how art houses and festivals can collectively contribute to parity and transparency in the film industry. 
Speakers
avatar for Alison Kozberg

Alison Kozberg

Managing Director, Art House Convergence
avatar for Alison Emilio

Alison Emilio

Director, ReFrame/Sundance WIF
Alison Emilio is Director of ReFrame, a joint initiative of Sundance Institute and Women In Film Los Angeles. ReFrame is a growing coalition of industry leaders and 65+ Ambassadors – producers, directors, agents, studio executives, and guild leaders –  to bring about measurable... Read More →
SM

Stephany Murguia

Director of Education and Outreach, Rape Recovery Center
Stephany believes in the power of education and dialogue to radically transform our communities. She has been with the Rape Recovery Center since 2010, originally as Diversity Coordinator then transitioning to Coordinator of Education and then Director of Education and Outreach. She... Read More →
avatar for Shontina Vernon

Shontina Vernon

Creative Director, Visionary Justice StoryLab
Shontina is a theatre artist, filmmaker, director, and educator. Her work fuses performance, music, and multi-media in centering the narratives of traditionally marginalized communities. She is a recipient of the 2019 Creative Capital Award and a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Artist... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Plenary

12:00pm MST

Roundtable Lunch
Let the discussions continue over lunch. You can choose to sit at a Topic Table with a discussion leader for a focused conversation or you can grab a seat at our other tables and take a break while you eat your lunch.

Topics Include:
Midwest Region
West Coast Region
Pacific Northwest Region
East Coast Region
South Region
Sensory Friendly Cinema
Gender Inclusive Facilities and Policies
Shaking up the Canon: New Approaches to Old Films
Going Green
Digital Security
Digital Marketing
Exhibition Tech and Best Practices
Video Game Theatrical Exhibition
Streaming Platforms
Front of House Staff
National Data Surveys Follow-Up
Pleasures and Perils of Renovating Your Space
Children's Programming
Reframe Initiative
Event Cinema
Concessions
Clearances
Film Preservation
Collaboration Between Education and Programming
Adding a Screen
2019 Oscar Noms
Sponsors
avatar for Art House Cinema Solutions

Art House Cinema Solutions

Premier
Art House Cinema Solutions offers the most comprehensive CRM solution designed specifically for Cinemas and Film Festivals, offering fully integrated Ticketing, Fundraising, Membership/Loyalty Management, Screen Scheduling, Digital Signage, Targeted Marketing, Concessions/Bar POS... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 12:00pm - 1:30pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

12:45pm MST

Meet the Vendors
Meet key art house and film festival vendors. These suppliers of ticketing software, constituent management systems, concessions, and seats have the product and service solutions for your growing business.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 12:45pm - 4:15pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking

1:00pm MST

FFA Roundtable: What Sells & What Keeps (+ Merch Exchange)
A frank conversation about what kind of merchandise people buy, what kind of swag people keep, and how much money people are really spending on promotional items for their organizations. PLUS — a great way to show off (or get rid of) your 2018 items as the Swag Exchange returns.
Moderators
avatar for Bart Weiss

Bart Weiss

Artistic Director, Dallas VideoFest
Bart Weiss is an award-winning independent film and video producer, director, editor and educator, who has lived in Dallas since 1981. He is mostly known as the director and founder of the Dallas VideoFest. He produces the TV show “Frame of Mind” on KERA TV in Dallas, and is the... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance

2:00pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Film Movement
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:00pm - 2:30pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

2:30pm MST

Equity Workshop: Followup to "Changing Workplace Culture and Preventing Harm"
Following the "Changing Workplace Culture and Preventing Harm" plenary, take a deeper dive into strategies, case studies and resources your organization can use to develop stronger processes and protocols to keep all employees, patrons and customers safe in your space.
Speakers
avatar for Shontina Vernon

Shontina Vernon

Creative Director, Visionary Justice StoryLab
Shontina is a theatre artist, filmmaker, director, and educator. Her work fuses performance, music, and multi-media in centering the narratives of traditionally marginalized communities. She is a recipient of the 2019 Creative Capital Award and a Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Artist... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:30pm - 3:45pm MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Alliance for Action, Operations

2:30pm MST

Expanding Your Membership and Donor Base
How can you build sustainable relationships outside of your existing network of supporters? In light of the tremendous roles members and donors play in our cinemas, this panel considers long-term strategies for making your organization more inclusive and cultivating diverse stakeholders, donors, and board members.
Speakers
avatar for Beth Gilligan

Beth Gilligan

Director of Development & Marketing, Coolidge Corner Theatre
Beth Gilligan relocated to Boston in January 2009 to join the Coolidge Corner Corner Theatre Foundation and currently serves as the Director of Development & Marketing.Prior to that, she worked for several years for the Hamptons International Film Festival, where she oversaw marketing... Read More →
avatar for Rachel Hart

Rachel Hart

Outreach Manager, Amherst Cinema
Before joining the team at Amherst Cinema in January 2017, I worked at the non-profit Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, NY where I served as the Associate Director. Prior to that, I was a Film Programmer and Administrative Director at the historic Roxie Theater in San Francisco. I... Read More →
avatar for Vee Hua 華婷婷

Vee Hua 華婷婷

Writer, Director, Organizer, REDEFINE Media LLC
Vee Hua 華婷婷 (they/them) is a writer, filmmaker, and organizer with semi-nomadic tendencies. Much of their work unifies their metaphysical interests with their belief that art can positively transform the self and society. They are the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE, Interim Managing... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform that enables nonprofits to raise more money and cultivate donor relationships by effectively automating administrative tasks and organizing constituent data. On average, clients increase their annual revenue by over 10% in their first... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:30pm - 3:45pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Development
  • Level 101

2:30pm MST

Choose Your Words (and Pictures!) Wisely
A fully hands-on workshop! Practice choosing effective images and authoring engaging copy for marketing and outreach. This activity-based session will consider how images and language impact who feels welcome and included, how marketing can forge relationships with new audiences, and strategies for avoiding miscommunication, homogeneity, and hurtful missteps. Come prepared to collaborate and fine-tune sample marketing ads, calendar listings, social media posts, and more!
Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Gerhard

Lindsey Gerhard

Marketing Manager, Pickford Film Center
avatar for Porshé Garner
avatar for Sarah Mueller
avatar for Miguel Rodriguez

