Major industry names are converging on the 954 come March.
Credit: MAD Arts
Calling all creatives! South Florida’s film scene is about to get a serious jolt of Hollywood (as in the one in California) energy as the South Florida Film Forum returns Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 to MAD Arts in Dania Beach.
Produced by White Elephant Group in partnership with Film Lauderdale and Broward County, the two-day event is designed to connect local filmmakers, actors, crew and creatives with top decision-makers from across the country. Last year brought speakers from HBO and Apple TV.
This year, the roster expands with heavy hitters like Daleen Buter, Head of Global Incentives at Amazon MGM Studios; Princess Caroll, Manager of Physical Production at FOX; and producer Lisa Neidenthal, formerly of Blumhouse Productions, whose credits include M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Award-season pedigree also runs deep with producer Chris Stinson (Sound of Metal, The Holdovers), Emmy-winning filmmaker Jhane Myers (Prey), and acclaimed costume designer Caroline Eselin, known for her work on Moonlight and The Underground Railroad.
Beyond masterclass-level panels on film financing, television trends and sustainable low-budget production, the 2026 Forum leans into hands-on learning. Shih-Ching Tsou, longtime collaborator of Sean Baker on The Florida Project, joins conversations around independent filmmaking, while veterans like Marlis Pujol (Ballers, Mythic Quest) bring insight into the evolving TV landscape. On the workshop side, a practical horror VFX session offers behind-the-scenes access to on-set effects techniques, and Eselin will help lead a costume-focused deep dive into distressing wardrobe for screen-ready authenticity.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Broward County’s screen production industry generated more than $207 million in economic impact and over 16,000 jobs in 2025 alone, marking historic growth for the region.
Passes go on sale March 1. Advance pricing runs $45 for a single-day pass or $70 for a two-day pass, granting access to panels, workshops, networking mixers and an open bar. At-the-door pricing increases to $60 single-day and $80 for two days.
For tickets and the full schedule, visit southfloridafilmforum.com.
