AFM 2024: The Films Sparking Major Interest at AFM’s First Las Vegas Edition (Part One)

The 2024 American Film Market (AFM) marks a transformative moment as it relocates from its long-standing Los Angeles base to Las Vegas, bringing a fresh atmosphere and renewed hope to the independent film community.

Set within the Palms Casino Resort through November 10, this year’s AFM promises convenience and cohesion, offering all activities under one roof for the first time in the market’s history. From screenings in Brenden Theatres’ IMAX-equipped cinema to the ease of in-building exhibitor offices and conference rooms, the move aims to simplify logistics and foster networking.

Here’s an overview of films being presented by the leading 78 international sales agencies at the 2024 American Film Market, offering a dynamic blend of genres, including horror, thriller, drama, comedy, and animation.

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International Sales Agencies (A-E)

AGC Studios

• The Journeyman – Dev Patel stars as a tennis pro involved in match-fixing; directed by Tarsem Singh. Production begins next year, with CAA Media Finance co-representing US rights.
• The Last Druid – Russell Crowe stars as a Celtic druid fighting the Roman Empire. Directed by Will Eubank, with Range Media Partners and CAA Media Finance co-representing US rights.

Altitude Film Sales

• Dangerous Games To Play – Directed by Angel Gomez, this horror follows a group of friends whose occult games lead to dark consequences. CAA Media Finance reps US rights.
• No Way Off – A thriller about a mother abducted on a bus, starring Maria Bakalova and produced by Matthew James Wilkinson.

AMP International

• The Performance – Period drama inspired by an Arthur Miller story about a US Jewish tap dancer in 1937 Berlin, starring Jeremy Piven and Robert Carlyle.

Angel Studios

• Bonhoeffer – Story of German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s plot to assassinate Hitler; directed by Todd Komarnicki, starring Jonas Dassler.
• The Last Rodeo – Neal McDonough stars as a retired bull rider facing a family crisis.

Anton

• Victorian Psycho – A psychological thriller set in the 19th century starring Margaret Qualley, directed by Zachary Wigon.
• Night Of The Zoopocalypse – Family animation co-directed by Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro, with David Harbour in the voice cast.

Bankside Films

• Wasteman – Prison thriller about a parolee dealing with a troublesome cellmate, starring David Jonsson and Tom Blyth. Lionsgate holds UK and Ireland rights.
• The Fires – Icelandic volcano thriller directed by Ugla Hauksdottir, starring Vigdis Hrefna Palsdottir.

Begin Again Films

• Fraternity – A psychological thriller on a university campus exploring the dark side of hazing rituals.
• As Neves – Youth drama about the disappearance of a teenage girl, premiered at Malaga Film Festival.

Beta Cinema

• Let It Rain – From director Hannes Holm, a Swedish drama about a grumpy widower caught in a world-changing event.
• John Cranko – Biopic about the choreographer’s journey to transform Stuttgart’s ballet company.

Black Bear

• Untitled Christy Martin Biopic – Sports biopic about US boxer Christy Martin, starring Sydney Sweeney and directed by David Michod.
• Spa Weekend – Comedy about a chaotic spa retreat starring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris.

Bleiberg/Dimbort

• The Perfect Gamble – David Arquette and Daniella Pick Tarantino star in a casino thriller involving Russian gangsters.
• Killing Mary Sue – A corrupt politician’s stepdaughter turns out to be a killer. Stars Dermot Mulroney, Sierra McCormick, and Sean Patrick Flanery.

Blue Finch Films

• Zero – Thriller set in Dakar, Senegal, where two Americans wake up with bombs strapped to them. Directed by Jean Luc Herbulot.

Blue Fox International

• This Too Shall Pass – A coming-of-age comedy about a Mormon teenager’s weekend trip to Canada, directed by Rob Grant.

Brilliant Pictures

• The Gunslingers – Western about a reformed triggerman facing his past, starring Stephen Dorff, Heather Graham, and Nicolas Cage. Grindstone has US rights.

Canoe Films

• Bucha Unbroken – Based on a true story, this film follows a Kazakh national’s civilian rescue mission in Ukraine, directed by Stanislav Tiunov.

Charades

• Queens Of The Dead – A queer, gory horror-comedy set during the zombie apocalypse.
• The Summer Book – Drama starring Glenn Close, based on Tove Jansson’s novel, premiered at BFI London Film Festival.

Cinema Management Group (CMG)

• The Devil’s Teardrop – A Peruvian horror film set in the Andes about a mythological creature. Market premiere planned.
• Charlie The Wonderdog – Animated feature with Owen Wilson voicing the lead.

Concourse Media

• Code 3 – Action comedy starring Rainn Wilson and Lil Rel Howery as paramedics. Directed by Christopher Leone.

Concord Studios

• Assassination – JFK conspiracy feature starring Jessica Chastain, Brendan Fraser, and Al Pacino. Directed by Barry Levinson, with production set for early 2025.

Cornerstone Films

• The Light Fantastic – Ballroom dance comedy featuring Jeremy Irvine, Rupert Everett, and Layton Williams.
• Wild World – Thriller about a woman tracking her abducted sister, directed by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly.

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Devilworks

• An American Masquerade – Australian action film about two failed actors on a drug-fueled road trip, directed by Addison Heath and Jasmine Jakupi.

Diamond Media

• Home Sweet Home Rebirth – Supernatural horror about a police officer in Thailand battling mass possession.

Embankment Films

• The Housekeeper – Romance inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, starring Uma Thurman and Anthony Hopkins.
• Molepeople – Manhattan-set horror directed by Rob Savage, starring Anthony Ramos and Ben Mendelsohn.

Entertainment Squad

• Homeward – Thriller about a man hunted by criminals on a road trip.
• In Fidelity – Romance featuring a love triangle with a rock star. Stars Chris Parnell, Cara Buono, Dennis Haysbert, and Willow Shields.

Epic Pictures

• Winter: Battleground – Sci-fi action about a man resisting an AI regime. Stars Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone.
• The Jester 2 – A Halloween horror thriller about a supernatural alliance.

Epsilon

• The Amazing Maurice — The Waters Of Life – Sky Original animated feature following Maurice from Terry Pratchett’s world.
• Robin And The Hoods – Family drama about a girl trying to stop a real-estate developer from ruining her neighborhood.

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International Sales Agencies (F-L) [Here]

International Sales Agencies (M-Z) [Here]

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FilmTake Away: Renewed Independent Film Excitement

The shift to Las Vegas has generated excitement among sellers and buyers, with over 286 production, sales, and distribution companies registered, and significant attendance from international film commissions. With the market centralized in one venue, the 2024 AFM is set to be an innovative and energized meeting ground for the independent film industry.

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