This year’s FilmNorth Forum is July 14-15th, 2018 and we get a look inside from FilmNorth Executive Director Andrew Peterson. Your registration includes all the panels, the double-feature screening, light breakfast/lunch, one-on-one sessions (optional), and the reception.
Register now: http://myfilmnorth.org/event/2018-forum/
Pre-Forum: 
FREE DOUBLE FEATURE – THURSDAY, JULY 12
A free double-feature screening of Capturing the Flag (Anne de Mare, director) and 1985 (Yen Tan, writer/director,) will take place at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema.
Forum:
FILMMAKER DIALOGUES – SATURDAY, JULY 14
Location: SPNN, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 170 (Vandalia Annex), St. Paul, MN 55114
Creating TV and Web Series in the Heartland
With an explosion of platforms, less reliance on “name” talent, and a support of independent sensibilities, filmmakers who may have previously made independent features are, instead, making episodic series. And they’re making them everywhere–not just in New York and Los Angeles. Hear from a who’s who of young talent who are making exciting episodic series from the heartland.
Sam Bailey, writer/director/creator of the Emmy nominated web series Brown Girls (being developed for HBO), Gotham Award nominated web series You’re So Talented, Fink (being developed for Universal Cable Productions)
Vincent Johnson, Brown Girls
Naomi Ko, writer/creator/actress Nice (2018 Tribeca Film Festival)
Michael Starburry, writer Central Park Five (Netflix), Legends of Chamberlain Heights (Comedy Central)
Moderated by Matthew G. Anderson, creator Theater People
Getting Political: The Art of Campaign Documentaries
There’s a long and rich history of political documentaries. Join two filmmakers who have created compelling new entries in this canon that shine a light on the current state of affairs and call us to action. Whether the topic is a new and inspiring representative or the political process itself, each director shows there are endless possibilities for compelling stories in modern politics.
Anne de Mare, director Capturing the Flag
Norah Shapiro, director Time for Ilhan
Moderated by documentarian Melody Gilbert
Case Study: 1985
Premiering to rave reviews at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, Yen Tan’s 1985 quickly racked up awards (most recently winning the Audience Award at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival) and landed distribution with Wolfe Releasing. Interestingly enough, 1985 began as a short film, which premiered at an earlier SXSW Film Festival. How did a low-budget, black and white film shot in Texas manage all this? The usual way: great writing and direction and strong producing. Join writer/director Yen Tan (who also wrote and directed the 2014 Cassavetes Award nominated Pit Stop) and producer Ash Christian (producer or executive producer of 8 feature films in 2018 alone) to find out the secrets of low-budget filmmaking success.
Yen Tan, writer/director
Ash Christian, producer
Moderated by SXSW Film Festival Programmer Gabe Van Amburgh
Plus a Special Dialogue To Be Announced!
Forum:
ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS – SUNDAY, JULY 15
Location: FilmNorth, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 120 (main building), St. Paul, MN 55114
The following Forum guests will be available for 10-minute consultations. You may request up to two consultations to FilmNorth Education Director Reilly Tillman.

* Sam Bailey
* Ash Christian
* Anne de Mare
* Vincent Johnson
* Yen Tan
* Gabe Van Amburgh