2023

variety's 10 producers to watch

SVFF is thrilled to welcome Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch to this year’s Festival

PRESENTED BY

Variety’s 10 to Watch series spotlights emerging writers, actors, producers, directors, comics and cinematographers. Each of these lists is curated by a team of Variety editors, critics and reporters. Variety has announced the 2023 class of 10 Producers to Watch. Join us for a conversation with these industry standouts moderated by Variety’s Todd Gilchrist.

Mali elfman

Mali Elfman is a Writer, Director and a BAFTA nominated Producer, who began her career with her micro-budget feature film DO NOT DISTURB. Since then she’s produced many films including Karen Gillan’s THE PARTY’S JUST BEGINNING and Mike Flanagan’s BEFORE I WAKE.

rachel fung

Rachael Fung is an independent Producer and filmmaking fellow of The Gotham (formerly IFP) and SFFILM. The founder of New York and Sydney-based Extra A Productions, she produced Nia DaCosta’s debut feature, LITTLE WOODS starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James which premiered at Tribeca 2018, was released theatrically in the US by NEON and is currently streaming on HBOMax

jamie gonçalves

Jamie Gonçalves is a Brazilian-American producer and co-founder of Sin Sitio Cine (US/MX), a production company whose work spans documentary and fiction. His recent films include Juan Pablo González’s scripted debut DOS ESTACIONES.

jolene rodriguez

Jolene Rodriguez is passionate about increasing visibility and representation for Latina stars on the big screen and producing films with top Latino talent that have mainstream appeal.

margot hand

Margot Hand formed Picture Films, a film and television production and consulting company in 2008. Hand is an experienced film producer and executive producer and has worked extensively in the film industry for over a decade in production, development, financing and business affairs and has worked on over 30 films and television series.

KARINA MANASHIL

Karina Manashil is the President of MAD SOLAR, having begun her career in the mailroom at William Morris Endeavor where she became a Talent Agent. Manashil represented notable clients including Scott Mescudi, known by his stage name, Kid Cudi, and built her career taking talent into new arenas.

KARL HARTMAN

After returning from Peace Corps Albania, Karl began his career in physical production on feature films and television shows. He met veteran producer Declan Baldwin in 2009. They worked together on projects like: Still Alice, Manchester by the Sea, and Captain Fantastic. In 2016 Karl joined Declan at Big Indie Pictures and was made a partner in 2018.

NIKKIA MOULTERIE

Nikkia Moulterie is a creative producer born and raised in NY, a 2022 Gotham/Rotterdam Producing Fellow, and 2019 Sundance Creative Producing Fellow – Silverman Honoree. She Co-Produced the premiere season of the Peabody award-winning Random Acts of Flyness for HBO.

RISHI RAJINI

Rishi Rajani oversees all divisions across Hillman Grad, guiding strategic direction and developing new business partnership deals with the likes of WBTV; Def Jam; Audible; and Zando. His producing credits include The Chi, Twenties, Boomerang, and The Forty Year-Old Version.

valerie steinberg

Valerie Steinberg is a producer based in LA, who is passionate about discovering and breaking new talent, and producing genre-smashing, boundary-pushing films for an international audience

Customers Reviews

What people say?

At the festival I can tell people love filmmaking in every aspect – writing, acting, cinematography, and producing. So I’m really excited to be here and meet people who are just as excited about the process as I am.

Yahya Adbul Mateen II

Sun Valley’s intimate size snuffs egos and allows personalities, connections, and the zeal for filmmaking to flourish everywhere from get-togethers in cozy cafe’s to the lofty lifts of Bald Mountain.

Flaunt magazine

It’s wonderfully intimate and remains very high end in both the quality of films presented and the festival itself. Sun Valley has kept its integrity…the magic dust.

kate bosworth

There is an incredible creative energy at SVFF that I look forward to every year! The films, festivities, and people are amazing. I can’t wait to be there!