Miguel Rodriguez

Founder and Director, Horrible Imaginings Film Festival
Miguel Rodriguez is the founder and Executive Director of the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival, a San Diego-based film festival dedicated to genre cinema, performance, and art. He is also a film curator and programmer for San Diego Latino Film Festival, The Film Geeks San Diego... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:30pm - 3:45pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing, Alliance for Action

2:30pm MST

Presented in Super-Vision with Sensory-Overload Sound vs. PixelVision: Programming with Technical Specs in Mind
Learn how to promote and program based on exhibition format! With 4K, 35mm, 70mm, immersive sound, and other “premium large" formats to choose from, how do you effectively integrate them into your programming strategies? This sessions will address ways to present media in formats big and small, with experts also weighing in on lo-fi and micro-cinema techniques for presenting 16mm, super 8mm and alternative video formats. Hear from professionals and learn how to educate your audience about formats and specs in ways that will deepen their appreciation for your programming.
Moderators
avatar for Barak Epstein

Barak Epstein

The Texas Theatre
The Texas Theatre, Oak Cliff Film Festival, Top Ten Records, Film/Video Gear Consulting, ex-filmmaker.

Speakers
avatar for Chapin Cutler

Chapin Cutler

Chapin Cutler has been involved in the technology of motion picture presentation for 60 years, starting in High School as a projector geek. He and his partner, Larry Shaw, with the assistance of Deborah Collings (Cutler) formed Boston Light & Sound in 1977 to “take the craft we... Read More →
avatar for Dan Halsted

Dan Halsted

Head Film Programmer, Hollywood Theatre
Film Programmer and Film Archivist.
KW
KW

Kyle Westphal

Programmer, Chicago Film SocietyProgramming Associate, Music Box TheatreTheatrical Sales Coordinator, Music Box Films

Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:30pm - 3:45pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming, Film Festival Alliance

2:45pm MST

Distributor Presentation: GKIDS
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 2:45pm - 3:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

3:15pm MST

Tuesday Snack Break
Swing by Meet the Vendors, pick up a delicious snack, and get to know the most important providers of art house and film festival equipment and services.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, Meals and Parties

3:30pm MST

Distributor Presentation: NEON
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 3:30pm - 4:00pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

4:15pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Janus Films
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 4:15pm - 4:45pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

4:15pm MST

New Ideas From the Old World: Learning From Our EU Counterparts
What can we learn from our EU counterparts? In many ways, US festivals operate in more challenging conditions than EU festivals, contending with a lack of diverse funding and institutional support, greater competition, and a heavier reliance on submission platforms. In this session, we will examine EU best practices including team and data consolidation, collaboration across territories, and information sharing. Then we will brainstorm about how these ideas can be implemented in the US festival ecosystem.
Moderators
avatar for Beth Barrett

Beth Barrett

Artistic Director, SIFF

Speakers
avatar for Jana Hulvejova

Jana Hulvejova

Sales and Marketing Manager, Eventival
Founded in 2009 by former festival organizers, Eventival is the world leader in film festival data management with 370,000 end users and 130 festival clients in over 40 countries that use the platform to store data, process submissions, plan logistics, manage hospitality, produce... Read More →
avatar for Hrvoje Laurenta

Hrvoje Laurenta

General Manager, Zagreb Film Festival / Kino Europa
avatar for Sarah Mosses

Sarah Mosses

CEO & Founder, Together Films
Together Films is a marketing, distribution and data agency serving the global film industry. We support audience development campaigns to ensure your Film Festival or Film Release hits its targets. We work with DOC NYC, Human Rights Watch Film Festival and numerous award winning... Read More →
avatar for Tomas Prasek

Tomas Prasek

Founder and CEO, Eventival
Founded in 2009 by former festival organizers, Eventival is the world leader in film festival data management with 370,000 end users and 130 festival clients in over 40 countries that use the platform to store data, process submissions, plan logistics, manage hospitality, produce... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 4:15pm - 5:30pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance

4:15pm MST

Modern Marketing for the Art House
Overextended and underfunded? Learn how to prioritize and make the most of your marketing resources. This session will address the Flywheel, a new patron-centered marketing model, as well as social-first marketing strategies, the foundations of campaign measurement, re-thinking banner advertising, and changes to the Google Grant program.
Speakers
avatar for Erik Gensler

Erik Gensler

President, Capacity Interactive
Erik Gensler is the President of Capacity Interactive, a digital marketing consulting firm for the cultural sector, whose clients include the country's leading arts institutions including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. In... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 4:15pm - 5:30pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing
  • Level 101

4:15pm MST

Inclusive Structures, Signage, and Policies: Improving Accessibility at Your Theater
Gain a deeper understanding of how to make your theater more ADA accessible. Presenters will address legal accessibility requirements for cinema exhibitors and effective strategies for adapting your space, using new equipment, communicating with your staff, and providing a more accessible and welcoming experience to your community.
Moderators
avatar for George William Myers

Speakers
avatar for Lindsey Gerhard

Lindsey Gerhard

Marketing Manager, Pickford Film Center
avatar for Jemma Buckley

Jemma Buckley

Senior Partnerships Manager, Independent Cinema Office
The Independent Cinema Office is a provider of international training for cinemas and film festivals, and the national organisation for the development and support of independent film exhibition in the UK. We exist to bring a wider range of films to a wider range of audiences, aiming... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Digital Cinema United

Tuesday January 22, 2019 4:15pm - 5:30pm MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Operations

4:15pm MST

Movies So White: Decolonizing Programming
How can the programming at art house theaters and film festivals better reflect the diverse audiences, makers, and stories in our communities? This discussion will use case studies to examine the relationship between race, ethnicity, and the many factors that impact workplace culture; it will consider filmmaker identities, representation, audience (existing or desired), and staffing (who curates and for whom?). After the panel, continue the conversation in a workshop hosted by Alliance for Action.
Moderators
KO

Speakers
avatar for Jean de St. Aubin

Jean de St. Aubin

Executive Director, Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
As the Executive Director of the Gene Siskel Film Center for the past 15 years, I lead long term planning, development, audience engagement and manage a creative hard working staff of 12 full time and 12 part-time team members. I love talking about new ideas for engagement, development... Read More →
MB
avatar for Curtis Caesar John

Curtis Caesar John

Exec. Director, The Luminal Theater
I am an arts manager, advocate, and media producer operating out of Brooklyn, NYC with a specialty in discovering and bringing needed attention to the work of talented yet underserved communities of filmmakers and artists. I believe in cinema as one of the most powerful means of sharing... Read More →
avatar for Tracy Rector

Tracy Rector

Executive Director, Longhouse Media
Indigenous and Native Media.

