Film Row LEAD is thrilled to announce our Second In-Person Speaker Series:
Join us for a live conversation as we explore the professional journeys and leadership styles of our emerging industry leaders.
DATE: Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
TIME: 6:30 PM SHARP | Doors Open at 6:00 PM
LOCATION: AMC Burbank 16 - 125 E Palm Ave, Burbank, CA 91502
Guest Speakers
Kathleen Gallagher – Executive Vice President, General Sales Manager, Universal Pictures
Matt Kalavsky – Senior Vice President, General Sales Manager, Domestic Theatrical Distribution, The Walt Disney Studios
Melanie Valera – Senior Vice President, General Sales Manager, Paramount Pictures
Nicole Weis – Head of Distribution, Theatrical/Non-Theatrical & International Distribution, IFC Films / AMC Network Film Group
Moderated by
Joe Garel – Owner, Western Film Services
Come with your questions for our panelists!
We highly encourage participants of the Film Row Mentorship Program to attend this event and have an opportunity to meet their mentor/mentee afterwards in person!
This is a FREE EVENT with limited seating, reserve your spot TODAY!
Guests are welcome!
Kathleen Gallagher serves as Executive Vice President, General Sales Manager for Universal Pictures Domestic Theatrical Distribution. In this role, Kathleen leads the domestic sales teams in creating strategies to optimize the theatrical performance of Universal’s slate. Kathleen serves to further the relationship between Universal and our partners in exhibition and while also working closely with key internal stakeholders across International Distribution, Home Entertainment and Marketing.
Prior to moving into her current role in Theatrical Distribution, Kathleen spent a number of years working in Universal Studios Home Entertainment. During her tenure there she held various sales, customer marketing, and leadership positions, most recently serving as the Managing Director for North America.
Matt Kalavsky was named Senior Vice President and General Sales Manager, Domestic Theatrical Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios in 2023. In this role, Kalavsky oversees domestic distribution encompassing the U.S. and Canada for all of the studio’s film labels
including Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures. In addition, Kalavsky’s purview includes oversight of the Cinema Partnerships team, non-theatrical sales and the iconic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
A seasoned and well-respected distribution executive with more than 20 years of experience, Kalavsky previously served as Vice President, Assistant General Sales Manager, Theatrical Distribution. During his tenure, he has worked on some of the biggest tentpole releases; among the notable titles are 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water; the live-action reimaginings of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King; Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Frozen and Zootopia; Pixar’s Coco; Searchlight Pictures’ Academy Award®-winning Best Picture Nomadland; Marvel Studios’ record-breaking Avengers: Endgame; and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the highest-grossing domestic release of all-time, to name a few.
Kalavsky began his Disney career in 1999 in the College Network Program at Buena Vista Pictures Distribution while an undergrad at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After advancing through multiple sales positions within the company in both the Atlanta and New York offices, Kalavsky relocated to the company’s Burbank headquarters in 2013 where he was named VP, Sales Strategy & Analytics. He was promoted to Vice President, Assistant General Sales Manager in 2019.
A 30-year veteran, Melanie Valera is Senior Vice President, General Sales Manager at Paramount Pictures. In her role, she oversees Domestic Theatrical Distribution and leads a dynamic team across the U.S. and Canada. Melanie's extensive career includes valuable experience at DreamWorks, Miramax, and Paramount, where she honed her expertise and deep understanding of the industry. Her leadership and strategic insights have been instrumental in driving growth and success in the theatrical distribution sector. Beyond her professional achievements, Melanie is deeply involved in the film community. She serves as the Executive Vice President on the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation board, demonstrating her commitment to supporting industry professionals. Additionally, she is a board member of the Motion Picture Club and has previously held the position of President of Film Row.
Nicole Weis is Head of Distribution of Theatrical/Non-Theatrical and International Distribution at IFC Films and AMC Network Film Group. At IFC Films, she has released over 25 films Theatrically this year, leading IFC Films to its highest-grossing box office year in over a decade; films include Late Night With The Devil, The Taste of Things, In A Violent Nature, Ghostlight, and Lakota Nation vs The United State of America. She has over 15 years of experience in theatrical film distribution and has released over 150 films across all genres and release patterns. Prior to IFC Films, she worked at A24Films, releasing diverse films, including Oscar Winning Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Whale and Minari, as well as Uncut Gems, Midsommar, Marcel The Shell, and The Farewell. Before joining A24, Weis worked at Universal Pictures and Focus Features, working on such IP, blockbusters, and award-winning films as Jurassic World, Fast and Furious Films, Despicable Me, Get Out, Halloween, Straight out of Compton, Girls Trip, Green Book, Phantom Thread, Darkest Hour, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, and Blackkklansman, among others. Nicole lives in LA with her fiancé Nicol and dog Frankie, and networking and building a community of women and diversity in film and business are her passions. Making the world a more creative, inclusive, and better place with joy and laughter.
Joe Garel is a distinguished American entertainment executive with over two decades of experience in film distribution and exhibition. He began his career at Sony Pictures Releasing International, later contributing significantly to MGM's domestic distribution and serving as Vice President of Distribution at The Weinstein Company. He was the Head Film Buyer for Cinepolis USA for the last ten years, leading the growth of the company in the domestic market. In 2024, Joe launched Western Film Services to provide comprehensive booking services for movie theaters across the United States and will also be distributing films theatrically through his label. He sits on the Board of Directors: Executive Committee as Vice President for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation and is dedicated to strengthening the theatrical industry.