Round Table: Narrative Filmmaking: Adam Hoelzel, Jessica M. Thompson, and Paul Gandersman

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      "name": "Adam Hoelzel",
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      "details": "Adam Hoelzel is a writer, director and producer, represented at UTA and Range Media Partners. After working as a producer at Disney for fifteen years, Adam went on to develop his own projects for Bad Robot, Atlas Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Adam’s first spec, Beast of Burden, was shot in Savannah, Georgia, and starred Daniel Radcliffe and Grace Gummer. Adam’s film, Subject 19, was featured on Gunpowder & Sky’s sci-fi channel, DUST, and he will be directing the feature version with XYZ Films and Pulsar. Adam made his feature directorial debut on the upcoming Tender, which stars David Koechner of Anchor Man, Flamin' Hot’s Jesse Garcia, and Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winner Jess Weixler of The Good Wife. Adam's newest feature film, Snare, was just announced in Indiewire this month. As a storyteller, Adam focuses on generational trauma and toxic masculinity within Rust Belt America.",
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      "details": "Paul Gandersman is half of the filmmaking duo Arcanum Pictures. As part of Arcanum, Paul has produced numerous feature and short films over the past 15+ years (multiple of which have premiered at SXSW). And most recently Paul co-wrote and co-directed the horror feature film MAN FINDS TAPE, released in December 2025 by Magnolia Pictures. Additionally, Paul has worked for 11+ years at FloSports as Video Production Director - producing long form sports documentaries and series, as well as mentoring dozens of video creators during his tenure. Also, Paul worked with the SXSW shorts programming team for 10 years, and has a deep understanding of what makes a successful short film, and what festivals are looking for when programming. Paul has a wealth of experience in all aspects of the film production world and enjoys sharing that experience with others.",
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      "name": "Jessica M. Thompson",
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      "details": "Jessica M. Thompson is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose feature writing-directing debut, \"The Light of the Moon\", premiered in-competition at SXSW and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film. The film enjoyed a limited theatrical release to sold-out screens and heralds a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. Critics called the film \"harrowingly effective\" (Variety), \"honest and complex\" (The Hollywood Reporter), and stated that \"for any filmmaker, this would be an unmitigated triumph, but for a first-time filmmaker this is revelatory.\"\n\nJess was the lead director on the Showtime/Sky limited series \"The End\", produced by the Oscar-winning See-Saw Films (The Power of the Dog, The King's Speech). The series received five-star reviews from The Times & The Guardian.\n\nHer second directorial feature \"The Invitation\", a Sony Pictures gothic-thriller, had its worldwide theatrical release in August 2022. It opened #1 at the box office and later reached #2 on Netflix, with over 664 million minutes streamed in its opening weekend.\n\nJess founded Stedfast Productions in 2010.",
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