Film Distribution - Panel #5

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2025 - 10:00am - 1:00pm

(10-11am mixer) Food and drink provided by Republik Coffee.

Location: Hollywood Production Center, 300 N. Third Street, Rooftop, Burbank, CA 91502 Please note: NO high heels on the rooftop.

Learn how to get your film distributed and what distribution companies are looking for, and how to prepare for a distribution deal.

-PANELISTS-

(LIGHT YEAR PICTURES)

MICHELLE ALEXANDRA

Michelle Alexandria an LA native, began her career in finance, working with high-net-worth individuals and major financial institutions. As Finance Director for Jaguar Cars for several years, she refined her expertise with clients, laying a strong foundation for her later work in film producing and distribution. Her time living and studying in Paris further deepened her global industry connections and perspective on international cinema.Since 2002, Michelle has actively attended major film festivals and markets such as Cannes, AFM, Berlin, Buenos Aires, UniFrance, and Sundance, building an extensive international network. Through Light Year Pictures, she develops, finances, and distributes genre feature films, partnering with investors and creatives to deliver content that resonates across audiences and markets.

Michelle founded her film production company Light Year Pictures in 2020 producing several films of all genres. Among her credits are the faith-based film Reason to Believe starring Jennifer Taylor (distributed by Collide Entertainment), the equestrian family drama Kaitlyn’s Chance starring Sean Patrick Flanery and Jaime King, and the dramedy The Tale of Nicky Newark featuring Sean Patrick Flanery, Frank Whaley, and Kelly Stables, sci-fi feature Sideslip starring Chase Coleman and Bruce Locke. Most recently she produced an arthouse film in Tuscany, Italy A Silhouette of a Woman starring Lili Bordan. Michelle has also produced successful family films and thrillers, always focusing on projects with strong storylines and market appeal.

Beyond producing, Michelle has acquired and distributed hundreds of films worldwide. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) on the Producers Council and serves on the advisory board of the Burbank International Film Festival. Dedicated to supporting the next generation of filmmakers, Michelle frequently mentors emerging talent through workshops on financing, production, and international distribution.With her combined background in finance, production, and global distribution, Michelle Alexandria brings a strategic and creative approach to every project she champions.

(FILM EXECUTIVE)

JEAN-FRANCOIS CAVALIER

Jean-François Cavelier is an accomplished film executive with over 30 years of international experience in film and television sales, distribution, and production. Originally from Paris, France, he is widely recognized for his cross-cultural fluency, strategic insight, and outstanding relationship-building skills.

Cavelier began his career with executive roles in major Hollywood distribution companies, later serving as a Domestic and International Distribution Consultant for Comerica Bank (Los Angeles), Liberty International (Los Angeles), Pueblo (Geneva), and Syrena (Warsaw). He advised clients across the U.S., Latin America, France, and China on financing, sales, and distribution strategy before launching his own consultancy, where he continues to work with a global roster of clients.

In the first 15 years of his career, Cavelier focused on the acquisition and production of content in Mainland China and Latin America, as well as the distribution of Hollywood films to international markets. In 2015, he transitioned to feature film production. Notably, he co-produced a $70M Chinese WWII epic featuring Bruce Willis and Mel Gibson, and “Wonders of the Sea,” a feature documentary directed by Jean-Michel Cousteau and narrated by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Cavelier is currently the lead producer of Why in the World, a documentary now in post-production. In partnership with producer Michael Pollack, he is developing a slate of twelve feature films, with two projects scheduled to shoot in late 2025 with budgets of $6M and $15M, and additional productions planned for 2026.

Beyond producing, Cavelier is the Founder of Gallico Media, LLC, a boutique film consulting firm that has supported over thirty clients in screenplay development, pitch deck creation, and packaging strategy.

He is also the Co-Founder of Countess Films, LLC, a newly established production company focused on female-driven and empowerment-centered stories. Its debut project, Meet Me in the Kitchen at Midnight, is currently in development.

