Film Mode Entertainment Says Yes We Cannes

As they Celebrate 5th Anniversary as a Robust, Multifaceted, Innovative Industry Leader with Staying Power

Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment celebrates five successful years as a worldwide sales agent, producing entity and distribution liaison, emerging from challenging times more robust than ever in the place where it all began, Cannes.

CANNES (June 23, 2021) – Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment (FME), which launched in Cannes in 2016, has made major waves throughout world in film and entertainment, solidifying their place as a leading global sales firm, producing entity and sought-after experts to consult on a variety of the most essential needs for filmmakers today. Five years later, at the place where it all began (Cannes), FME has emerged as a reimagined, reformed entity with exceptionally well-rounded capabilities, an expanded library and slate of films, vital partnerships, a distribution arm and its own documentary label. FME also officially announces their newly formed consultancy division, FME Consulting, to assist filmmakers in navigating through all stages of the filmmaking process, from development to financing, production, distribution and beyond, so they can secure and master their corner of the global marketplace.

Film Mode Entertainment: Masters of the Cinematic Marketplace

“We launched in a consolidating marketplace, loaded with obstacles and uncertainty.  Our persistence to uphold our standards lead to industry support and that has enabled our ability to succeed.  Our reputation is built on transparency, and reliability.  Everyone knows we are committed to accomplishing what we set out to do and that goes for projects, consulting, partnerships or even our dedication to the future of the independent voice.” Said Epstein

Epstein keeps his fingers on the pulse of the industry, in no small part due to his years on the IFTA (Independent Film and Television Alliance) board, dedicating time and efforts to protect and encourage independent filmmakers and business models worldwide. He currently holds the office of Chairperson on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

“IFTA congratulates Film Mode Entertainment on its five-year anniversary and applauds Clay Epstein and his team for steering the company successfully through these uncertain times. We welcomed Film Mode as an IFTA member when it first launched and the association continues to benefit from Clay’s non-stop commitment to our Board of Directors, to the American Film Market, and to the independent industry. Bravo!” Said Jean Prewitt, President and CEO of IFTA.

FME works to amplify unique, diverse voices and deliver the highest quality products to their respective audiences. Not a company that shies away from taking risks, FME expertly tackles sharing raw, unfiltered stories with the global community at large. Films like STAGEMOTHER starring Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver, Lucy Liu and Adrian Grenier, a story about a church choir director who inherits a drag club started by her deceased son, and LITTLE PINK HOUSE, starring Academy and Golden Globe Award nominee Catherine Keener, a female driven story about a reluctant hero’s journey to save her home and neighborhood, showcase LGBTQ and other diverse groups, thus filling gaps in the marketplace. Filmmakers continue to seek out partnerships with FME because of their reputation of achieving distribution goals while maintaining business and artistic integrity. The group’s dedication to transparency and true collaborators lead to rewards that range from financial to industry recognition and sustainability.

FME focuses on commercially viable projects with industry veterans and newcomers alike. Their highly accredited, genre elevating features have amassed mega sales throughout North America and have also been incredibly successful across the global film market. Recent FME titles include As Sick As They Made Us, starring Dustin Hoffman, Candice Bergan, Simon Helberg and Dianna Agron, ANTI LIFE/BREACH starring Bruce Willis, SLAYERS starring Thomas, Jane, Malin Ackerman, and Abigail Breslin CHICK FIGHT starring Alec Baldwin, Malin Ackerman and Bella Thorne,

“Clay Epstein brings decades of Hollywood and sales experience to his work and is known for his honesty and integrity. His extensive experience, particularly in film sales, provides invaluable insight to filmmakers in putting together their projects and approaching the ever-changing market for films with clear-eyed savvy.” Said J. Todd Harris, multiple Award-Winning Producer (THE TRAIL OF THE CHICAGO 7, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, STAGE MOTHER).

STARS A LA MODE

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, it became clear that the film industry was about to change like never before. FME saw this and took the opportunity to create the STARS A LA MODE Panel Series. Launched during the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, the exclusive panel series featured filmmakers, producers, and talent alike. Some of the featured panelists included Dustin Hoffman and Simon Helberg (who appeared in Mayim Bialik’s directing debut comedy As Sick As They Made Us), Jacki Weaver and Lucy Liu (both in Stage Mother) and producer Malin Åkerman and Asher Levin (Slayers). FME’s Stars A La Mode platform continues to bring films and filmmaking to the industry and audiences alike, enhancing the process and ensuring all parties have the ability to get to know each other in a professional and intimate setting.

