Everyone in Hollywood is always looking for the next big hit, but the process of actually finding it is a unique combination of art, science, and luck. There’s no one way to learn how to see hits (or how to sell them to people who are looking for them), but listening to smart people at every step of the process is a great place to start.
At our Future of Filmmaking Summit in Los Angeles, a panel consisting of Erica Lee (President of Production and Partners, Thunder Road), Julien Levesque (Agent, Gersh), Ayo Kiefer-Maat (Vice President of Acquisitions and Productions, Independent Film Company), and Rachel Shen (Head of Film and Television, Madison Wells) had a wide-ranging conversation with IndieWire Editor-in-Chief Brent Lang about finding breakout hits. What has to be done for. 2026.
The discussion touched on the real art of pitching in person, working with producers, the value of writing on spec, and even the next genre that might be poised for a comeback (spoiler: more than one panelist thinks it might be the erotic thriller). If you’re looking to pursue a film career at any stage of the process, the Pitch Me panel is a must-watch.
Watch the full conversation in the video above.
The IndieWire Future of Filmmaking 2026 Summit is presented by AT&T Untold Stories, an impressive multi-year collaboration between AT&T and the Tribeca Festival that awards $1.2 million, mentorship and extensive support to the next generation of filmmakers looking to bring their films to the big screen. For more information, go here.