Film Financing Today

ABOUT THE EVENT:

The independent film landscape is evolving faster than ever, and financing strategies are shifting to keep up. This timely conversation brings together leading investors, financiers, and industry insiders who have their finger on the pulse of how projects are being funded, and what’s working right now. From equity and debt models to brand partnerships, international co-productions, and new investor pathways, our panel will outline where opportunities exist for filmmakers today. Don’t miss this inside look at the state of film financing in 2025 and beyond.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR:

Jeremy Fuster

Film Reporter, TheWrap

Jeremy Fuster joined TheWrap in 2016 and covers box office news. He graduated from the USC Annenberg School of Journalism, where he received an L.A. Press Club Award in 2014 as part of the student news website Neon Tommy. He has received three additional LAPC Awards during his time at TheWrap and was nominated in 2024 for Entertainment Journalist of the Year

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Tyler Boehm

Co-CEO, Unapologetic Projects

As co-founder and co-CEO of Unapologetic Projects, Tyler works with underrepresented creators telling authentic stories in film and television. He is an Executive Producer on the Focus Features release DIDI, which won the 2024 Audience Award at Sundance and two Independent Spirit Awards. Tyler is an Executive Producer on Justin Lin’s LAST DAYS and Yen Tan’s ALL THAT WE LOVE, starring Margaret Cho and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. His upcoming credits include the Magnolia Pictures release MADDIE’S SECRET from writer/director/star John Early, Joel Vargas’s Sundance Award winning MAD BILLS TO PAY, which will be released by Oscilloscope Pictures, and the first feature from the world of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to be directed by Adam Shankman and released by Bleecker Street. Prior to Unapologetic Projects, Tyler served as vice president at Sobini Films, where he was in charge of development and film finance. His past film credits include YOU SING LOUD, I SING LOUDER starring Ewan McGregor, J.T. LEROY starring Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, MARY SHELLEY starring Elle Fanning, MILES AHEAD starring Don Cheadle, GOOD KILL starring Ethan Hawke and the British Independent Film Awards-winning FILTH starring James McAvoy.

Sam Pressman

CEO, Pressman Film

Sam has ushered in Pressman Film’s exciting new-era of growth and success through his long-standing relationships with talent, industry insiders and an expansive independent financing network. Immersed in the motion picture business from a young age, he is humbled and emboldened by the responsibility of carrying the mantle of his family’s 50 years in filmmaking. Before assuming the role of CEO, Sam worked under his father Ed Pressman on Werner Herzog’s BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS, Matt Brown’s THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, Barry Levinson’s PATERNO—and alongside Ed on Keith Maitland’s DEAR MR BRODY, Charlotte Colbert’s SHE WILL, Mary Harron’s DALILAND, Marshmallow Laser Feast’s groundbreaking VR-experience EVOLVER and Rupert Sander’s reboot of THE CROW. Sam most recently produced Gus Van Sant’s DEAD MAN’S WIRE and Takashi Miike’s BAD LIEUTENANT: TOKYO. Sam graduated from Stanford University where he majored in Film & Media Studies and was the president of the Stanford Film Society and head of the Advanced Film Workshop.

Clay Epstein

President, Film Mode Entertainment

Clay Epstein has over twenty years of experience as an Entertainment Executive. Since launching his own company in 2016, he is the President and Owner of Film Mode Entertainment, a worldwide sales and distribution entity with a producer friendly initiative. In addition to bringing films to audiences around the globe, Clay executive produces many of the company’s titles. As an Executive Producer, Clay is instrumental in working with filmmakers in the early stages of pre-production to help build the financing and creative elements to achieve these successes worldwide. To better help producers and directors who may be less experienced, Film Mode has an active consultancy division, offering producers expertise and guidance on financial models, marketing and distribution strategies. Film Mode represents over 70 independent feature films worldwide, with a client base that spans the globe. Recent successes include BREACH starring Bruce Willis, AS THEY MADE US starring Dustin Hoffman and Candice Bergan, CRYPTO starring Kurt Russel, LITTLE PINK HOUSE starring Catherine Keener and MONSTROUS starring Christina Ricci. Prior to launching Film Mode, Clay was SVP Sales & Acquisitions at Arclight Films. He was instrumental in representing high profile films such as Paul Schrader ’s DOG EAT DOG starring Nicolas Cage, and the Spirig brother’s PREDESTINATION starring Ethan Hawke. Earlier in his career, Clay represented prestigious titles such as TSOTSI (2006, Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Language,) and THE LAST STATION (2010, Academy Award Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress.) Clay earned a BA in Fine Arts, from California State University, Northridge majoring in Film Production and minoring in Italian Language. Clay holds the elected position of Chairman of Independent Film and Television Alliance, lectures at UCLA Extension and film festivals worldwide. He’s a member of PGA, FIND, BAFTA and the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts.

Olivia Mascheroni

Finance & Sales Agent, Verve Ventures / Verve Talent & Literary Agency

Olivia Mascheroni is a strategist, producer, and agent whose career bridges storytelling, finance and innovation. Known for her instinct for talent and her ability to connect visionary creators with global opportunities, Olivia helps shape and launch some of the most distinctive films in today’s independent landscape. At Verve Talent & Literary Agency, she plays a leading role within Verve Ventures, the company’s film finance and sales division, guiding projects from script to screen and overseeing partnerships with filmmakers, producers, and financiers worldwide. Recent highlights include the SXSW breakout GOOD BOY (acquired by SHUDDER/IFC), CAROLINA CAROLINE (TIFF 50th Anniversary Premiere), KNOX GOES AWAY directed by Michael Keaton, and EMILY THE CRIMINAL starring Aubrey Plaza. Upcoming titles include SENDER starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Britt Lower, and THE PROCESS starring Halle Berry and Don Cheadle. Olivia also works closely with creative companies and storytellers expanding their global reach, including Little Walnut, the production company of Grammy Award–winning artist Moby and his co-founder Lindsay Hicks, and Object & Animal, the London-based studio behind some of the most innovative campaigns in advertising and film. Before joining Verve (as profiled in Variety), Olivia held development and production leadership roles at The Black List, Madre Ventures and Blumhouse Productions, contributing to acclaimed titles such as Get Out, Whiplash and The Purge franchise. Her mission remains constant: empowering bold creators and building bridges between art, commerce and culture.