Rainy Weather Drives Crowds to Revamped American Film Market

The 2025 American Film Market (AFM), which took place in mid-November, saw a noticeable uptick in attendance due to the rainy weather in Los Angeles. The event's new venue at the Fairmont Century Plaza was widely praised, with sales agents and producers noting the improved efficiency and amenities compared to the previous year's much-maligned trip to Las Vegas.

Despite the challenging market conditions, the AFM remained a hub of activity, with 285 exhibitors from 35 countries participating. However, buyers expressed concerns about the high prices of many projects, which they felt did not align with the current realities of the industry. The recent box office struggles of several indie films, such as "Die, My Love" and "Christy," only underscored the difficulties facing the theatrical landscape.

Alongside the pricing issues, the decline in ancillary revenues, particularly in key international markets like Germany, Spain, and Italy, has further constrained buyers' purchasing power. As one distribution executive noted, "the honest truth is that we feel expectations from producers and sellers haven't yet fully adjusted to the realities of the market and, importantly, to what audiences are actually responding to right now."

Despite these challenges, there were several projects that generated significant interest, including Morten Tyldum's "Ibelin" and the revenge thriller "Bad Bridgets." However, the high asking prices for these films proved prohibitive for many buyers. As one independent distributor remarked, "as an independent you have to work around the challenges and that's what we do. As always, if you've got a special film, it will perform so that's what you have to look for."