AFM 2024: A Culinary Adventure and Political Excitement Await in Las Vegas!

Ah, Las Vegas! Where the lights are brighter, the drinks are larger, and the drama unfolds faster than the slot machine reels. This year’s inaugural edition of the Las Vegas AFM is set to take us on a wild ride—completely swapping the solemnity of yesteryear’s Santa Monica events for a spectacle that’s part film festival, part amusement park, and all chaos.

As buyers and sellers descend upon this shimmering desert enclave, the grumblings about expenses flow almost as freely as the cocktails. Jet lag is merely a suggestion here, as attendees shun sleep to dash off to RuPaul’s Drag Race Live or the rather poetic Postcard From Earth at The Sphere — because nothing says “serious business” like dressed-up individuals strutting their stuff on stage.

For those with deep pockets and connections that can only be described as *gold-plated*, there’s always Adele’s residency at Caesars Palace, putting the “fancy” in fancy dining. Speaking of which, this city boasts a smorgasbord of world-class restaurants like Tao, Estiatorio Milos, HaSalon, Cipriani, and the whimsically named Superfrico. Here, sales agents hope to croon their business pitches amid sumptuous dishes, possibly while seated next to someone who looks suspiciously like a Hollywood mogul undergoing a mid-life crisis.

Yet tonight seems to hold a different vibe. The typical glittering galas and dinners are being swapped for more subdued gatherings as everyone nervously huddles in bars or opts for intimate dinners among friends, clutching their martinis and preparing for the rollercoaster that is the US election results. It’s a strange mix of laughter and anxiety as they keep one eye on the screen and another on their appetizers.

Oddly enough, a few international buyers have decided to skip this fiesta completely, reportedly scared off by the whirlwind that is our political scene. Dare I say, with Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump locked in an electoral tug-of-war, it’s no wonder some have decided that sunbathing on a beach sounds way more appealing than paying $20 for a cocktail in a casino.

The organizers of the market, IFTA, have taken precautions, adding an extra layer of security beyond what Palms Casino Resort has provided. Is it the allure of Hollywood, the thrill of the deal, or the distant shriek of sirens? Who can say? Meanwhile, some participants from Spain are stuck battling the remnants of catastrophic floods in Barcelona—think river running through the terminal, all disaster movie-style.

But let's drop the melodrama for a moment. Away from the flickering lights and political saga, US sellers are indulging in marathon meetings. A wave of new packages has splashed in just last week, featuring talent like Jessica Chastain, Dev Patel, and, of course, our favorite girl-next-door, Anne Hathaway. Buyers, the brave souls who’ve made it, are on a quest for heavyweight projects that can make or break their week. After all, *taking it seriously* seems like a fair ask when you've flown halfway across the world.

“The hope is that the buyers who are here are serious,” one sales executive noted, bracing for a week packed as tightly as a suitcase at the start of a vacation. “With how tough business is now, they might take a day to play, but fingers crossed they’ll walk away ready to work.”

So here’s to Las Vegas: a place where deals are done over dinner, laughter masks anxiety, and above all, every corner holds the promise of something spectacular—whether that’s a new business relationship or a once-in-a-lifetime drag show.