What happens after your film is finished? Kendall Deutsch, Senior Manager of Sales and Distribution at Myriad Pictures, pulls back the curtain on how independent films find their audiences, from navigating international markets to closing distribution deals. With a background spanning production, international sales, and development, she offers a candid look at the business side of filmmaking and what it actually takes to get your work in front of audiences worldwide.


About Kendall Deutsch:
After graduating from Emerson College with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Media Arts Film Production in 2022, Kendall Deutsch moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for filmmaking. She was formerly at the International Film Sales company, Great Escape in 2023 where she also associate produced the feature, Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round, which premiered at LEEDS International Film Festival in 2024 and is set to release through Cineverse this May. She started at Myriad Pictures in February of 2025 as a Film Sales and Development Coordinator and has since been promoted to the Senior Manager of Sales and Distribution. She has thoroughly enjoyed participating and collaborating in the business side of the industry.


About the moderator:
Jess Dang is a Chinese-American director and producer born and based in Los Angeles. She values collaboration and is passionate about creating stories that ignite conversations. Jess holds an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BFA in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design. Her work has been showcased at various global festivals and platforms, including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Cleveland International Film Festival, the Newport Beach Film Festival, and DOC NYC at the IFC Center, as well as in The New York Times.
Jess believes in cinema’s power as a universal language and aims to use her work to advocate for underrepresented communities. Her stories often explore moral and humanitarian progress, mental health issues, and coming-of-age narratives. Her background in music and painting influences her stylistic storytelling approach.
Dang is a Film Independent Fast Track Fellow, and a recipient of the NewFilmmakers LA NewNarratives grant, awarded in partnership with The Rhulen Family Foundation, for her debut feature film, “Surrender,” which she both wrote and directed, starring and executive produced by Andrea Bang from Kim’s Convenience.
Jess admires the films of Chloe Zhao, and Mira Nair, loves modern art museums, kayaking to recharge without her phone, and is a dedicated bruncher. Dang is developing her second feature film, and has also directed commercials.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
This panel will take place virtually over ZOOM. Ticket purchasers will receive a ZOOM link to this panel 2 hours before the published start time. If you don’t already have the ZOOM app, please make sure to download on your device before the panel start time.
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