Comic-Con International 2026 Panel
Filmmaking in the New Era
Partnerships, Distribution, and Audience Growth
July, 25, 2026
Alex Stulac (director, Stulac Marketing), Brian Walker (CEO, Picture Motion), Tara McNamara (film critic, Critics Choice Association), Alexa Whiteside (CEO, WAM Entertainment Law), and Jennifer Fischer (executive director, Journeys in Film) discuss what makes films successful today and how filmmakers can build on that foundation through brand and nonprofit partnerships, smart distribution, and audience growth. Panelists share real-world examples from studio campaigns to independent projects that resonate, travel farther, and drive real impact. Attendees will leave with practical tools and strategies for launching projects and expanding reach, ready to make their mark on a rapidly evolving industry. Grand 6, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Our Panelists
Jennifer Fischer
Executive Director,
Journeys in Film
Jennifer Fischer is the Executive Director of Journeys in Film, the leader regarding educational resources and outreach for films. At Journeys, she has written and overseen educational materials for multi-award winning films like Summer of Soul, Crip Camp, Sugarcane, and Navalny, among others. While at Journeys, she has extended the organization's reach through partnerships with organizations like the American Heart Association and SIE Society. Fischer's background includes independent film production and indie video game development as well as educational programming. She has developed media-related curriculum for LA’s BEST, the Metta Center for Nonviolence and in conjunction with the Outreach Center for the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, where she received her Master's Degree. She holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with her life partner, their two teenagers, and a teacup chihuahua.
Brian Walker
CEO, Picture Motion
Brian Walker is CEO of Picture Motion, the leading impact agency for film and television, where he has overseen 200+ campaigns for award-winning projects including American Fiction (MGM), Origin (Ava DuVernay), and many other titles for clients including HBO, Disney+, National Geographic. Under his leadership, the company was acquired by Publicis Media US by their Content and Innovation Group. Previously, Brian led impact and educational campaigns at Participant Media, launched the Hollywood Culture Project at Color of Change, and led enterprise stakeholder engagement efforts and advised senior leadership at The Walt Disney Company on inclusion, impact and multicultural audience engagement. He currently serves on the boards of Color Congress and the Social Impact in Entertainment Society and holds both a B.B.A. and J.D. from Howard University.
Alex Stulac
Founder, Stulac Marketing
Alex Stulac is a director, writer, and strategist, and the founder of Stulac Marketing, a strategy and production partner for brand and nonprofit film & TV projects. His recent work includes The Hero In Us (2024), a live-action animated superhero film produced in partnership with Friends of Jack Foundation, whose campaign reached 2.3M+ and earned an Official Selection at the 2025 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, where Alex also spoke on the panel Filmmakers and Nonprofits: A Powerful Partnership. He also served as Lead Editor and Post-Producer on HOTPIT: The Drift Series, premiering on RACER Network and FAST Channels, and advised on the show’s promotional launch tactics. A returning Comic-Con panelist, Alex now brings together filmmakers, brand partners, nonprofit leaders, and distribution experts to explore how films break through in today's landscape.
Alexa Whiteside
CEO, WAM Entertainment Law
Alexa Whiteside is the founder and CEO of WAM Entertainment Law. A filmmaker turned entertainment attorney with 150+ credits and alum of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, she fights for the storytellers and producers behind bold, original storytelling, providing clearance, branding, production, distribution, and corporate and IP legal work across film, television, and digital media. She most recently provided clearance and legal guidance on the brand refresh of the Hi, Tooth Fairy mobile app, website, and upcoming animated series, clearance on the All American Rejects' Superfan micro-drama, and her broader credits include projects such as Sony’s A Man Called Otto, NBC’s Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward, CBS’s Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove, Netflix’s Race: Bubba Wallace, and Hartbeat projects such as Die Hart, Lyft Legends, and the Chase-sponsored Women Write Now fellowship at Sundance. You can find the latest updates on WAM Entertainment Law at wamentertainmentlaw.com and on Instagram @wamentertainmentlaw
Tara McNamara
Film Critic, Critics' Choice Association
Known as “The Family Flick Chick,” Tara McNamara has shaped the conversation around film, pop culture, and family entertainment across some of media’s most recognized platforms — from Entertainment Tonight and CNN to Variety, TheWrap, and recurring appearances on The Today Show and The Insider. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic for Common Sense Media and founder of the Critics Choice Association’s Seal of Female Empowerment in Entertainment (SOFEE), she has become a trusted voice on how movies and television influence families, culture, and behavior. She is also the author of The Official American Girl Cookbook: Fancy Food and Cocktails for Grown-Up Fans. Now, McNamara is making the leap from critic to producer with the Bali-set crime thriller Bandit, expanding her storytelling from commentary to creation.