Tuesday January 22, 2019 4:15pm - 5:30pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming, Film Festival Alliance

5:00pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Kino Lorber
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Tuesday January 22, 2019 5:00pm - 5:30pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

6:00pm MST

Art House Tales Part One
This Art House Tales session (the first of two) will present short talks about five different theaters and film festivals!
Each speaker will present 20 slides for 20 seconds each, and discuss their particular theater or festival. 20 slides x 20 secs = 6’ 40” each.
The best part of the Art House Convergence is getting to know other people, the theaters and festivals that they run, and what makes them tick. That’s this session!
Speakers
avatar for Theo Ackerson

Theo Ackerson

General Manager, Row House Cinema
avatar for Brett Bossard

Brett Bossard

Executive Director, Cinemapolis
Sleep. That’s where I’m a Viking!
avatar for Clint Bowie

Clint Bowie

Artistic Director, New Orleans Film Festival
Artistic Director of the New Orleans Film Society
avatar for Arnold Gorlick

Arnold Gorlick

Owner, Madison Art Cinemas
WK
avatar for Brian Mendelssohn

Brian Mendelssohn

Row House Cinema
avatar for Andrew Rodgers

Andrew Rodgers

Executive Director, Denver Film Society
Andrew Rodgers became the Executive Director of the Denver Film Society in 2016. The organization owns and operates the Sie FilmCenter, which shows art house films year-round, and runs the Denver Film Festival, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2017. Previously, Andrew... Read More →
BW
avatar for Fallon Young

Fallon Young

Executive Director, New Orleans Film Festival
Fallon Young is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Film Society, an organization that discovers, cultivates, and amplifies diverse voices of filmmakers who tell the stories of our time. NOFS produces the Academy-accredited New Orleans Film Festival annually and invest year-round... Read More →
avatar for Zaf Yumru

Zaf Yumru

Marketing and Communications Manager, New Orleans Film Society
I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey where I worked as the marketing manager and a programmer for !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival for 7 years while running a boutique pr & marketing agency dedicated to film, arts & culture. I moved to New Orleans in July 2017 and started working... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 6:00pm - 7:00pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Plenary

7:00pm MST

Tuesday Cocktail Reception
Come get a drink and catch up with everyone after a full day of panels!
Sponsors
avatar for MUBI

MUBI

MUBI is a hand-curated cinema streaming service and home to the world’s largest community of film lovers. Instead of offering thousands of films, MUBI proudly presents just 30; every single one chosen by a human, not an algorithm. Cult classics to award-winning masterpieces, forgotten... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 7:00pm - 8:00pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

8:00pm MST

Film Festival Alliance Dinner
Join fellow film festival pros for our annual dinner, sponsored by FilmFreeway, with extra special surprises including Movie Magic: The Game Show! RSVP Required.
Sponsors
avatar for FilmFreeway

FilmFreeway

The world's #1 way to discover and submit to film festivals and creative contests.

Tuesday January 22, 2019 8:00pm - 9:30pm MST
Garden Room Homestead Resort
  Meals and Parties, Film Festival Alliance

8:00pm MST

Tuesday Dinner and Conference Awards
Sit down to dinner with your colleagues and new friends after a full day of panels, speakers, and workshops.
Sponsors
avatar for MUBI

MUBI

MUBI is a hand-curated cinema streaming service and home to the world’s largest community of film lovers. Instead of offering thousands of films, MUBI proudly presents just 30; every single one chosen by a human, not an algorithm. Cult classics to award-winning masterpieces, forgotten... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 8:00pm - 9:30pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

9:45pm MST

Late Night Trivia
Think you got what it takes to compete with the best? Come with a team or as an individual (we can team you up!) and test your knowledge of film and pop culture.
Sponsors
avatar for MUBI

MUBI

MUBI is a hand-curated cinema streaming service and home to the world’s largest community of film lovers. Instead of offering thousands of films, MUBI proudly presents just 30; every single one chosen by a human, not an algorithm. Cult classics to award-winning masterpieces, forgotten... Read More →

Tuesday January 22, 2019 9:45pm - 11:00pm MST
Z Chop Haus Zermatt Conference Center
  Late Night Activities, Networking

9:45pm MST

Film Screening - AMAZING GRACE
Concert footage from 1972 of Aretha Franklin performing songs from the best-selling gospel album at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

NEON | 87 mins | NR |
Tuesday January 22, 2019 9:45pm - 11:17pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Late Night Activities
 
Wednesday, January 23
 

8:30am MST

Art House Lounge Open
The Art House Lounge is open throughout the day and is the place to stop by for a snack or drink, meet up with friends between panels, or see what the film distributors having coming next.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 8:30am - 4:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

8:30am MST

Registration Desk Open
Pick-up your badge, check out the schedule, get wayfinding tips, or find a staff member for any questions you may have!
Wednesday January 23, 2019 8:30am - 4:30pm MST
Registration Desk Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Distributor Presentation: Focus Features
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 9:30am MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Creative Sponsorship Activations on a Dime
What motivates sponsors to support our work? This session will explore successful sponsor activations that helped companies meet the daunting “return on investment.” Attendees are encouraged to bring their own sponsorship decks to share during a group conversation.
Speakers
AC

Anne Chaisson

Executive Director, Hamptons Int'l Film Festival
avatar for Russ Collins

Russ Collins

Founding Director, Art House Convergence
RUSS COLLINS believes in the value and power of art, especially cinema, and community. Fortified by two degrees from the U of Michigan, he is the long-serving Executive Director of Michigan Theater Foundation (Michigan Theater, State Theatre, Art House Convergence, Cinetopia Festival... Read More →
avatar for Fallon Young

