Here are this year's excerpts from the Sundance Producers Round Table, updating the state of the indie film biz and how the new distribution models are affecting production.

Live 2010 Producers Round Table

Panelists:

• Christine Vachon, producer
• Ted Hope, producer
• Thomas Woodrow, producer
• Liz Watts, producer
• Jonathan Schwartz, producer

Recently, Sundance Film Festival brought a group of independent film producers together for an informal discussion.  This is what they talked about.

Check out videos of some of Sundance Media Panels from 2009.

• All Grown Up: The Status of the independent film movement and how to preserve it.
• Digital Imperative: Studio executives and independents discuss digital distribution.
• Icons of the Digital Age: Visionaries of the digital revolution discuss what's next.
• New Models of Distribution: Showcase of films capitalizing on new distribution models.
• Now or Never: Discussion of urgent global challenges and the role of documentaries.
• Panic Button: Health, diversity, creativity of independent film.
• 20/20 Vision: Scientists and filmmakers explore the future.

Status of independent film movement and how to preserve it.

• Moderator:
  • Eugene Hernandez, IndieWire
• Panelists:
  • Barbara Kopple, Director
  • Tom DiCillo, Director, When You’re Strange
  • Gregg Araki, Director
  • Steven Soderbergh, Director, sex, lies and videotape

Studio execs, independents discuss digital distribution.

• Moderator:
  • Orly Ravid, Film Consultant
• Panelists:
  • Alex Barkaloff, Lionsgate Digital Media
  • Jordan Hoffner, YouTube
  • Efe Carakel, TheAutuers.com
  • Sean Carey, Sony Digital Distribution
  • Anne Thompson, Variety

Visionaries of the digital revolution discuss what’s next.

• Moderator:
  • Kara Swisher of allthingsd.com
• Panelists:
  • Chet Hurley, YouTube co-founder
  • Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder
  • Jason Kiler, Hulu.com

Showcase of films capitalizing on new distribution models.

• Moderator:
  • Scott Kirsner, CinemaTech/Variety
• Panelists:
  • Steven Rafael, Required Viewing
  • MJ Peckos, Metropolis Films
  • Christian Gains, Withoutabox.com
  • Connie White, Balcony Releasing
  • Cora Olsen, Producer
  • Lance Hammer, Director
  • Matt Dentler, Cinetic Media

Discussion of urgent global challenges and the role of documentaries.

• Moderator:
  • Cara Mertes, Sundance Documentary Film Program
• Panelists:
  • Denis Hayes, Bullitt Foundation
  • Van Jones, Green for All
  • Kavita Ramdas, Global Fund for Women
  • Charles Clover, Author, The End of the The Line

Health, diversity, creativity of independent filmmaking

• Moderator:
  • Geoff Gilmore, Director, Sundance Film Festival
• Panelists:
  • Ted Hope, This is That
  • Mark Gill, The Film Department
  • Michael Barker, Sony Picture Classics
  • James Schamus, Focus Features
  • Jonathan Sehring, IFC
  • Marcus Hu, Strand Releasing
  • Peter Broderick, Paradigm Consulting

Scientists and Filmmakers explore the future.

• Moderator:
  • John Underkoffler, Science Advisor
• Panelists:
  • Duncan Jones, Director, Moon
  • Fran Benegal, University of Colorado-Boulder Professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Science
  • Ray Gesteland, University of Utah Professor of Genetics
  • Rodney Brooks, MIT Professor of Robotics
  • Alex Rivera, Filmmaker, Sleep Dealer
  • Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Writer/Director, Day After Tomorrow