After Nearly a Year of Virtual Film Markets, What’s Next for the Format? (Guest Column)

hollywoodreporter.com:

Last month marked one year since much of Europe and the U.S. was plunged into pandemic lockdown. The independent film sector — which revolves around and depends on annual festivals and markets — appeared to be particularly exposed.

When SXSW was pulled in March 2020, other festivals followed. Both sellers and buyers faced a predicament: Producers and financiers wanted to see their projects debut and find fitting homes while distributors needed content to fill their slates and pipelines.

By late spring, it became clear that Cannes would not be happening, and that something needed to be done to address this huge gap.

The indie film groups at top talent agencies, along with several prominent foreign sales agents, conceived of a solution. Led.