Fallon Young

Executive Director, New Orleans Film Festival
Fallon Young is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Film Society, an organization that discovers, cultivates, and amplifies diverse voices of filmmakers who tell the stories of our time. NOFS produces the Academy-accredited New Orleans Film Festival annually and invest year-round... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect

DonorPerfect is a fundraising growth platform that enables nonprofits to raise more money and cultivate donor relationships by effectively automating administrative tasks and organizing constituent data. On average, clients increase their annual revenue by over 10% in their first... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Development

9:00am MST

Class is in Session: Film Education Demonstrations
This hands-on demonstration will highlight the varied content and approaches offered by three different film education programs: film studies for adults at Bryn Mawr Film Institute; a film seminar for middle school girls of color at the Belcourt Theatre; and Image, Sound, and Story, the Jacob Burns Film Center's K-12 media education curriculum. Attendees will get first-hand experience with these art houses’ approaches to teaching and learning.
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Douglas

Andrew Douglas

Director of Education, Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Andrew became the first director of education at Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI), a non-profit cinema arts center near Philadelphia, in July 2005. Since then, he has developed the organization’s educational offerings, which now include programs for school groups and various community... Read More →
avatar for Meleisha Edwards

Meleisha Edwards

Filmmaker from Nashville, TN. Interested in seeing diverse stories get to the masses. Working closely with Belcourt Theater in Nashville on a mini documentary about African American middle school girls.
avatar for Allison Inman

Allison Inman

Education and engagement director, Belcourt Theatre
I host in-theatre engagement events -- filmmaker and academic Q&As, performances, seminars, film clubs, field trips -- and take the Belcourt’s Mobile Movie Theatre to schools, shelters, and community centers, finding cinephiles in every pocket of the city. Before the Belcourt, I... Read More →
avatar for Emily Keating

Emily Keating

Director of Education, Jacob Burns Film Center
As Director of Education at the Jacob Burns Film Center, Emily has overseen the development, implementation, and expansion of the education programs since their inception in 2001. The education programs are achieving national impact, equipping and inspiring nearly 15,000 students... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Education

9:00am MST

UX for Festivals & Cinemas: Are You User Friendly?
How can we make our events memorable and easy to navigate? Encompassing program books, digital guides, and ticketing/scanning, this conversation invites experienced festival operators to talk about how to develop a streamlined program that minimizes audience frustration and maximizes engagement.
Moderators
avatar for Gary Meyer

Gary Meyer

Select Dual, EatDrinkFilms
Gary Meyer started his first theater in the family barn when he was twelve-years-old. He directed a monster movie there and wanted to show it on the set. It became The Above-the-Ground Theatre where over 250 films were screened along with live productions, workshops and the publication... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Butheina Kazim

Butheina Kazim

Co-Founder, Cinema Akil
Butheina Kazim is the co-founder of Cinema Akil, an independent cinema platform in Dubai. She was a Fulbright scholar of Media, Culture and Communication at NYU and has worked as a project manager in television and radio stations in the UAE at media conglomerates Arab Media Group... Read More →
EL
avatar for Adam Howell

Adam Howell

Director of Operations, Heartland Film
Adam Howell, Director of Operations, is responsible for running all the behind-the-scenes operations at the Heartland International Film Festival for the past 10 festivals along with the all new Indy Shorts Int'l Film Festival. This includes planning logistics, producing events, technical... Read More →
DJ
BW

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance, Operations

9:00am MST

Digital Handshake: Closing the Marketing Loop Between Distributors and Exhibitors
Digital and social media advertising have unlocked powerful new ways to share assets, track behavior, and efficiently target customers. But when it comes to film, the people placing the ads usually aren’t the people selling the tickets. This disconnect undermines the most powerful tools digital has to offer, from social media metrics to re-marketing and conversion tracking. Join us for a discussion between distributor and exhibitor marketers about ways to bridge this gap and work together. Panelists will discuss various strategies they've employed and solicit input from the audience. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the tools available to them for sharing materials, building audiences, and tracking customer behavior.
Moderators
avatar for Nicholas Kemp

Nicholas Kemp

Director of Theatrical Marketing, Kino Lorber
I handle marketing for Kino Lorber's theatrical releases (and help with home video and digital releases). I used to handle digital marketing at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the New York Film Festival. Since I've worked on both the exhibitor and distributor side of things... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Dor Dotson

Dor Dotson

Marketing consultant for film fests & distributors, Genuine Article
I help filmmakers, exhibitors, distributors and film festivals grow their audiences by strategizing and executing killer social media and email marketing campaigns. ✉️Dor@genuine-article.com
avatar for Wesley Emblidge

Wesley Emblidge

Marketing & Education Coordinator, Coolidge Corner Theatre
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Wesley Emblidge came to Boston in 2013 to study film at Emerson College. During and after his studies Wesley immersed himself in the Boston film scene, interning at the Brattle Theatre, working for the Bright Lights Film Series, and volunteering at... Read More →
avatar for Lori Hile

Lori Hile

Outreach and Media Coordinator, Gene Siskel Film Center
I joined the Gene Siskel Film Center in 2014, after working as the Publicity Manager for the Chicago International Film Festival and as a District Marketing Manager and Community Relations Coordinator in my 15-year career at Borders Books & Music. At Borders, I conceived, publicized... Read More →
avatar for Adam Walker

Adam Walker

Director of Communications, Film Forum

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing, Film Festival Alliance

9:00am MST

Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Hear from women about how they have become leaders in art houses and created opportunities for colleagues by instituting strategies and policies in service of gender parity. Learn how to ensure that more voices are heard in all parts of the organization — from the box office to the board room.
Moderators
avatar for Deborah Girdwood

Deborah Girdwood

Moving Image Program Manager, Walker Art Center

Speakers
avatar for Ariana Dorshkind
avatar for Isabel Fondevilla

Isabel Fondevilla

Director of Programming, Roxie Theatre
avatar for Audrey Henley

Audrey Henley

Executive Director, Olympia Film Society
I have 25 years of experience in concert production, programming, venue management, and marketing. I represent the Olympia Film Society (OFS), we own and operate the historic Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington. I am deeply connected, to and I love the people in the Olympia community... Read More →
avatar for Moikgantsi Kgama