Introducing FME Consultancy

The newest addition to the FME family is its consultancy arm. Focusing on advisory services for every stage of the filmmaking process, filmmakers have direct access to Clay Epstein and the FME team and their extensive knowledge of the ever-changing film market and how to continually bring quality projects to worldwide audiences. The consultancy division offers development, marketing, distribution, and sales services. The expertise provided by FME gives filmmakers a blueprint and the tools they need to reach their goals, a comprehensive recipe for success. Epstein and the FME team have over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry, specializing in film sales, production, and distribution.

The group’s expertise on what is commercially viable and how to properly market a film further helps producers and distributors achieve maximum exposure for their films, as well as execute top-quality projects, many of which raise the genre bar and offer fresh new takes on the most respected and in-demand types of projects.

The Perfect Partnerships

Through its partnerships with Screen Media Ventures and BondIt Media Capital, FME has been able to exponentially expand their capabilities.

“Screen Media has had an invaluable partnership with Film Mode over the past 3 years, Clay and his team know their craft and are a real pleasure to work with. I look forward to continuing my partnership with Film Mode for many years to come.” Said David Fannon, President of Screen Media Ventures.

“BondIt and Buffalo 8 toast Clay Epstein and our friends at Film Mode as they celebrate their 5th Anniversary! We’ve had an incredibly productive partnership since launching our first look deal together across projects including ‘Crypto’ starring Kurt Russell and Alexis Bledel, ‘Stage Mother’ starring Jackie Weaver and Lucy Liu, as well as ‘Dig’ starring Thomas Jane and Emile Hirsch.” Said Matthew Helderman, CEO and Founder of BondIt Media Capital and Buffalo 8 Productions.“We’re excited for the next 5 years together and wishing their full team a successful Cannes market!”

In 2019, FME announced a joint venture with Screen Media Ventures, to represent their catalogue of over 600 titles, including WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE starring Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his performance, and MONSTER, starring Charlize Theron who won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress for the film.  Previous collaborations between Screen Media and Film Mode include the William Shatner and Christopher Lloyd comedy SENIOR MOMENT, the Barry Pepper, Colm Feore and Laura Vandervoort action-thriller, TRIGGER POINT, and the Bruce Willis sci-fi thriller ANTI-LIFE/BREACH with more to be announced.

The same year, FME joined forces with BONDIT MEDIA CAPITAL to bring an all-inclusive solution to producers that includes financial lending, sales and production services. BondIt and Film Mode Entertainment have an ongoing partnership and first-look relationship as previously announced and have already successfully collaborated on features like the upcoming SLAYERS, starring Malin Akerman, Abigail Breslin and Thomas Jane, the award-winning, newly released STAGE MOTHER starring Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver, Lucy Liu and Adrian Grenier, CRYPTO starring Kurt Russell, Luke Hemsworth, and Alexis Bledel, and the recently released horror film, DREAMKATCHER starring Radha Mitchell and Lynn Shaye.

FME Around the World

FME additionally has expanded their reach, including vital places like Hong Kong, where the team has observed, first-hand, Asia as a crucial market and travel is limited during the pandemic.

Starting out with just five films in May of 2016, FME’s catalogue has grown to over 50, in addition to screen media’s growing library   of over 600 titles. FME is courageous and takes risks where others shy away all in the name of film, expression, opportunity. The company continues to do right by their audiences by bringing them unfiltered and fresh stories across all platforms to people all over the world.

About Film Mode Entertainment

Film Mode Entertainment is a leading worldwide sales agent, production entity and distribution company, focusing on commercially driven feature films of all genres and budget sizes. Film Mode represents projects at all stages of the filmmaking process, often as Executive Producer, with the aim of helping producers and distributors achieve maximum exposure for their films. Film Mode’s recent titles include CRYPTO starring Kurt Russell, Luke Hemsworth and Alexis Bledel, HOOKING UP starring Brittany Snow, Sam Richardson and Vivica A. Fox, STAGE MOTHER starring Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver, Lucy Liu and Adrian Grenier, and DREAMKATCHER starring Radha Mitchell, Lin Shaye, and Henry Thomas.

Previous releases include SUGAR MOUNTAIN starring Jason Momoa, and THE GOOD NEIGHBOR starring Academy Award nominee James Caan. Film Mode accelerated their growth and expanded their capabilities by entering into a partnership with SCREEN MEDIA, representing their catalogue of more than 600 titles, including WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE starring Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his performance, and MONSTER, starring Charlize Theron who won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Actress for the film. The company also has its own distribution arm, as well as a documentary label, DocMode. Film Mode is based in Beverly Hills, CA.