Who's in the Room

At our event, you'll have direct access to real producers, executives, agents, and decision-makers actively working in film and television. These are the people who develop, fund, and greenlight projects. You’ll be given a list of seven industry professionals and have the opportunity to choose the three you want to meet with.

We suggest you bring as many pitches, ideas, or projects as you can — you never know what will resonate. Whether you're seeking funding, looking for creative feedback, or aiming to make the right connection, this is your chance to get in the room with professionals who can help move your career forward.

  • Manager: Alexa Whittington

    Talent / Development

    Alexa Whittington has over 12+ years experience in talent and entertainment-related businesses... producer on the feature film “Initiation” (SXSW 2020) distributed by Saban Films.

  • Producer: Stephen Mastrocola

    Executive Producer • Buffalo 8 / BondIt

    Chapman alum; worked on the Entourage movie and HBO’s Ballers; co-founded Static Films; now EP at Buffalo 8 & BondIt with the feature Dog Years (principal wrapped Apr 2025).

  • Manager: Chris Bellant

    Manager / Producer • Vision Entertainment

    Formerly Zero Gravity & Established Artists; clients placed at Netflix/Universal/WB/Lionsgate/Sony; produced Neighborhood Watch (2025 theatrical).

  • Producer: Benjamin Wiessner

    Producer • VP Sales & Distribution, Vanishing Angle

    Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces (2012); producer of Thunder Road (SXSW Grand Jury Prize); premieres at Sundance, Berlinale, Cannes, Tribeca; co-founded Short to Feature Lab.

  • Producer: Adam Maffei

    Anchor Stone Productions

    Film & TV Producer

    Produced features (SXSW, Tribeca) and TV (VICELAND’s Nuts & Bolts, Disney Channel’s Quizney); branded content with Tyler the Creator, Zendaya, Rolls Royce, Adidas, more.

  • Producer: Wes Ambrecht

    VP, Content • Titan1Studios

    Sundance Emerging Voices Semi-Finalist (Dani California); Sprite Young Filmmaker Finalist (AMC Theaters). Produced Killing Animals (Joey King, LaKeith Stanfield) while in grad school; shorts at Cannes & SBIFF. Started at Gersh (MP Lit), then exec roles at Viewfinder, Paper Plane, Foundation — projects set at Prime Video, HBO, CBS. Joined Titan1Studios (2022) to mine publishing/gaming for Film/TV; helped launch Missing Socks Entertainment (Calgary). EP on children’s special Welcome and adult animated drama Cat Assassin with Dave Bautista. MFA UCLA; BS Cornell.

  • Halle Mariner

    Agent at IAG

    Hailing from the Midwest, Halle graduated from Columbia College Chicago in film business before moving out to LA. Previously, she worked in film sales for Shoreline Entertainment and Preferred Content. Halle is also an Agent at IAG, currently working in the Scripted Literary Department. As an honoree of Colour Associates 2019 Next Up List, Halle was also a part of Women Wednesday’s BIPOC Mentorship Program Committee, #Startwith8 Mentorship Program, HRTSA Board Member, and was on the Diverse Representation: 10 to Watch in 2023.

Our Sponsors

Sponsored & Hosted by Buffalo 8 + BraveMaker

Our partners Buffalo 8 and BraveMaker proudly sponsor this event and will lead the Financing Seminar, equipping filmmakers with the strategies to package and fund their projects.

  • Buffalo 8

    Buffalo 8 is a Los Angeles–based, full-service independent media studio—part of the BondIt Media Capital family—providing production, post-production, distribution, and creative services. Founded in 2010 by Matthew Helderman (with early partner Luke Taylor), the company has premiered work at Sundance, SXSW, and Berlin, and has produced/exec-produced titles including Spike Lee’s Rodney King and Joe Berlinger’s Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes. Buffalo 8 also operates B8 Distribution, helping filmmakers reach global audiences via direct deals with streamers and partners.

  • BraveMaker Film Fest

    BraveMaker is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded by filmmaker Tony Gapastione focused on education, entertainment and creating a film community alive with empathy, ambition and passion. BraveMaker hosts monthly mixers, workshops and film screenings, quarterly classes for screenwriters, actors and filmmakers and weekly podcasts from the SF Bay to L.A. BraveMaker produces an annual film festival each July, bringing filmmakers and storytellers from around the world to the San Francisco Bay Area. Bravemaker seeks to fund and produce new projects that amplify the voices of historically excluded artists, ensuring their stories are seen, heard, and celebrated.