The HollyShorts Institute non-profit today announced the panel, presentation and masterclass lineup for the 2026 Alta Global Media Film Summit, taking place August 14–22, 2026, primarily at Loews Hollywood Hotel, with additional events hosted at select Hollywood venues. The boutique entertainment firm Alta Global Media, founded by Steven Adams and Theo Dumont, focuses on finance, international media consulting, artist management and production.
Presented as part of the 22nd anniversary celebration of HollyShorts, the nine-day summit will bring together filmmakers, performers, producers, studio and network executives, financiers, attorneys, educators, casting professionals and technology leaders for an ambitious series of conversations examining the rapidly evolving global entertainment industry.
This year’s program will explore the subjects shaping the future of film and television, including artificial intelligence, vertical storytelling, independent financing, intellectual property, distribution, entertainment law, episodic directing, authentic casting, awards strategy, international production and building sustainable creative careers.
Festival founders Daniel Sol and Theo Dumont will open the summit on Friday, August 14, with anniversary remarks moderated by HollyShorts executive Steven Adams.
Among the summit’s featured conversations will be a fireside chat with Game of Thrones, Fast & Furious and The Killeractress Nathalie Emmanuel, joined by actor and filmmaker Alex Lanipekun, as well as a fireside chat with actor, writer and art collector Russell Tovey.
The program will also welcome an acclaimed group of multidisciplinary artists for “Artists Without Borders: Building a Career Across Disciplines.” Moderated by Tamika Lamison, the conversation will feature Vic Mensa, Michelle Rodriguez, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Anslem Richardson and Gina Belafonte, examining how artists build careers spanning acting, writing, directing, producing, music, activism, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
In “Healing Through Creative Practice,” Shannon Lee, CEO of Bruce Lee Family Companies and chairperson of the Bruce Lee Foundation, will lead a conversation with director, writer, producer and Emmy-winning choreographer Jon Boogz; actress and co-choreographer Malaena Eagle; Mental Health Storytelling Initiative executive director Ashley Kolaya; and actor, writer and poet Rudi Goblen.
FILMMAKER CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Designed to provide filmmakers with practical tools and actionable industry knowledge, the summit will feature numerous sessions focused on converting short-film success into long-term careers.
“Launch Your Career With Your Short Film,” presented by LA Media Consultants and moderated by publicist and media consultant Deborah Gilels, will bring together casting director, manager and producer Valerie McCaffrey; literary manager Seth Nagel; writer-director-producer Jay Russell; Oscar-nominated filmmaker Craig Renaud; producer and AFI short-film mentor Jennie Lew Tugend; and talent and literary manager Steven Adams.
The panel will examine how filmmakers can use shorts as proof-of-concept projects, attract representation and financing, and develop their work into feature films or television series.
“The Long Game: What It Really Takes to Make It in Entertainment,” moderated by producer Jarod Einsohn, will feature studio executive and producer Greg Mooradian, writer Michael McGrale, network executive Kendra Patterson Heintz, film editor David Rosenbloom, casting director Barbara Fiorentino, Netflix executive Brooke Freundlich and director Anthony Hemingway.
Additional career-focused programs include:
- “Multi-Hyphenate Playbook: Write It, Direct It, Produce It,” presented by the ISA and featuring Scott Markus, Karyn Smith-Forge, Desa Larkin-Boutté and Allen Maldonado.
- “Directors Playbook: The Strategies Women and Gender-Expansive Directors Use to Win,” presented with the Alliance of Women Directors and featuring Kylie Eaton, Jen McGowan, Nikki Braendlin, Morenike Joela Evans and Candice.
- “Inside the Episode — The Craft of Directing,” led by director Dale S. Lewis, exploring the creative and production demands of episodic television.
- A conversation with writer-director Sheldon Candis, filmmaker behind the Hulu feature They Fight.
- “From Film School to Festival Run: How Three NYFA Students from Mexico Took Their Stories to the World,” moderated by NYFA’s Crickett Rumley and featuring filmmakers Ayesha Fernandez, Daniela Garciaand Aristides Mantilla.
- “Voices of the Diaspora: Exploring Ancestral Heritage Through Film,” moderated by Hoda Hawa and featuring Bao Nguyen, Razaaq Adoti, Tchaiko Omawale, Alana Duqum and Iman Karram.
FINANCING, BUSINESS AND THE NEW GREENLIGHT ECONOMY
The 2026 summit will place a major emphasis on the changing economics of independent production.
Sponsored by Vitrina, “What Gets Funded Now: Inside the New Greenlight Economy” will feature Vitrina founder and CEO Atul Phadnis and head of growth Kunal Barai, who will examine the genres, budget levels, partnerships and business models currently attracting commissioners, financiers and producers.
Presented by the MPAC Hollywood Bureau, “Financing Outside the Box: Alternative Investment Models” will explore emerging approaches beyond traditional studio financing. Moderator Najla Zaidi will be joined by executive producer and AI strategist Taye Shuayb, producer and creative strategist Khaliah Neal, multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Amatus-sami Karim, and filmmaker and educator Mobolaji Olambiwonnu.
“Breaking the Vault — Accessing Institutional Finance for Independent Film” will demystify how banks, private equity firms, family offices and other institutional investors evaluate film and television projects. Moderated by financier DJ Jiang, the session will feature Erik Gordon, Darryl Scott and Buffalo 8/BondIt’s Stephen Mastrocola.
The summit will also examine the rapidly growing mobile-first entertainment market in “Vertical Value: Financing the Micro-Drama Boom.” Moderated by Sarah Stunt, the panel will feature Nicki Micheaux, Erik Gordon and Edgar Esteves, discussing investment, deal structures, production and global distribution for serialized vertical content.
