At AFM 2025, Jeff Caruso of Wrapbook will reveal how technology, AI, and innovation are reshaping film finance and the future of global filmmaking.
At this year’s AFM 2025 film finance panel, industry veterans and emerging investors will converge where capital meets creativity — and innovation sparks the next evolution of Hollywood.
To be moderated by Jeff Caruso, Senior Vice President of Sales and Success at Wrapbook, the “Finance I – From Packaging to Payback: Investment, Incentives & International Markets” session promises insight, candor, and a touch of California cool.
Caruso calls AFM “the place where capital meets commerce,” and in a year when technology is redefining how and what gets made, his words land with cinematic timing.
Where Capital Meets Creativity
“This is the place where capital meets commerce,”
jeff Caruso
“The conversations this year are driven by technology — not just how content’s made, but what’s getting made.”
For filmmakers, financiers, and distributors from Beverly Hills to Berlin, AFM 2025 represents more than dealmaking. It’s a chance to decode the future. Caruso emphasizes that the companies leading this charge are those “that can use [technology] in a responsible way” — and in doing so, “set the stage for entertainment in the years to come.”
Tech, Trust, and Transformation
Caruso doesn’t just talk about innovation — he’s lived it. After nearly 13 years at Cast & Crew, he joined Wrapbook, drawn by what he calls “next-generation technology that cuts through outdated manual processes.”
His excitement? How fast these tools are changing everything from payroll to production. His concern? That hesitation still lingers.
“We owe it to ourselves to position AI as a tool for the job, not the job itself.”
At Wrapbook, AI streamlines the essentials — incentive research, invoice processing, rate finding — the unglamorous but crucial gears that make the Hollywood machine hum. “Imagine what you can do when you have all of this at your fingertips,” he adds. “It’s about saving people time — making them more efficient.”
Even in the land of palm trees and premieres, efficiency never goes out of style.
A Panel Worth the Price of Admission
Caruso’s AFM panel, opening on November 12, is stacked with Hollywood heavyweights:
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Sam Pressman, CEO of Pressman Film, carrying on a legendary family legacy.
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Josh of Waypoint Entertainment, producing projects from Charlie Kaufman and Boots Riley.
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Jeremy Ross of Black Rabbits, a producer of over 36 films.
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Janine Davey, whose tax incentive expertise has safeguarded “literally billions, that’s billions with a B.”
“These are experts who’ve spent their careers in this business,”
Caruso says.
“They’ll be diving into whether theatrical is still viable, what markets are shifting, and how projects are being financed.”
If you’re attending AFM in Century City, this is the session to circle, highlight, and caffeinate for.
From Possibility to Payback
Caruso calls Wrapbook a “force multiplier,” and it’s easy to see why. Their site isn’t just a digital brochure — it’s an ecosystem. You can find rates, study incentives, and even ask AI-powered questions like “What qualifies for the California film tax credit?”
“This is all about possibility,” he says. “When you have a group of people like we have at Wrapbook — intelligent, positive, energized — we’re unstoppable.”
Hollywood may run on dreams, but it’s built on data, diligence, and dependable systems. The Wrapbook platform quietly supports that structure, ensuring the sexy part of filmmaking — the art — can actually happen.
And let’s be honest: in a town where everyone’s chasing the next success, efficiency is the new luxury.
Mini FAQ: AFM 2025 Film Finance Panel
Q: When and where is the AFM 2025 Film Finance Panel?
A: The panel, “Finance I – From Packaging to Payback: Investment, Incentives & International Markets,” happens November 12, 2025, on Day One of AFM in Century City.
Q: What topics will be covered?
A: Expect deep dives into film financing, global incentives, AI-driven production efficiency, and the evolving international marketplace for film investment.
Q: Who should attend?
A: Producers, distributors, financiers, and anyone who enjoys the flavor of filmmaking from a global business perspective
Technology and storytelling are co-stars
For Caruso, technology and storytelling aren’t at odds — they’re co-stars. As AFM 2025 arrives, his message is clear: embrace innovation, master the tools, and never settle for outdated systems.
Because the future of film finance isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about the possibility.
Learn more about Wrapbook’s tools and resources at Wrapbook’s official site
At AFM 2025, Jeff Caruso of Wrapbook reveals how technology, AI, and innovation are reshaping film finance and the future of global filmmaking.
