AFM Delegates Uninspired By New Las Vegas Venue As Organizer IFTA Defends Choice & Weighs Up 2025: “It Checked A Lot Of Boxes”

deadline.com:

Delegates complaining about a market venue isn’t exactly novel. Even the French Riviera will draw complaints from regulars.

However, the American Film Market in particular has found itself in the cross hairs in recent years. Organizers IFTA (Independent Film & Television Alliance) opted for a radical rethink for the 2024 edition, relocating the event from its historic LA home, with its easy access to Hollywood, to the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The event wraps tomorrow but the early returns aren’t promising. More than a dozen attendees Deadline spoke to were brimming with complaints: long lines at the bank of elevators shuttling buyers up and down the hotel tower where sellers have suites; limited dining options; noise and smoke at the Palms, which is a hike from the lively Las Vegas Strip; expense etc. “I’ve had to wait 20 minutes multiple times just to get into the elevator.

We’re missing meetings left and right. The food at the Palms is awful and we can’t reserve spaces for breakfast meetings here or at nearby casinos.