Producers Symposium Series

PRESS CONTACTS

SIFF - Leah Anderson, leah.anderson@siff.net
Northwest Film Forum - Paul Siple, paul@nwfilmforum.org
Thin Pig Media - Ben M.F. Rapson, benr@thinpigmedia.com 
Seattle Film Summit - Ben Barak Andrews, barakandrews@gmail.com 
LANGSTON - Andrea A. Stuart-Lehalle, andreastuartlehalle@gmail.com 
Women In Film Seattle - Virginia Bogert, virginia@laughingdogpictures.com

SEATTLE, WA — August 26, 2019 — SIFF, Northwest Film Forum, Seattle Film Summit, LANGSTON, Women In Film Seattle, and Thin Pig Media present Producers Symposium, a new quarterly series centered around film marketing and distribution. A lively mix between professional panel discussion and jaunty networking soiree, each Producers Symposium will bring together a sparky and savvy group of film professionals, to share honest stories and emerging strategies about getting movies seen, bought, and distributed. This new ongoing conversation is inclusive, progressive, and essential for all creatives working to find an audience for their media.

"Movie marketing is a sexy yet elusive beast. Just when you think the winning indie film formula has been discovered, the game changes and it's all a mystery again..." explains Ben M.F. Rapson of Thin Pig Media. "That's why we wanted to create an environment of collaboration rather than competition, where filmmakers, particularly producers, can pick up skills and intel from each other and have fun doing so. Discussion panels can be all brain dump and no belly laugh—we think Producers Symposium changes that. These lounge-style events offer equal parts education and entertainment, as well as top notch networking opportunities."

"Seattle filmmakers have long been hungry for more opportunities to have high-level industry conversations and to engage with one another in meaningful ways," adds Vivian Hua, Executive Director of Northwest Film Forum. "Northwest Film Forum is excited to kick off this Producers Symposium at Local Sightings, and for continued city-wide efforts such as this to serve as recurring indicators that film organizations can and should work together to support our larger goal of championing the arts."  

FULL SERIES SCHEDULE

(2020 dates and themes subject to change)

Monday, September 23 at Northwest Film Forum
Producers Symposium: Marketing Your Movie Starts Yesterday

By the time you get to picture lock, your marketing strategy should already be underway. So what is the complete life cycle of promoting your next feature, short, or episodic? How can you get ahead of the curve starting in pre-production, and make use of that effort all the way through sales?

Hosted by Ben M.F. Rapson, social media strategist with Thin Pig Media, featured panelists include:

• Producer Lacey Leavitt (Sadie, Outside In, Safety Not Guaranteed)
• Multimedia artist and filmmaker TJ Walker (Phoenix Run)
• Multi-faceted filmmaker Carlos A.F. Lopez (Ghosting the Party, The Procedure)

Saturday, November 16 at Seattle Film Summit
Producers Symposium: Buying & Selling Films in 2020

This savvy soiree will pass the mic to industry experts in the business of film. What's the current state of sales & distribution for independent films, and what trends are just around the corner? Mixing industry intel and personal storytelling, this saucy evening session will take shop talk to the next level. Come to Seattle Film Summit, learn from the best, and meet your next collaborators.

February or March 2020 at LANGSTON Performing Arts Institute
Producers Symposium: Building Audiences & Ambassadors

May 2020 at Seattle International Film Festival 
Producers Symposium: Real Talk About Distribution

About Northwest Film Forum

Founded in Seattle in 1995 as an independent film and arts nonprofit, Northwest Film Forum incites public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences. Each year the Forum presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performances, and public discussions. As a comprehensive visual media organization, the Forum offers educational workshops and artist services for film and media makers at all stages of their development. More information is available at nwfilmforum.org. 

About SIFF

Founded in 1976, SIFF creates experiences that bring people together to discover extraordinary films from around the world with the Seattle International Film Festival, SIFF Cinema, and SIFF Education. Recognized as one of the top film festivals in North America, the Seattle International Film Festival is the longest, most highly attended film festival in the United States, reaching more than 140,000 annually. The 25-day festival is renowned for its wide-ranging and eclectic programming, presenting over 400 features, short films, and documentaries from over 80 countries each year. SIFF Cinema exhibits premiere theatrical engagements, arthouse, international titles, and classic repertory film showings 365 days a year on five screens at the SIFF Cinema Uptown, SIFF Cinema Egyptian, and SIFF Film Center, reaching more than 175,000 attendees annually. SIFF Education offers educational programs for all audiences serving more than 8,000 students and youth in the community with free programs each year. For more information, visit siff.net.

About Thin Pig Media

Thin Pig Media (TPM) is a full service marketing agency with extensive expertise in the hospitality, gaming and entertainment industries, serving clients in seven countries. In the realm of independent film, our team of social media & digital marketing strategists work seamlessly alongside producers, investors, PR teams, distributors, and anyone else with skin in the game. We implement cutting edge tactics to find new fans and followers that span organic, paid, guerilla, and traditional marketing. For more information, visit thinpigmedia.com.

About Seattle Film Summit

A film market for creatives and executives. The Seattle Film Summit combines the art and business of filmmaking to advance the funding, creation and distribution of stories that reflect the thriving, socially aware film culture of the Pacific Northwest. Join the rising tide of creativity and innovation that is friendly with, but arises outside, the mainstream entertainment industry. For more information, visit seattlefilmsummit.com.

About LANGSTON

LANGSTON is the non-profit arts organization established in 2016 to lead programming within the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. LANGSTON guides generative programs and community partnerships that center Black art, artists and audiences and honor the ongoing legacy of Seattle's Black Central Area. Our mission is to strengthen and advance community through Black arts and culture. Our vision is Cultivating Black Brilliance. For more information, visit langstonseattle.org.

About Women in Film Seattle

Women in Film Seattle is a non-profit organization of professional women in film, digital, and screen-based media dedicated to advancing the careers of women in the industry, promoting diversity, pay parity, and equal access. Women in Film: promoting respect for women on and off set and screen. For more information, visit womeninfilmseattle.org.