Moikgantsi Kgama

Founder / President, ImageNation/Soul Cinema Cafe
Hi! I am the founder of the ImageNation Cinema Foundation. A Harlem-based nonprofit media arts organization, ImageNation presents progressive media by and about people of color, with the goal of establishing a chain of art-house cinemas dedicated to these works. Through a variety... Read More →

Sponsors
avatar for Digital Cinema United

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00am - 10:15am MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Operations, Alliance for Action

9:45am MST

Distributor Presentation: A24
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:45am - 10:15am MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

10:45am MST

Equity Workshop: Decolonizing the Art House
Join us for an in-depth follow-up conversation to the panel "Movies so White: Decolonizing Programming." Learn to identify areas where your own organization can grow and better serve your audiences and wider community. Even if you missed "Decolonizing Programming," this conversation will still be highly relevant and accessible.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 10:45am - 12:00pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Alliance for Action, Programming

10:45am MST

Something to Talk About: Post-Screening Discussions
Art houses seek to educate their patrons in a wide variety of informal ways, and none is more ubiquitous than the post-screening discussion. Most, if not all, of our organizations have them, but could they be more engaging? More diverse? Better suited to our audiences and goals? This session features educators and programmers who offer some fresh perspectives on this art house staple. Topics include strategies for tailoring discussions for different audiences, the value of specially trained facilitators, and rethinking the film-discussion relationship.
Moderators
avatar for Andrew Douglas

Andrew Douglas

Director of Education, Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Andrew became the first director of education at Bryn Mawr Film Institute (BMFI), a non-profit cinema arts center near Philadelphia, in July 2005. Since then, he has developed the organization’s educational offerings, which now include programs for school groups and various community... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Rebecca Fons

Rebecca Fons

Development and Programming Director (The Iowa Theater); Programming Director (FilmScene), The Iowa Theater; FilmScene
I served as the Education Director at the Chicago International Film Festival for nine years and now work full-time the Programming Director at FilmScene in Iowa City, Iowa and as the Development and Programming Director for The Iowa Theater, in Winterset, Iowa (my hometown).
avatar for Cara Ogburn

Cara Ogburn

Programming & Education Director, Milwaukee Film
avatar for Joanne Parsont

Joanne Parsont

Director of Education, California Film Institute
I have spent the last two decades plus working throughout the San Francisco Bay Area (and beyond) in film education, media literacy, film festivals, children/family and documentary programming, and youth media. Nothing makes me happier than a theater full of kids engaging with filmmakers... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 10:45am - 12:00pm MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Education, Programming

10:45am MST

Finding the True Believers: Developing & Nurturing Your Board
Board members and executive directors discuss strategies for cultivating a Board of Directors that is engaged beyond giving. This conversation will address board/staff relationships, effective communication, managing expectations, and knowing and articulating your organization's mission. Learn how you can make the most of your true believers and maximize your contributions.
Moderators
avatar for Dan Brawley

Dan Brawley

Chief Instigating Officer, Cucalorus Festival
25+ years as an innovative leader working to cultivate emerging new voices in film, performance and technology as the Chief Instigating Officer at the Cucalorus Festival: Film, Stage and Connect. Experienced in economic development, event-based branding, film production, real estate... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Evelyn Colbert

Evelyn Colbert

Board President, Montclair Film
avatar for Bob Feinberg

Bob Feinberg

Board Chair, Montclair Film
avatar for Lance McDaniel

Lance McDaniel

Executive Director, deadCenter Film
Lance McDaniel is Executive Director of deadCenter Film, an Oklahoma City based nonprofit that leads free film classes to 3,000 high school students each fall, provides year round continuing education for working film professionals, and hosts Oklahoma’s largest film festival each... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Silverman

Wednesday January 23, 2019 10:45am - 12:00pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance, Development

10:45am MST

Integrating Volunteers into Your Organization
Volunteers are key members of our organizations and play important roles in helping us actualize our missions. But how can we make sure our volunteer programs succeed? This session will address strategies for on-boarding, training, and engaging volunteers in efforts ranging from ticket-tearing to fundraising.
Moderators
CK

Connor Kirkwood

Director of Theatre Operations, Hollywood Theatre
General operations, volunteer management, festival coordination, all things concessions.

Speakers
avatar for Sarah Escalante

Sarah Escalante

Festival Director, Cinetopia Film Festival
avatar for Rachel Hart

Rachel Hart

Outreach Manager, Amherst Cinema
Before joining the team at Amherst Cinema in January 2017, I worked at the non-profit Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, NY where I served as the Associate Director. Prior to that, I was a Film Programmer and Administrative Director at the historic Roxie Theater in San Francisco. I... Read More →
avatar for Jessica Tagg

Jessica Tagg

Events and Operations Dirctor, Indiana University Cinema

Sponsors
avatar for Digital Cinema United

Wednesday January 23, 2019 10:45am - 12:00pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Operations, Film Festival Alliance

10:45am MST

Presenting: Science on Screen
The Coolidge Corner Theatre’s Science on Screen® series has expanded film and scientific literacy with this popular program. Every year, over 30 grants are awarded to art house cinemas and nonprofit organizations nationwide to create Science on Screen programs in their own communities. Through generous funding support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Coolidge will once again extend this grant opportunity (awarding funds of up to $8,500 per theater) to Convergence participants. Join Coolidge staff and past grantees for a discussion of program ideas and past success stories, and to learn more about the grant application process.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Fang

Sarah Fang

Program Coordinator, Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Museum of Art
avatar for Beth Gilligan

Beth Gilligan

Director of Development & Marketing, Coolidge Corner Theatre
Beth Gilligan relocated to Boston in January 2009 to join the Coolidge Corner Corner Theatre Foundation and currently serves as the Director of Development & Marketing.Prior to that, she worked for several years for the Hamptons International Film Festival, where she oversaw marketing... Read More →
avatar for Andrea Kennedy

Andrea Kennedy

Science on Screen program manager, Coolidge Corner Theatre
Bring science to your cinema! The Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation are pleased to announce a new round of Science on Screen grants. Grants of up to $8,500 will be awarded to art house cinemas nationwide. For application guidelines, please visit scienceon... Read More →
avatar for George William Myers

Wednesday January 23, 2019 10:45am - 12:00pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming, Development
  • Level 101

11:30am MST

Wednesday Lunch
Come swing by Meet the Distributors to pick up some lunch and get some face-to-face time with the distributors you work with every week.
Sponsors
avatar for EclairPlay

