The Conversation will focus exclusively on the new business and creative opportunities that are arising in 2010.

The overall goal is for The Conversation to be a real exchange of ideas — a gathering of people working on the edge and thinking about the future.

Audiences are discovering film and video in new ways, and consuming it on all kinds of new devices. Their interest in participation is high, whether that means helping to finance a project, being involved with the production, or spreading the word through their networks. But attracting "fans" and "followers" online can be a very different thing from getting them to show up in a theater, or purchase a DVD or download of your project. Enterprising creatives are experimenting with new forms, formats, and packages for their stories.