A-List celebrities turn out to pitch their film at the American Film Market

Isn’t that the running joke among actors when asked what they really want to do, “I’ve always wanted to direct,”? With more actors and actresses taking their turn in the director’s seat, many of their first-time, or even lower budget and indie films go the American Film Market, or AFM, to try to get picked up by a mainstream film company for distribution.

Every year in Santa Monica the AFM takes place and more and more films are being pitched by the Big Names that are behind or in front of the camera. Thursday was no exception reports The Hollywood Reporter with Russell Crow and Don Cheadle who are trying to raise financing for their respective directorial debuts, post-World War I drama The Water Diviner, and Miles Davis pic Kill the Trumpet Player (both also star). Other stars there in support of their projects were Vince Vaughan and Peter Billingsley for their film Term Life, Nancy Myers pitched her romantic comedy The Intern, which Robert DeNiro and Reese Witherspoon are rumored to be a part of, and Dustin Hoffman pitched his indie film Boychoir.

Variety reported on the night before the AFM started that Elton John met with buyers for his upcoming biopic Rocketman. Actor Tom Hardy, who will be playing John in the movie, was also in attendance.

With 8,000 attendees, 700 screenings, and the industry's largest Conference Series, the American Film Market continues to be the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers and business people from all over the world.