The FILM INDEPENDENT FORUM returned on September 25-26, 2026, at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles. SAGindie was happy to be back as a Premier Sponsor of the event, in addition to presenting The New Wave. The New Wave (presented by SAGindie, Film Independent, and Easterseals) is an annual showcase of diverse actors coming together to discuss their careers. SAGindie’s Darrien Michele Gipson moderated this year’s New Wave panel, featuring actors Tal Anderson, Amber Midthunder, Myra Molloy, Saagar Shaikh, and Luke Tennie.
The FIND Forum also brought together executives, directors, actors, distributors, and more to discuss topics ranging from payroll and pitching to AI and verticals. There were also networking opportunities like Industry Connect at the Forum (featuring SAGindie’s Shefali Vasudevan!), case studies, screenings of Atonement and Doc Meets World, and Keynotes by filmmakers HIKARI (Rental Family) and Elegance Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon (By Any Means).
See videos of the various panels below!
The 2026 Film Independent Forum was sponsored by Premier Sponsors SAGindie and Directors Guild of America; Principal Sponsor Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles; Supporting Sponsors Explore Minnesota Film, Film Mississippi, Front Row Insurance Brokers, and Shamel Studio; and Official Provider eTech Rentals.
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Film Independent Forum 2026 – The New Wave Actors: Changing the Narrative
- Tal Anderson (The Pitt)
- Amber Midthunder (Opus)
- Myra Molloy (Girls Like Girls)
- Saagar Shaikh (Deli Boys)
- Luke Tennie (Shrinking)
- Moderated by Darrien Michele Gipson (Executive Director, SAGindie)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Opening Night Screening Q&A: Atonement
- Haim Abbass (actor, Atonement)
- Steven Demmler (producer, Atonement)
- Boyd Holbrook (actor, Atonement)
- Reed Van Dyk (writer/director, Atonement)
- Trevor White (producer, Atonement)
- Moderated by Lorraine Ali (News and Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – The Future of Independent Film & the Creative Economy
- Tom Butterfield (producer, The Critic)
- Adam Fowler (Economist/Founting Partner, CVL Economic)
- Denise Gutches (CEO, FilmLA)
- Steve Kang (President/Chief Film Liaison, City of Los Angeles)
- John Lang (producer, Family Movie)
- Moderated by Juan Devis (President, Film Independent)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Shopping Your Project: A Pitching Clinic
- Rebecca Green (Producing Discipline Head, AFI Conservatory)
- Kyle Greenberg (Head of Marketing and Distribution, Utopia)
- Ryan Parker (Production and Workforce Manager, Film Mississippi)
- Tristen Tuckfield (agent, UTA)
- Lucas Wiesendanger (SVP of Motion Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment)
- Moderated by Angela Lee (Director of Artist Development, Film Independent)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – New Indie TV Series: Hal & Harper and The Screener Case Studies
- Cooper Raiff (creator, Hal & Harper)
- Jim Cummings (creator, The Screener)
- Moderated by Avril Speaks (producer, Jinn)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Reality Check: AI in the Workplace
- Patrick Adler (founding partner, Westwood Economics)
- Matthew Cullen (founder, Mirada Studios Motion Theory)
- Ruth Fowler (writer, Rules of the Game)
- Jim Geduldick (VFX Supervisor/Co-founder, CCAI)
- Harry Yoon (editor, Spider-Man: Brand New Day)
- Moderated by Carolyn Giardina (Crafts and Entertainment Technology Journalist)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Made in California: Lurker and Dìdi Case Studies
- Alex Russell (writer/director, Lurker)
- Galen Core (producer, Lurker)
- Sean Wang (writer/director, Dìdi)
- Moderated by Valerie Martinez (Senior Manager of Artist Development, Film Independent)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Crossing Borders: The International Landscape for Indies
- Munir Atalla (Head of Production & Acquisitions, Watermelon Pictures)
- Claire Brooks (Executive Director, Association of Film Commissioners International)
- Miura Kite (President of Global Content, Maria Farinha Films)
- Anna Różalska (executive producer, Who Will Write Our History)
- Shih-Ching Tsou (director/producer, Left-Handed Girl)
- Moderated by Tatiana Kelly (producer, The Catcher Was a Spy)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Reframing the Narrative: Vertical Storytelling
- Tiffany Yvonne Cox (writer/director, Leaving Mr. Wrong for Mr. Right)
- Elizabeth Dell (producer, Screen Time)
- Hernan Lopez (executive producer, Dying for Sex)
- Vivian “Anan” Wang (writer, Sleeping With My Billionaire Enemy)
- Dawn Yang (Global Head of Entertainment & Micro-Series, TikTok)
- Moderated by Wendy Calhoun (executive producer, The Rookie: Feds)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Breaking the Big Screen: The YouTube Generation Comes of Age
- Katy Fishell (comedy writer/cartoonist)
- Caleb Phillips (writer/director, Imposters)
- Nicolas Curcio (writer, GOAT)
- Alexander Ullom (director, It Ends)
- Moderated by Missy Laney (film & TV producer)
Film Independent Forum 2026 – Closing Night Screening Q&A: Doc Meets World
- Alexandra Baretto (producer, Doc Meets World)
- Chris Levitus (director, Doc Meets World)
- Zane Rubin (director, Doc Meets World)
- Rider Strong (actor, Doc Meets World)
- Moderated by Jeremy Aguilera-Gaudette (Project Manager, Film Independent)
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE IT OUT FOR THE FORUM!
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