Film Tampere proudly presents the next masterclass in cooperation with XYZ Films: What’s working and what’s not working in today’s global film marketplace.

The masterclass is moderated by Pip Ngo, Senior Vice President at Los Angeles based genre giant XYZ Films, and hosted by Fanny Heinonen, Program Director of Film Tampere.

The panelists are:

Kristin Harris, SVP, Production & Development at Vertical Entertainment

Kristin Harris is a seasoned entertainment executive with 20 years of experience. She’s held key acquisitions, production, and operational roles at Starz Media, Overture Films, Cinedigm Entertainment Group, and Good Deed Entertainment. She currently serves as the SVP, Production and Development at Vertical Entertainment where she oversees the organization’s financing, production and pre-buy initiatives.

John Von Thaden, Vice President at Magnolia Pictures

John Von Thaden is the Senior Vice President of the leading independent film distributor and production company Magnolia Pictures. Magnolia has distributed over 500 films in the past 20 years, ranging from internationally proclaimed films 2 Days in New York and Melancholia to Ruben Östlund’s hits Force Majeure and The Square. John Von Thaden has been with Magnolia for almost ten years and previously worked with companies like IFC Films and New Line Cinema.

James Emanuel Shapiro, President of Domestic Distribution at XYZ Films

James Emanuel Shapiro is an entertainment executive veteran for twenty years and has been the COO of both Drafthouse Films and NEON where we helped build both distribution companies from the ground up. He’s worked on several academy award campaigns including BULLHEAD, THE ACT OF KILLING, THE LOOK OF SILENCE and I, TONYA. He most recently started the analytics department and helped build the booking department at the Alamo Drafthouse. He’s also active in the festival world having worked with both Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest and he occasionally writes about the entertainment industry for Birth, Movies, Death and The Bulwark.

Take the opportunity to join our top panelists to discuss the do’s and don’ts in the current global marketplace and what its future looks like on the horizon. Hope to see you! You are warmly welcome!

Questions and inquiries of the event: fanny.heinonen@businesstampere.com

The masterclass is produced and distributed by Film Tampere and funded by The City of Tampere.