EclairPlay

Premier
Specializing in theatrical delivery for the arthouse film & event cinema community, Direct Cinema North America (DCNA), d.b.a. Eclair USA, brings together exhibitors, distributors, sales agents and film festivals. Beyond our DCP via Broadband delivery platform EclairPlay (www.Ecl... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 11:30am - 2:00pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

11:30am MST

Meet the Distributors
Meet the Distributors is your opportunity to connect with dozens of film distributors in person. Grab a coffee or lunch and learn about the upcoming season of art house cinema. An amazing line-up of distributors will be ready to answer all your questions
Sponsors
avatar for EclairPlay

EclairPlay

Premier
Specializing in theatrical delivery for the arthouse film & event cinema community, Direct Cinema North America (DCNA), d.b.a. Eclair USA, brings together exhibitors, distributors, sales agents and film festivals. Beyond our DCP via Broadband delivery platform EclairPlay (www.Ecl... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 11:30am - 2:00pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Networking

2:00pm MST

Expanding Festivals through Education
As more festivals make education programs an essential part of their offerings, it is increasingly important to reach youth and adult audiences year round. This session for film festival organizers offers strategies for expanding your year-round programming and explores how film education programs can be used to expand the audience, impact, and fundraising capabilities of your film festival.
Speakers
avatar for Samantha Abrams

Samantha Abrams

Executive Director, March On Washington Film Festival
Samantha Abrams, a longtime Washington-based corporate andnonprofit leader, is the Executive Director for the March on Washington Film Festival (MOWFF). In this role, Samantha is responsible for leadership of the organization which include overseeing MOWFF’s strategic direction... Read More →
avatar for Lance McDaniel

Lance McDaniel

Executive Director, deadCenter Film
Lance McDaniel is Executive Director of deadCenter Film, an Oklahoma City based nonprofit that leads free film classes to 3,000 high school students each fall, provides year round continuing education for working film professionals, and hosts Oklahoma’s largest film festival each... Read More →
avatar for Shakira Refos

Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:00pm - 3:15pm MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Education, Film Festival Alliance
  • Level 101

2:00pm MST

Pro Tips for Parity: Lessons From the Front Line
How do you create intersectional programming? In this session we will learn from festivals whose missions are dedicated to programming by and for communities often underrepresented in art houses and film festivals. These experts will share how their mandates have touched every moving part of their organizations — from programming to operations, to marketing, to developing an audience. How has history informed their past and current practices? What impact does today's larger parity conversation have on their work and what can festivals who are working to be more equitable and diverse learn from their challenges and triumphs?
Moderators
avatar for Lela Meadow-Conner

Lela Meadow-Conner

Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance
A wicked good kid from Boston, Lela has been working in the film festival industry for more than sixteen years, as a founder/Executive Director for Tallgrass Film Festival, and a consultant for other festivals including the Bentonville Film Festival and Woods Hole Film Festival. In... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Linda Broker

Linda Broker

Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Women's Film Institute
Linda’s passion for film started when she was just a little lass and cried (happy tears) after watching the original 1963 version of The Incredible Journey – her first film in a theater. She eventually grew up and wised up, moving from LA to Colorado where she began volunteering... Read More →
avatar for Andrew Murphy

Andrew Murphy

Director of Programming, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
KS
avatar for Isaac Zablocki

Isaac Zablocki

Director and Founder, ReelAbilities Film Festival
Isaac Zablocki is the Director of the Israel Film Center at the Manhattan JCC. He was born in New York, and grew up in Israel. He programs over seven film festivals a year including The Other Israel Film Festival and Reelabilites: NY Disabilities Film Festival. As Director of the Israel Film Center, he is the leading programmer of Israeli films in the U.S... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:00pm - 3:15pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance, Programming
  • Level 101

2:00pm MST

Eventizing for Wider Audiences
In recent years exhibitors have begun to see the financial merits of one-off, "eventized" screenings that can pack the house and bring new faces and voices into art houses. This panel explores how one-night events can boost box office and contribute to greater inclusivity and community engagement in the art house, making room for traditionally overlooked audiences and community -members to participate in dynamic speciality programs.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Ackerman

Brian Ackerman

Founding Programming Director, Jacob Burns Film Center
avatar for Caitlin Boyle

Caitlin Boyle

Founder, Film Sprout
avatar for Moikgantsi Kgama

Moikgantsi Kgama

Founder / President, ImageNation/Soul Cinema Cafe
Hi! I am the founder of the ImageNation Cinema Foundation. A Harlem-based nonprofit media arts organization, ImageNation presents progressive media by and about people of color, with the goal of establishing a chain of art-house cinemas dedicated to these works. Through a variety... Read More →
avatar for Clay Pruitt

Clay Pruitt

Head of Acquisitions & Programming, Seed&Spark
I am originally from Southwest Colorado and I'm currently the Head of Acquisitions & Programming for Seed&Spark. Over the past 10 years I've worked with many film organizations and festivals including the Sundance Institute, WME, Palm Springs International Film Festival & ShortFest... Read More →
avatar for Zaf Yumru

Zaf Yumru

Marketing and Communications Manager, New Orleans Film Society
I am originally from Istanbul, Turkey where I worked as the marketing manager and a programmer for !f Istanbul Independent Film Festival for 7 years while running a boutique pr & marketing agency dedicated to film, arts & culture. I moved to New Orleans in July 2017 and started working... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:00pm - 3:15pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Marketing, Programming

2:00pm MST

Building a Healthy and Happy Staff
Learn how to build an empowered, functional team. This overview of hiring strategies will address best practices for job searches, recruiting, on-boarding, training, and advancement.
Speakers
avatar for Chris Collier

Chris Collier

Executive Director, Renew Theaters
One of the 2018-2019 AHC Conference Co-Chairs along with Taylor Chang.This is my 12th year with Renew and my 9th Art House Convergence. Work interests include an abiding fascination for to-do lists and learning ways to better streamline systems. Let me know if you want to talk about... Read More →
avatar for Collette Costa

Collette Costa

Owner/Manager, Gold Town Theater
avatar for Tara Furiani

Tara Furiani

Chief People Officer, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Tara Furiani is the Chief People Officer at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, joining the team in this newly created role in late spring 2018. Tara is a sought after thought leader on the Total Employee Experience, or The TExMethod, as she calls it. From attraction through hire to development... Read More →
avatar for Stephanie Silverman

Sponsors
avatar for Digital Cinema United

Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:00pm - 3:15pm MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Operations, Film Festival Alliance
  • Level 101

2:00pm MST

It’s a Small World: Finding the Audience for International Cinema
Getting U.S. audiences to subtitled films has always been a challenge, but in recent years there has been a perception that there is more resistance than ever. This session will challenge that assumption by highlighting case studies of successful initiatives in the local marketing of international cinema as well as recent trends that may indicate a larger appetite than is realized. Panelists will include both exhibitors and distributors who are committed to finding solutions.
Moderators
avatar for Ira Deutchman

Ira Deutchman

Deutchman Company Inc / Columbia University
Longtime Film Producer, Marketer, Distributor, Professor and Cubs Fan, not necessarily in that order.

