Recent headlines about box office numbers and the status of theatrical exhibition have been gloomy. Yet independent theaters and community-driven moviegoing are having a renaissance not just in Los Angeles, but across the country, as the industry continues to transform in the wake of shifting audience behaviors, distribution patterns, and the rise of streaming platforms. This panel brings together filmmakers, exhibitors, distributors, historians, and cultural advocates to explore how independent cinemas, distribution companies, and filmmakers are navigating unprecedented challenges by creating new opportunities for movie theaters, moviegoers, and moviemakers.

What are the new models for theatrical exhibition, and how can they be sustained in the face of technological change and industrial transformation? How are exhibitors navigating the