Summit 2026 | American Film Association
February 27–28, 2026 · Atlanta, GA
The Inaugural Summit

Where It
All Started.

The first ever AFA Summit brought the industry together in Atlanta for two days of real conversation, real connection, and a feeling that something important was beginning.

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The Recap

Two Days That Changed Everything.

The inaugural AFA Summit in Atlanta was something special. The room was full of people from every corner of the industry and it felt less like a conference and more like a family reunion. We heard from filmmakers, investors, and innovators who all shared one thing in common: they believe in the future of cinema and they showed up to talk about it.

We broke the barrier between the studio world and the indie world. The conversations were honest, the energy was contagious, and by the end of the two days it was clear that this community was something people had been waiting for. It was incredible to hear from everyone and to see how many people in this industry are ready to come together.

"There was zero gatekeeping. Every single speaker got up there and didn't hold back. They let everyone in on how the industry is truly operating right now. That kind of honesty is rare and it's exactly what this community needed."

Summit Attendee, 2026

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Featured Speakers

The Voices in the Room.

Joseph & Aalia Lanius
Entertainment law and film financing. Shared their expertise on navigating the legal and financial side of getting movies made.
Jon Huertas
Actor, director, and producer who brought a powerful perspective on what it means to create with purpose.
Jon Gosier & Erik Gordon
FilmHedge. Talked about the innovation happening in film financing and how technology is reshaping the business.
Alexis Garcia
Brass Knuckle Films and CAT5. Shared how independent production companies are pushing boundaries and creating new models.
Rashidi Hendrix
Talked about the art and strategy of packaging films and what it takes to bring a project to life.