Speakers
avatar for Beth Barrett

Beth Barrett

Artistic Director, SIFF
EF
WL
avatar for Adeline Monzier

Adeline Monzier

US Representative, Unifrance
UniFrance is the French organization promoting French Cinema in the world.
ER

Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:00pm - 3:15pm MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Programming

2:45pm MST

Distributor Presentation: Telefilm Canada
Want to learn about new and exciting films? Join us in the Art House Lounge for presentations by films distributors about their upcoming slates. Watch trailers and more.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 2:45pm - 3:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

3:15pm MST

FFA Listening Session
This roundtable will provide an opportunity for Film Festival Alliance members and potential members to share ideas for collaboration and growth.
Moderators
avatar for Dan Brawley

Dan Brawley

Chief Instigating Officer, Cucalorus Festival
25+ years as an innovative leader working to cultivate emerging new voices in film, performance and technology as the Chief Instigating Officer at the Cucalorus Festival: Film, Stage and Connect. Experienced in economic development, event-based branding, film production, real estate... Read More →
avatar for Lela Meadow-Conner

Lela Meadow-Conner

Executive Director, Film Festival Alliance
A wicked good kid from Boston, Lela has been working in the film festival industry for more than sixteen years, as a founder/Executive Director for Tallgrass Film Festival, and a consultant for other festivals including the Bentonville Film Festival and Woods Hole Film Festival. In... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance

3:15pm MST

Wednesday Break Time and Snack
Grab a cup of coffee or tea while you take a break from the invigorating sessions, or continue the conversation over a snack from the Art House Lounge.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 3:15pm - 4:15pm MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center
  Meals and Parties, Networking

4:15pm MST

Art House Tales Part Two
This Art House Tales session (the second of two) will present short talks about six  different Theaters and Film Festivals! Each speaker will present 20 slides, each for 20 seconds, and will discuss their particular theater or festival. 20 slides x 20 secs = 6’ 40” each.

The best part of the Art House Convergence is getting to know other people, the theaters and festivals that they run, and what makes them tick. That’s this session!
Speakers
avatar for Alan Black

Alan Black

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Alan Black currently serves as Managing Director of The Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and is the Director of Operations for Hot Docs. He is also co-curator of the Hot Docs Podcast Festival. Alan is an award winning filmmaker of Jackpot, Beautiful Deranged, and Strongman, which have... Read More →
avatar for Logan Crow

Logan Crow

Founder, Executive Director, The Frida Cinema
TD

Trevor Dillon

The Frida Cinema
avatar for Adam Howell

Adam Howell

Director of Operations, Heartland Film
Adam Howell, Director of Operations, is responsible for running all the behind-the-scenes operations at the Heartland International Film Festival for the past 10 festivals along with the all new Indy Shorts Int'l Film Festival. This includes planning logistics, producing events, technical... Read More →
JJ

Jonathan Jackson

CEO, Artistic Director, Milwaukee Film
avatar for Stuart Landon

Stuart Landon

Director of Community Engagement, Midtown Cinema
Programming, booking, marketing, repertoire, and community engagement are what I do at Midtown Cinema. I'm a member of Midtown Cinema's riffing comedy improv panel, Down in Front!. Favorite flicks: Clue, Midnight Cowboy, Harold and Maude, The Emporer's New Groove, Guardians of the... Read More →
avatar for Celine Adrianna Negrete

Celine Adrianna Negrete

Manager, Onyx Theatre
I manage a two-screen art house (29 seats in each room) in a small town in rural Northern California. The Onyx Theatre was formerly the Magic Theatre and has been a part of our community for over 25 years. We undertook a huge remodel (going from one screen to two, doubling square... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 4:15pm - 5:15pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Plenary

5:30pm MST

Wednesday Conversation with Alex Rivera and Cristina Ibarra
For over 15 years filmmakers Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera have been directing films about the U.S.-Mexico border and Latinx identity in the United States. Join these award winning artists for a conversation about how their approach to filmmaking and the role community-based cinemas have to play in the exhibition of topical and challenging cinema. 
Moderators
avatar for Alison Kozberg

Alison Kozberg

Managing Director, Art House Convergence

Speakers
avatar for Cristina Ibarra

Cristina Ibarra

Filmmaker
Cristina Ibarra has been making award-winning films for PBS that explore the US-Mexico border for the past sixteen years. Her most recent documentary, Las Marthas, premiered on Independent Lens in 2014. The New York Times called it “a striking alternative portrait of border life... Read More →
avatar for Alex Rivera

Alex Rivera

Filmmaker
Alex Rivera is a digital media artist and filmmaker. His work has won multiple awards at the Sundance Film Festival and has been screened at The Berlin International Film Festival, the Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim, The Getty, Lincoln Center, PBS, Telluride, and other international... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 5:30pm - 6:30pm MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Plenary

6:30pm MST

Wednesday Cocktail Reception
Come get a drink and catch up with everyone after a full day of panels!
Sponsors
avatar for Amazon Studios

Wednesday January 23, 2019 6:30pm - 7:30pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

7:30pm MST

Alliance for Action Dinner
Join us for a dinner hosted by Alliance for Action on Wednesday January 23 at 7pm at the Homestead Resort's Garden Room to connect with exhibitors, distributors, and festival organizers who are growing the collective power of art houses as we work towards equity. RSVP Required.
Wednesday January 23, 2019 7:30pm - 9:00pm MST
Garden Room Homestead Resort
  Meals and Parties, Alliance for Action

