Film Financing in Uncertain Times

Karim Ahmad was the Director of Outreach & Inclusion at the Sundance Institute, where he oversaw emerging artist outreach initiatives and cross-discipline creative / professional development activations and partnerships. He also lead inclusion strategy across the organization, and advocacy for marginalized artists in the field. Previously, he was Senior Strategist for ITVS, where he oversaw numerous film funds and headed digital content production and creative development for episodic and immersive media. He was the Creator and Senior Producer of Indie Lens Storycast, an Independent Lens branded YouTube channel on PBS’ Digital Studios MCN, and the Creator and Showrunner of the iconic sci-fi series, FUTURESTATES . Karim is also an independent cross-platform writer and producer and can be found on Twitter as @thatkarimahmad.

Carrie Lozano is the Director of the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film and Artist Programs, and is an award winning documentary filmmaker and journalist. Prior to Sundance, she was director of the International Documentary Association's Enterprise Documentary and Pare Lorentz funds, where she supported more than 60 diverse films and filmmakers at the intersection of documentary and journalism. She is on the advisory board of U.C. Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism, where she is an alumnus and has been a lecturer and editor in its documentary film and investigative reporting programs. Lozano was previously an executive at Al Jazeera America and a senior producer of the network’s investigative series FAULT LINES. Her recent film credits include THE BALLAD OF FRED HERSCH and PROGNOSIS: NOTES ON LIVING.

Heather Rae has produced such films as Academy Award–nominated FROZEN RIVER, Netflix originals TALLULAH AND DUDE, festival darling I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS, award-winning THE DRY LAND, and more recently, BULL, which premiered at Cannes. Rae has been recognized as one of Variety’s “Producers to Watch” and won the Piaget and Cinereach producers awards. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on the Producers Branch Executive Committee. Rae is currently in a First Look deal with Amazon Studios and is an executive producer on the series OUTER RANGE, starring Josh Brolin. Rae also works as a narrative change strategist with the nonprofit organization IllumiNative.

Kevin Iwashina is Head of Endeavor Content Documentary, a global leader in the production, distribution, financing and sales of premium film, television, and audio content. In his role, Iwashina identifies financing opportunities, handles sales and provides advisory services for media companies, global corporations and content creators in the premium non-scripted space.

A division of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company, Endeavor Content finances, packages and sells over 100 feature films and television series a year. In premium non-scripted, recent film and television projects include: CHEF’S TABLE, WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR, THE ELEPHANT QUEEN, THE APOLLO, KILLER INSIDE: THE MIND OF AARON HERNANDEZ, WE ARE FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME and HAMILTON, among others.

Iwashina joined Endeavor Content in 2017. Prior to that, he served as Founder & CEO at Preferred Content, a film, television and digital sales, production and advisory company. During his tenure, he oversaw the representation of fiction and non-fiction content creators to secure financing and distribution of feature films and episodic series concepts. Iwashina was the lead producer of the 2011 hit documentary JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, the precursor to CHEF’S TABLE.

Prior to launching PC, Iwashina was a senior agent in CAA’s Independent & International Film Group, after initially beginning his career in the mailroom at UTA. He holds a B.A. in English literature with a specialization in French language and culture from U.C.L.A. and is active in the non-profit sector. In addition, he served as the Chairman of the Board of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and as the President of the Board of Directors of the International Documentary Association (IDA).