The annual American Film Market, run by the IFTA Alliance, is exploring a move
from Santa Monica to the L.A. Live complex downtown. And we, the buyers and
participants of the AFM Market, want to show our disagreement with this move.
For more than 15 years, Santa Monica has been the ideal location for buyers around
the world to meet. Its facilities and the beach have been praised around the world and they embody the prestige of the event,
much like The Cannes Film Festival and MIP-TV which boast a beautiful beach location.
We, the participants, have become accustomed to come to Santa Monica for the AFM and it has become
a yearly tradition. We are happy to perpetuate this tradition because we love the place
and because it took us years to work out the functional details of attending the market
in Santa Monica.
Furthermore, the sales suites and screening rooms in the L.A. Live complex will be
split between hotels and the adjacent convention center. This will divide participants
who will have to run all day long in order to attend to their meetings. This will simply
be exhausting, not to mention creating a more stressful environment generally. And,
as a consequence, participants may choose to shorten their stay which will deeply affect
the business of the market. A less competitive market will lead to less attendance and,
ultimately, to the extinction of the market.
The Independent Spirit Awards tried one year to move their event from their traditional
Santa Monica beach location to downtown, but they moved back to the beach right after.
This is not anectodal. This shows that location is everything.
It is everything because it attracts foreign buyers and because it keeps a market alive.
There are many film markets around the world and the successful ones are the ones
that take in consideration their participants.
We do not want to be parked in soulless spaces in the middle of a crowded downtown L.A.
We want to meet and do our business serenely if possible.
Comfort and Prestige are the keys to a successful market.
If you feel the same way as we do, please sign this petition to save the original AFM
location and perpetuate a great tradition.
Already signed by:
Updates
November 4, 2011
I really thought this might just be me shouting into the void but looking at how many people feel exactly the same about keeping the market by the beach is honestly overwhelming. It is wild to think about how much time we have spent navigating those Santa Monica hotels only to have it all potentially uprooted like this. We have real momentum now and it feels like the people who actually run these meetings are finally being taken seriously.
Reached 100 supporters
November 4, 2011
6 Comments
LEAVE IT ALONE. We need the AFM right here in Santa Monica. It helps so many local people.
Keep the AFM where it belongs. Santa Monica isn't the same without it.
Ridiculous to even think about moving it. This is a staple of our community and brings so much life to the area. Stop trying to ruin everything!
Been going here for years. Dont mess with a good thing.
Total incompetence by the city planning office. Why are they pushing this out? SO STUPID.
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The annual American Film Market, run by the IFTA Alliance, is exploring a move
from Santa Monica to the L.A. Live complex downtown. And we, the buyers and
participants of the AFM Market, want to show our disagreement with this move.
For more than 15 years, Santa Monica has been the ideal location for buyers around
the world to meet. Its facilities and the beach have been praised around the world and they embody the prestige of the event,
much like The Cannes Film Festival and MIP-TV which boast a beautiful beach location.
We, the participants, have become accustomed to come to Santa Monica for the AFM and it has become
a yearly tradition. We are happy to perpetuate this tradition because we love the place
and because it took us years to work out the functional details of attending the market
in Santa Monica.
Furthermore, the sales suites and screening rooms in the L.A. Live complex will be
split between hotels and the adjacent convention center. This will divide participants
who will have to run all day long in order to attend to their meetings. This will simply
be exhausting, not to mention creating a more stressful environment generally. And,
as a consequence, participants may choose to shorten their stay which will deeply affect
the business of the market. A less competitive market will lead to less attendance and,
ultimately, to the extinction of the market.
The Independent Spirit Awards tried one year to move their event from their traditional
Santa Monica beach location to downtown, but they moved back to the beach right after.
This is not anectodal. This shows that location is everything.
It is everything because it attracts foreign buyers and because it keeps a market alive.
There are many film markets around the world and the successful ones are the ones
that take in consideration their participants.
We do not want to be parked in soulless spaces in the middle of a crowded downtown L.A.
We want to meet and do our business serenely if possible.
Comfort and Prestige are the keys to a successful market.
If you feel the same way as we do, please sign this petition to save the original AFM
location and perpetuate a great tradition.
Already signed by:
Updates
November 4, 2011
I really thought this might just be me shouting into the void but looking at how many people feel exactly the same about keeping the market by the beach is honestly overwhelming. It is wild to think about how much time we have spent navigating those Santa Monica hotels only to have it all potentially uprooted like this. We have real momentum now and it feels like the people who actually run these meetings are finally being taken seriously.
Reached 100 supporters
November 4, 2011
6 Comments
Please dont let them move it. It would be a huge loss for all of us.
LEAVE IT ALONE. We need the AFM right here in Santa Monica. It helps so many local people.
Keep the AFM where it belongs. Santa Monica isn't the same without it.
Ridiculous to even think about moving it. This is a staple of our community and brings so much life to the area. Stop trying to ruin everything!
Been going here for years. Dont mess with a good thing.
Total incompetence by the city planning office. Why are they pushing this out? SO STUPID.
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Please dont let them move it. It would be a huge loss for all of us.