(PRODUCER/ACTOR)

ISABELLA BLAKE-THOMAS

Producers Guild member, Isabella Blake-Thomas is a multifaceted talent with nearly 20 years in the entertainment industry, known for her roles as a producer and actor. Her creative imprint is evident in projects such as Disney Plus' "Secret Society of Second Born Royals", ABC's "Once Upon a Time", Pluto's "Just Swipe", and Amazon Prime's "Maybe I'm Fine". Isabella recently wrote, starred in, and produced the compelling film "Karma: Death at Latigo Springs", featuring a stellar cast including Tony Todd (Candy Man), Natasha Henstridge (Species), Matt Cornett (High School Musical: The Series), Pearce Joza and Terry Hu (Disney's Zombies). Other projects of hers appear on Netflix, Tubi, Roku, Apple, and Prime.

(PRODUCER/ACTOR)

SELIA RINGEL

An award-winning Mexican-American filmmaker, Selina Ringel has carved a niche in the independent film scene with her compelling narratives and unique voice. As a writer, producer, and actress, her recent feature film, You, Me & Her, has won 15 awards, including Best Picture at the Mexican-American Film & Television Awards. The film was released in 250 theaters nationwide on Valentine’s Day as the Alpha test for Fithian Group’s innovative new platform, Attend, which is revolutionizing theatrical distribution.

Selina's groundbreaking film Single Mother by Choice captured her real-time pregnancy journey during COVID-19 and premiered on HBO Max. Beyond filmmaking, Selina is the author of Be the Train: The Mindset & Tools You Need to Make Your First Feature Film, a #1 Best Seller in its category on Amazon. Featured in IndieWire, The Hollywood Reporter, and Variety, she empowers creators to stop waiting for permission and take control of their projects now. Through her work, Selina continues to push boundaries, spark conversation, and inspire a new generation of filmmakers to get into motion and make their films a reality.

(CIRCUS ROAD FILMS)

GLEN REYNOLDS

Glen Reynolds founded Circus Road Films in 2006 to provide strategic advisory services to independent filmmakers. Circus Road guides filmmakers through the festival and distribution process and negotiates licensing agreements on their behalf. Glen has participated in the sales of over 900 narrative and documentary feature films with many of them premiering at Sundance, Slamdance, SXSW, Cinequest, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Fantastic, Telluride and Toronto. Distributors of these films include Fox, Sony, Warner Bros, Universal, Lions Gate, Magnolia, IFC, Strand, Oscilloscope, Drafthouse, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, Starz, Lifetime, ESPN and Syfy.

Some favorite films sold include the first films of some successful filmmakers such as Absentia, written and directed by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass); Pop Skull, written and directed by Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs Kong); and Newlyweeds, written and directed by Shaka King. (Judas and the Black Messiah). Recent work includes The Neon Highway (Netflix) with Beau Bridges, Clean (Tribeca/IFC Films) with Adrien Brody, My Dead Dad (HBO) and 18½ with Willa Fitzgerald (101 Films).

Glen has also co-produced twenty films to date including his favorite Conversations with Other Women which premiered at Telluride and stars Aaron Eckhart, Helena Bonham Carter, and Olivia Wilde. Other great production experiences include developing two projects with Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) and co-producing five films with Ram Bergman (producer of Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi).

Glen holds a JD from the University of Texas at Austin, a BA in English from NYU and is a graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He serves as a judge for the UCLA Screenwriting Competition and on the jury for the Woods Hole Film Festival.

Other notable films for which Circus Road provided its services include It’s a Disaster (Oscilloscope) with America Ferrera and David Cross; Graceland (Tribeca/Drafthouse); On the Inside (Fox/Showtime) with Olivia Wilde; Blood and Bone (Sony) with Michael Jai White; Special (Sundance/Magnolia) with Michael Rappaport; Older Than America (SXSW/IFC) with Bradley Cooper; The Presence \(Lions Gate) with Mira Sorvino; Passenger Side (Toronto/Strand) with Adam Scott; The Go-Getter (Sundance/EOne) with Zoe Deschannel; and August Evening (Independent Spirit Award).