In “Lights, Camera, Location: Where Entertainment Finance Meets Real Estate,” presented by Dumont Luxury Realty, moderator Theo Dumont will be joined by investor, actress, writer and producer Marta Mendez Cross, Adam Brawer Estates president Adam Brawer, and realtor Adela Randazzo.
LEGAL STRATEGY, RIGHTS AND DISTRIBUTION
Presented by Sheppard, “From Shorts to Spotlight: Legal and Business Strategies for the Modern Filmmaker” will address the legal and financial considerations filmmakers must navigate across AI, intellectual property, distribution and the changing entertainment marketplace.
Sheppard partner Segun Aluko will moderate a panel featuring fellow Sheppard partner Robb Klein, Fifth Season vice president of business and legal affairs Miguel Guerra, and Banc of California senior vice president of media and entertainment Julien P. Bourgon.
“Entertainment Law 101 for Short Filmmakers,” presented by Kevork Law and moderated by Zoe Kevork, will feature Jeff Cohen and Mishawn Nolan in a practical discussion covering rights, releases, contracts and distribution.
Distribution specialist Audrey Clinet, CEO of Eroin Films, will present “Short Film Distribution: Between Myth and Reality,” a masterclass examining the evolution of the short-film marketplace and the relationship between filmmakers, distributors and sales agents.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMERGING PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Artificial intelligence and new production technologies will be examined through workshops, keynote presentations and filmmaker case studies.
Filmmaker Bradley Tangonan will present “Murmuray: AI in Filmmaking,” a masterclass detailing how generative AI was incorporated into the production of a short film set in 1950s Hawai‘i and inspired by traditional Filipino komedya opera. The session will cover script-to-shot-list translation, stylistic reverse-prompting, character consistency and structured AI production workflows.
The summit will also feature:
- An imgn AI workshop, led by Yaron Klainer, focused on an AI-enabled production hub for entertainment creators.
- Film.io’s keynote presentation “Vertov — How AI Is Changing Filmmaking,” featuring Bryan Hertz, Ian LeWinter and Chris Bosco.
- The GRX Immersive Labs x Xsens Motion Capture Workshop, led by Alton Glass.
- “Building IP That Travels Across Formats,” moderated by Emma Wilson, exploring how creators can develop properties across film, television, gaming, live experiences and consumer products.
AWARDS, CASTING AND INDUSTRY ACCESS
Filmmakers preparing for awards campaigns can attend “Navigating Awards Season,” moderated by London Flair PR founder and publicist Catherine Lyn Scott, with Academy Award winner David Breschel, and Academy Award nominee Doug Roland.
In “How to Qualify Your Short Film for the Oscars,” festival strategist Rebekah Louisa Smith, known as The Film Festival Doctor, will explain the qualification and submission process alongside Andrew Calberg and London Flair PR publicist Catherine Lyn Scott.
The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge will present “Casting Authentically – Conversation and Case Studies,” a brunch and panel moderated by CNN Hollywood Minute’s David Daniel. Featured panelists will include casting professionals Seth Caskey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Grace Wu and Libby Thomas Dickey.
SAGindie executive director Darrien Michele Gipson will also lead “Understanding the New SAG-AFTRA Contracts,” providing filmmakers with guidance on working under the latest union agreements.
GLOBAL FILMMAKING AND EDUCATION
The international dimensions of production will be highlighted through the “Karayr” Presentation and Reception, moderated by Deana Nassar Fernandez, with Dubai producers Razan Takash and Nechteh Neo Apelian, alongside Maykel Bakhoum, Abraam Mikhael and Her Excellency Hessa Alshuwaihi.
French in Motion will present “Shooting in France,” moderated by producer and French in Motion vice president Antoine Cazotte, with Emma Pejot among the participating speakers.
Leaders from prominent American film schools will convene for “Film Schools: Navigating the Future.” Moderated by Chapman University associate dean Pavel Jech, the panel will include UCLA graduate screenwriting chair Phyllis Nagy, Chapman producing professor Travis Knox, Emerson College director of industry partnerships and strategic initiatives Barbara Doyle, and Loyola Marymount University directing chair Vanessa Newell.
The panel will consider how film schools are balancing foundational disciplines—including writing, acting, story structure and film history—with AI, virtual production, immersive media and other emerging technologies.
RECEPTIONS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
The summit will be accompanied by a series of filmmaker receptions, networking events and special gatherings throughout the week, including receptions presented by the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in Los Angeles, Albert G. Ruben, a Relation Company, and Dumont Luxury Realty.
Additional events will include a Cat Serrano musical performance, a Kodak event and Hollywood Reservoir hike, filmmaker drinks, an Academy new members gathering and the HollyShorts closing cocktail reception.
Select sessions will also be streamed live through Eventive.
Further panelists, sponsors and programming details will be announced.
The schedule and participants are subject to change.
EVENT INFORMATION
2026 Alta Global Media Film Summit
Presented by The HollyShorts Institute
Dates: August 14–22, 2026
Primary Venue: Loews Hollywood Hotel, Mt. Olympus Ballroom
1755 North Highland Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028
Select programs will take place at additional Hollywood venues.
Tickets and Information: https://hollyshorts2026.eventive.org/schedule?search=loews
ABOUT HOLLYSHORTS
The HollyShorts Film Festival is an Academy Awards®, BAFTA and Canadian Screen Awards-qualifying festival dedicated to showcasing and advancing the work of emerging and established short filmmakers from around the world. Through screenings, industry programs, panels, workshops and networking events, HollyShorts connects filmmakers with audiences and entertainment-industry leaders while championing innovative short-form storytelling.
