American Film Market (AFM)

AFM 2025, the 46th edition, ran from 11 to 16 November at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City. It marked the market's return to Los Angeles after a year in Las Vegas, and its first year at the Fairmont.

Exhibition space sold out, with more than 285 exhibiting companies from 35 countries. The market reported 6,132 attendees from 83 countries, up from 5,522 in 2024. There were 500 buying companies from 61 countries, and the number of US buyers rose by 17%.

New this year was an Innovation Hub run with the Marché du Film's Cannes Next programme, covering AI and virtual production. The AFM Sessions ran 35 talks over two stages.

For exhibitors, AFM is still a sales market rather than a cinema convention. It is most useful to independent cinemas and small circuits that buy films direct and want to meet sales agents before titles are taken by US distributors.

Attendee badges are bought on the AFM attendee registration page. A five-day Industry badge for 10–14 November costs US$1,045 and a Platinum badge US$1,395. Four-day badges cost US$695, or US$895 with The AFM Sessions. Three-day badges cost US$495, or US$695 with Sessions. A one-day badge is US$345.

The AFM Summit runs on 10 November. Summit-only access costs US$395, Summit access plus an AFM day badge US$495, and badge holders can add the Summit for US$175.

Buyer badges cost US$545, or US$745 with Sessions. They are only for staff of an AFM Accredited Buyer: a company that has licensed at least three films from IFTA members in the past three years. The 2026 deadline to apply for accreditation was 16 October.

The travel page covers hotels and parking, and the Sessions schedule is online.

Be clear about what AFM is: a market where independent films are licensed, financed and sold, territory by territory. The core transactions are between sales companies and distributors, and it is produced by the Independent Film & Television Alliance. The market is based at the Fairmont Century Plaza, with premiere screenings and promo reels at the AMC Century City 15.

Around it sit The AFM Sessions conference programme, LocationEXPO for film commissions and production services, and an innovation hub. None of this is aimed at cinema operations.

For most cinemas, the films at AFM will reach you through a local distributor, and there is no reason to attend. It becomes relevant if you buy rights directly — an exhibitor that also distributes, a cinema group acquiring titles for its own territory, or a programmer sourcing event and repertory content. Buyers apply for buyer accreditation, which gives access to the market screenings; attendees without buying authority take a paid attendee badge instead.