Circus Road also consults producers of documentaries and television content. Such projects include I Am Thor (Slamdance); Rivalry: Red vs. Blue (ESPN); Nightmares in Red, White & Blue (Warner Bros); I Am Comic (Slamdance/Showtime) with Sarah Silverman, Louis CK and Tim Allen; Fambul Tok (SXSW); Living in Emergency (Venice); The Gits (SXSW/Seattle); the cable TV series MVP (ABC Television); and the reality TV series Full Throttle Saloon (Tru TV). Prior to founding Circus Road Films, Mr. Reynolds was President of Fabrication Films from 2004 to 2006. Fabrication Films acquired and produced over twenty films for domestic distribution and international sales. Fabrication acquired or produced several films including The Circle with Angela Bettis; Her Name is Carla with Julianne Nicholson and Julian Sands; The Last Dispatch and La Tropical, both music documentaries; Zombie Honeymoon (Slamdance); The Californians with Noah Wyle; 10th and Wolf with Giovanni Ribisi; The Game of Their Lives with Gerard Butler; The Dark Hours (Dead by Dawn); The Roost (SXSW); The Virgin of Juarez with Minnie Driver; Keep Your Distance with Gil Bellows; and The Second Front with RonPerlman.

Before Fabrication Films, Glen served as Head of Acquisition, Production & Business Affairs for Curb Entertainment for eight years. The films produced include Oxygen (HBO) with Adrian Brody; Mexico City (Miramax) with Robert Patrick; Kill Me Later (Lion’s Gate) with Selma Blair; The Proposal (Miramax) with Jennifer Esposito; Family Tree (Warner) with Robert Forster; Out of Line (First Look) with Jennifer Beals; Water’s Edge (Lion’s Gate) with Nathan Fillion and written by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow); Pressure (Blockbuster) with Kerr Smith and written by Craig Brewer; Tough Luck (Blockbuster) with Armand Assante; and Drop Dead Sexy (Lions Gate) with Jason Lee and Crispin Glover. During the same period, Curb acquired over 100 independent feature films including Sunday (Sundance Jury Award 1997); Deja Vu, a Henry Jaglom film with Vanessa Redgrave; Coastlines, a Victor Nunez film with Timothy Olyphant and Josh Lucas; Merci Docteur Rey, a Merchant/Ivory production with Vanessa Redgrave; Dummy with Adrien Brody and Mila Jovovich; A Good Baby with David Strathairn; Ring of Fire with Keifer Sutherland; Little Boy Blue with Ryan Phillipe; Wendigo with Patricia Clarkson; 100 Mile Rule with Maria Bello; Nailed with Harvey Keitel; Just Write with Jeremy Piven; Happy Hour with Anthony LaPaglia; Bug with Brian Cox and Jaime Kennedy; Almost Salinas with Virginia Madsen; The Doe Boy with James Duval; Wedding Bell Blues with Illeana Douglas; Plan B with Jon Cryer; In Quiet Night with Julian McMahon; Nice Guys Sleep Alone with Vanessa Marcil; Blue Moon with Ben Gazzarra; and A Fish in the Bathtub with Mark Ruffalo.

-MODERATOR-

SARAH DEMEESTERE

Sarah Demeestere – Moderator, Producing-Director, Actor, Teaching Artist Sarah Demeestere is a French-American actress, producing director, and creative catalyst whose work bridges continents, cultures, and generations. With roots in education and a deep devotion to storytelling as a path to transformation, Sarah brings a rare blend of intuition, intellect, and heart to every endeavor. She has appeared in international films, including Pedro Almodóvar’s The Room Next Door, and is the creator-director of The Chin Show, a whimsical kids’ series that celebrates wellbeing, nature, and diversity. A soulful communicator and natural connector, Sarah’s mission is to inspire collective evolution through artistry, presence, and multidimensional dialogue. She has moderated panels and conversations across the U.S. and Europe, always with a focus on equity, creativity, and conscious leadership in film. As a passionate advocate for global collaboration, Sarah thrives at the intersection of indie filmmaking, distribution strategy, and creative community building. Whether acting on screen, curating conversations, or guiding new voices, she is committed to uplifting visions that awaken joy, inclusivity, and soul-level resonance.