Private, interactive class on Zoom with International Sales Veteran & PGA Producer Alexia Melocchi

Get Downloadable Worksheets to Build Your AFM Pitch Deck Step-by-Step

Limited spots available - don't miss out!

Payment plans available at checkout or email edu@stage32.com for more info!

If you're planning to bring a project to the American Film Market, you already know it's one of the biggest opportunities you'll get all year to put your work in front of the people who can actually make it happen - buyers, sales agents, distributors, financiers, and production companies from around the world. But AFM isn't a festival or a networking mixer where you can hope someone falls in love with your story. It's a business market, and if you want to walk away with real conversations and real interest, you need to show up prepared to sell your project like the commercial product it is.

Here's where most filmmakers get stuck. You might think a beautiful pitch deck is enough - but a deck full of gorgeous images and no clear strategy won't get you in the room, let alone keep you there. You may not know who you should actually be approaching, what those companies are looking for, or how to position your project as a viable film rather than just an interesting screenplay. Without that clarity, even a great story can get lost in a market that moves fast and runs on commercial instinct.

That's exactly why you'll want Alexia Melocchi in your corner. As a PGA producer and partner at Little Studio Films, Alexia has spent over three decades building relationships across international markets, with more than 30 producer credits and a client list that includes acquisitions like La La Land, Beautiful Boy, and Now You See Me 2. She's sat on both sides of the table as a seller and a buyer, which means you're learning directly from someone who knows exactly what executives are thinking when your deck lands in front of them.

Across four parts, you'll learn how to determine if your project is truly ready for AFM, build a pitch deck that's strategic rather than just visually impressive, identify and approach the right companies for your project, and walk into meetings with a clear ask and the confidence to defend it. By the end of this class, you'll have a completed target list, customized outreach emails, and a deck built specifically for the global marketplace - so you can head into AFM ready to turn conversations into real opportunities.

This interactive Stage 32 class is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

PLUS! You will receive this handout to help you:

• AFM Project Readiness and Market Positioning Worksheet

Praise for Alexia's Education:

"Alexia is a phenomenal teacher and mentor! Her vivacious and warming personality took over and made the webinar educational and entertaining. Alexia has way of connecting with people that's very sincere and genuine. She also has an extensive background of real world experiences in the film world which in my eyes, makes her a dynamic speaker." - Philip S.

"Loved her class, because it laser-focused and re-focused on my weakest link – my pitch! Her feedback was invaluable, and improved my pitch with every round." - Rick B.

PART 1: UNDERSTANDING AFM — KNOW THE MARKET

AFM is not a traditional film festival, networking party, or place where filmmakers can walk into meetings and simply hope someone falls in love with their story. It is a business market where rights are bought and sold, financing and distribution conversations take place, and companies evaluate projects according to their mandates, territories, audiences, budgets, and commercial potential.

• What AFM is and how the market operates

• The differences between a film market, film festival, pitch event, and networking event

• Who attends AFM and what they are looking for

• The roles of buyers, distributors, sales agents, producers, financiers, and packaging partners

• How projects are evaluated in an international marketplace

• How to determine whether a project is ready for AFM

• Establishing the specific objective of your AFM campaign

• Q and a with Alexia

Assignment: Complete an AFM Project Readiness Assessment defining the project’s stage, target market, commercial strengths, missing elements, ideal meeting targets, and primary ask.

Handout: AFM Project Readiness and Market Positioning Worksheet

PART 2: WHAT BELONGS IN AN AFM DECK — AND WHY

A pitch deck is not an illustrated screenplay, a scrapbook of inspirational images, or a document that tries to answer every possible question. It is a strategic sales tool designed to create confidence, communicate the film’s identity, and make the reader want to continue the conversation.

• What an AFM pitch deck must accomplish

• Creating a strong cover, title, and tagline

• Presenting the project’s genre, tone, format, and audience

• Highlighting the project’s unique selling proposition

• Addressing budget range, financing status, production status, and location

• Defining the ask: financing, co-production, sales representation, distribution, packaging, or strategic partnerships

• Q and a with Alexia

Assignment: Create a page-by-page content outline and draft the project’s logline, positioning statement, and specific ask in your own voice.

PART 3: BUILDING THE DECK — FOR THE GLOBAL MARKET

The executive is ready to see your presentation and commitment. A strong deck should make the reader feel the movie before it has been made. The visual language must communicate genre, tone, production value, audience, and creative identity within seconds. At the same time, the deck must remain clear, polished, readable, and commercially grounded.

• Establishing the visual identity of the project

• Creating a visual journey rather than a collection of unrelated images

• Balancing imagery with copy

• Making the deck easy to skim

• Creating a strong opening and closing page

• Building a clear call to action

• Q and a with Alexia

Assignment: Build the cover and three key pages of your deck using the visual identity and content structure developed during the class.

PART 4: GETTING INTO MEETINGS

You are sitting across from a buyer, producer, financier, or sales agent. The person in the meeting may interrupt, challenge an assumption, change the subject, or ask an unexpected question. Filmmakers must know their material well enough to adapt without reading from a script.

• Personalizing meeting requests with genuine research

• Understanding why mass-generated outreach can harm your reputation

• Speaking conversationally and authentically

• Defending the budget, audience, comparables, package, and commercial strategy

• Understanding why the purpose of a meeting is to begin a relationship, not perform a script

• Keeping the human connection at the center of the entire AFM experience

• Q and a with Alexia

Assignment: Create a target list of 15 appropriate AFM companies and write customized meeting-request emails for three priority contacts

WHAT TO EXPECT:

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis. The opportunity to work this closely and for this long with an expert in the field is an incredibly unique and valuable opportunity. If you are interested, please book quickly. Once the spots are gone, they’re gone for good.

• This class is designed for Filmmakers and producers of all levels who are planning to attend AFM and want to walk in fully prepared with a strategic pitch deck and a clear plan.

• This is an intimate, in-depth, practical, and detailed class held on Zoom where you will be interacting with your instructor.

• This class consists of 4 sessions roughly two hours in duration and offers significantly more in-depth content than a standard Stage 32 webinar.

• ***Alexia will be available on email during the entire duration of the class to answer any questions you have about your project.***

• To stay motivated and inspired you will have access to a dedicated Stage 32 Lounge post where you can meet, connect and communicate with your fellow classmates throughout the length of the class and beyond. Let Stage 32 help you find your tribe!

• Can't make it live? Don't worry, each session will be recorded and you can watch it on demand at your convenience. 

• You will be held accountable to take the lessons from each week and move your work forward.

• Payment plans are available at checkout through Shop Pay

• Filmmakers and producers of all levels who are planning to attend AFM and want to walk in fully prepared with a strategic pitch deck and a clear plan.
• Writers and producers with completed or in-development projects who want to learn how to position their work for international buyers, sales agents, and distributors.
• Filmmakers who have attended AFM or similar markets before without landing meaningful meetings, and want to understand what they're doing wrong.
• Producers and packaging teams who need to secure financing, co-production partners, or distribution and want to learn how to communicate that ask effectively.
• Writers and filmmakers who want an insider's understanding of how international buyers and distributors actually evaluate and acquire projects.

Praise for Alexia's Education:

"Alexia is a phenomenal teacher and mentor! Her vivacious and warming personality took over and made the webinar educational and entertaining. Alexia has way of connecting with people that's very sincere and genuine. She also has an extensive background of real world experiences in the film world which in my eyes, makes her a dynamic speaker." - Philip S.

"Loved her class, because it laser-focused and re-focused on my weakest link – my pitch! Her feedback was invaluable, and improved my pitch with every round." - Rick B.