Dressing the Frame: Production Directors & Costume Designers

Join us as we dive into how these two departments collaborate to build a visual language, turning a script into an engaing and authentic visual. We’re discussing the intimate creative partnership between Production Designers and Costume Designers, and how they bring a story to life through textures and space. Whether you're a director, producer, or aspiring designer, learn the art of visual collaboration and how to treat every frame like a painting.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

cinema by numbers

Film is an industry driven by numbers. Incentives, financing, budgets, and ticket sales. This session is a deep dive into how filmmakers use tax credits and rebates to de-risk investments and turn a creative vision into a profitable product. Join leaders in global tax incentives, and financing, as they discuss designing a project that qualifies for the best rebates, how to ensure your investors see a return, and why the most successful filmmakers are often the best mathematicians.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

sag-AFTRA 101

Join us for a candid conversation with leadership from SAG-AFTRA designed to demystify the union’s role in an actor’s career. Moving beyond the basics, we will break down the vital differences between Union and Non-Union sets, and how the union is built to protect everyone on a project. Our guests will also tackle the urgent issues facing actors in 2026, including how to spot 'red flags' in contracts, the hidden costs of 'in perpetuity' clauses, and how AI language is quietly sneaking into agreements. Learn to read between the lines before you sign on the dotted line.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

intimate workshop #4: on-set and post-production sound

Stop treating audio as an afterthought and start using it as a creative weapon. We will dive into capturing clean dialogue on a chaotic set, and designing a soundscape in post-production that turns raw sound into a cinematic experience. Get into the world of sound mixing and design in this hands on workshop.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

networking event brought to you by sag-aftra

Get to know other film creatives in a chill setting.

shifting trends in the industry

The entertainment industry is undergoing a massive recalibration. While the public sees the finished product, the real decisions about what gets made, and who gets cast, are happening in rooms where commerce and culture collide. This panel pulls back the curtain on those private conversations. We’re exploring the "authenticity" wave of 2026, the financial impact of modern representation, and how global audience demands are reshaping the casting and production processes.

Featuring the distinct perspectives of producers and casting directors, this discussion aims to forecast where the industry is heading and how South Florida filmmakers can position themselves to find their space in the industry.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

creating sustainable films with tight budgets

They say "limitations breed creativity". We're breaking down how companies are designing projects to fit a budget that will lead to a return on investment. Join our panelists as they discuss why staying small might be the best way to grow. A deep dive into keeping productions budget friendly during the developement and pre-production process.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

intimate workshop #5: horror vfx

In the age of digital CGI, the most visceral horror is still practical. Join local hero Eric "Hollywood" Corbin for a messy, hands-on deep dive into the art of bringing (practical) creatures to life. This isn't just about applying fake blood; it’s about the designing horror elements that sell the illusion of of the supernatural on the page, and reminds us of the magic of the golden age of Hollywood.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

funding docs

Non-fiction storytelling requires a unique fundraising strategy that differs vastly from narrative features. From soft money and grants to impact investing, the revenue streams are specific but competitive. Learn from successful non-fiction producers and directors as they outline how to build a compelling financing deck, identify the right fiscal sponsors, and sustain production momentum over the years it often takes to capture real life.

Featured Speakers: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

film and acting speed networking

This isn't your typical networking event, you’ll have 4 minutes to connect with a fellow filmmaker or actor, but there’s one rule: no talking about movies or moviemaking. We’re here to find the person behind the art. If you get stuck, we’ve got "emergency prompts" on the tables to keep the conversation flowing. Come find your next collaborator by finding the human connection first.

Featured Speaker: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

intimate workshop #6: scheduling

A movie is made in the writing, but it is saved in the scheduling. A script is a dream, but a schedule is the battle plan. Veteran line producer Andy Shefter (whose credits include Empire and Bully) pulls back the curtain on the invisible art of production logistics. This workshop treats the schedule not as a spreadsheet, but as a logic puzzle where time, money, and actor availability collide. You will learn how to maximize every dollar by manipulating your most important asset: time.

Featured Speaker: TBA

Limited seating. First come, first served.

sunday wrap party

That’s a wrap on the 2026 South Florida Film Forum! Celebrate with all the new friends you made along the way.

*And I’ve . . . had . . . the time of my life . . .*