7:30pm MST

Wednesday Dinner
Sit down to dinner with your colleagues and new friends after a full day of panels, speakers, and workshops.
Sponsors
avatar for Veezi

Veezi

Premier
Veezi is a cloud-based cinema software solution for independent and art house cinemas. Engineered by Vista, Veezi has all the benefits small cinemas need and leaves out the stuff they don’t. Now you can run your cinema from anywhere – 24/7.With all the bells and whistles, Veezi... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 7:30pm - 9:00pm MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking

9:00pm MST

Closing Night Party
Join your fellow Art House colleagues for drinks and conversation as we wrap up the last night of the conference. After you’ve had a drink or two, hit the dance floor, explore the legendary Ice Castles, or grab some late-night snacks.
Sponsors
avatar for Spotlight Cinema Networks

Spotlight Cinema Networks

Leadership
Spotlight Cinema Networks is the only cinema advertising company 100% dedicated to serving not-for-profit and for-profit art house theatres in the U.S. Only Spotlight offers a unique revenue-generating advertising program tailored to the art house audience. Spotlight delivers a sophisticated... Read More →

Wednesday January 23, 2019 9:00pm - 11:59pm MST
Garden Room Homestead Resort
  Meals and Parties, Networking
 
Thursday, January 24
 

8:30am MST

Art House Lounge Open
The Art House Lounge is open throughout the day and is the place to stop by for a snack or drink, meet up with friends between panels, or see what the film distributors having coming next.
Thursday January 24, 2019 8:30am - 10:00am MST
Art House Lounge Zermatt Conference Center

8:45am MST

Registration Desk Open
Pick-up your badge, check out the schedule, get wayfinding tips, or find a staff member for any questions you may have!
Thursday January 24, 2019 8:45am - 10:00am MST
Registration Desk Zermatt Conference Center

9:00am MST

Networking: For-Profit Organizations
Gather with your fellow for-profit organizations for a discussion about issues within your field.
Thursday January 24, 2019 9:00am - 9:45am MST
Matterhorn Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, All tracks

9:00am MST

Networking: Historic Spaces
Gather with your fellow historic organizations for a discussion about issues within your field.
Thursday January 24, 2019 9:00am - 9:45am MST
Grindelwald Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, All tracks

9:00am MST

Networking: Jewelbox/Micro-Cinemas
Gather with your fellow jewelbox/micro-cinema organizations for a discussion about issues within your field.
Thursday January 24, 2019 9:00am - 9:45am MST
St. Moritz Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, All tracks

9:00am MST

Networking: Single Screens
Gather with your fellow single screens organizations for a discussion about issues within your field.
Thursday January 24, 2019 9:00am - 9:45am MST
Davos Zermatt Conference Center
  Networking, All tracks

9:00am MST

FFA Annual Meeting
Film Festival Alliance will present its Annual Meeting with an overview of the past year and a look at the year ahead, the announcement of new Board Members and bylaws, and other governing information. (Members and non-members are encouraged to attend.)
Thursday January 24, 2019 9:00am - 10:00am MST
Interlaken Zermatt Conference Center
  Film Festival Alliance

10:00am MST

Closing Brunch Conversation "Shifting Our Culture, Changing Our Systems"
How can we work together to create conditions for equity? Join us for brunch and a conversation about how to support and sustain inclusivity in the art house. Hear from speakers about programmatic, communications, and leadership initiatives at their own theaters and festivals, and contribute your ideas about sharing power, learning from your community, and sustainably engaging diverse stakeholders.
Moderators
avatar for Eugene Hernandez

Eugene Hernandez

Deputy Director, Film Society of Lincoln Center
Hi! I've been at the Film Society of Lincoln Center for more than six years now, these past three years as the Deputy Director. Prior to that I was the Director of Digital Strategy, a new role at the organization. In my previous life, I co-founded IndieWire in 1996 and served as its... Read More →

Speakers
CB

Cameron Bailey

Artistic Director, Toronto International Film Festival
avatar for Dilcia Barrera

Dilcia Barrera

Programmer, Sundance Film Festival
Dilcia Barrera is a Feature Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival. Since 2007, Dilcia has worked for numerous film festivals including a tenure as a Sundance Film Festival Shorts Programmer, Senior Programmer at AFI FEST and has collaborated with OUTFEST, LAFF and The Philadelphia... Read More →
avatar for Gina Duncan

Gina Duncan

President, Brooklyn Academy of Music
BR

Bird Runningwater

Sundance Institute
Runningwater oversees the Native Lab of the Sundance Institute. Previously, he served as executive director of the Fund of the Four Directions; and as program associate for the Ford Foundation’s Media, Arts, and Culture Program.

Sponsors
avatar for Boston Light & Sound

Boston Light & Sound

Premier
Who is Boston Light & Sound? They are specialty projection and audio gurus. From their early success presenting "Napoleon," complete with a live orchestra at the Coliseum in Rome, to engineering massive scenic elements for R.E.M.'s world tour, to helping set up the Australian National... Read More →

Thursday January 24, 2019 10:00am - 11:30am MST
Bernese Event Space Zermatt Resort
  Meals and Parties, Plenary

11:45am MST

Class Photo with the Bear
It's a tradition!
Thursday January 24, 2019 11:45am - 11:50am MST
Statue of the Bear Zermatt Resort
  Plenary

12:00pm MST

Shuttles to Park City Marriott for the Sundance Film Festival
Our shuttles will drop you off in front of the Marriott in Park City, which acts as the SIO Headquarters for the Sundance Film Festival.
Thursday January 24, 2019 12:00pm - 12:40pm MST
Statue of the Bear Zermatt Resort
  Travel

12:00pm MST

Shuttles to SLC Airport
Thursday January 24, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm MST
Statue of the Bear Zermatt Resort
  Travel
 
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Sunday, January 20
Monday, January 21
Tuesday, January 22
Wednesday, January 23
Thursday, January 24
Art House Lounge
Baggage Claim #6 in Terminal 2
Bernese Event Space
Chalet Lounge
Davos
Garden Room
Grindelwald
Interlaken
Matterhorn
Registration Desk
St. Moritz
Statue of the Bear
Z Chop Haus
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