TheGrill is the definitive business conference for the entertainment industry.
TheGrill will convene over 300 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers for a day of groundbreaking discussions, strategic networking, and deal-making opportunities. Join industry leaders in exploring the latest trends, strategies and insights in AI, Film, TV, Music, Tech, Sports, Production, Streaming, Content, and M&A.
Align with innovation, entrepreneurial excellence and leadership. Connect directly with executives from content, creative, talent, and business development.
Panel sessions featuring top-tier executives, creative leaders, and investors. The morning programming will focus on the most pressing issues and cutting-edge trends at the intersection of Hollywood and Tech including emerging business models and new content frontiers.
Includes a short networking break.
High-value panel discussions designed to move beyond the headlines and into practical strategy. The afternoon programming will bring together dealmakers, studio leaders, and tech founders for a deep dive into execution—from intellectual property (IP) strategy and global distribution challenges to sustainable revenue models and effective partnerships between creative and tech teams.
Includes a short networking break.
Ted Sarandos, Brian Grazer, Bill Maher, José Andrés, Javier Pons Tubio, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dana Walden, David Nevins, Ynon Kreiz, Irving Azoff, Antoine Fuqua, John Singleton, Mary Parent, Dawn Ostroff, Jeff Weiner, Will Packer, John Landgraf, Julie Bowen, Kara Swisher, Jessie James Decker, Jeff Sagansky, Tony Hale, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Sue Kroll, Pamela Adlon, Kevin Mayer, Patrick Whitesell, Brad Bird, Sarah Harden, Ravi Ahuja, Peter Guber, Adam Aron, Anthony Carrigan, Steven Levitan,Warren Littlefield, Phil Spencer, Strauss Zelnick, Josh Goldstine, Ted Schilowitz, Nina Jacobson, Greg Foster, Shelli Taylor, Chris Sacca, John Sloss, Marc Weinstock, Sean Gamble, Josh Sapan, Megan Rapinoe, Ryan Condal, Ryan Kavanaugh, Sue Bird, Byron Allen, Johanna Faries, Andrew Cripps, Ryan Kalil, Michael Barker, Jesse Sisgold, Rachel Ghiazza, Seth MacFarlane, Jane Rosenthal, Maz Jobrani and many more.
Let’s move the industry forward together. We know this is a moment of change for our industry, and access matters. Apply for a chance to attend TheGrill at a special discounted rate. Priced at $199 (80% off), these limited tickets are designed for those experiencing financial hardship, recently laid-off professionals, freelancers, or anyone facing challenges in today’s economy who would benefit from the insights and connections at TheGrill. Apply today at the link below!
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CEO and Editor in Chief, is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and the founder of TheWrap. She is also the creator of TheGrill business conference on convergence, and the creator of the Power Women series focused on women’s leadership, including the Power Women Summit in 2018.
A leading authority on the entertainment business and media, Waxman was the Hollywood correspondent for The New York Times and a correspondent for eight years for The Washington Post. She started out as a foreign correspondent, covering Europe and the Middle East for a decade. She is the author of two books, including, “Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System.”
Adam M. Aron is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMC Entertainment and has been its CEO since 2016.
AMC’s approximately 850 global movie theatres typically serve more than 250 million guests annually. On his watch, AMC went from being the second largest movie theater chain in the United States to the largest movie theater chain in the U.S., and the largest in Europe and the largest in the world.
In addition to guiding AMC’s growth, his most notable accomplishments at AMC have been: shepherding AMC through its meme stock saga; expanding AMC’s loyalty program – AMC Stubs – and introducing its subscription program A-List; distributing the Taylor Swift and Beyonce concert movies in a 2023 industry-paradigm changing move; and stewarding AMC through the global pandemic of 2020, which crippled the global movie theatre industry then and for five years since.
AMC is the fifth company Aron has successfully led as CEO since 1993, including also having been the CEO of each of Norwegian Cruise Line, Vail Resorts, the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers (where he also was a co-owner of the team and an Alternate Governor of the NBA) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
After marketing roles at Pan American World Airways and Western Airlines, his early career included his being the CMO of both Hyatt Hotels and United Airlines. It was highlighted by Aron’s pioneering loyalty marketing efforts, featuring his creation in the 1980’s of one of the first ever airline frequent flyer programs and hotel frequent guest programs.
Among several other honors, Aron was twice selected by AdAge Magazine as being one of the 100 Best Marketing Executives in the United States; heralded by Variety in six different years to its Variety 500 list, the 500 most consequential figures in the world’s media and entertainment industries; and named by Travel Weekly to its Club 33, the 33 most influential executives globally in travel and tourism.
In 2025, Aron won a Tony Award as Co-Producer of the hit revival on Broadway of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard. In 2016, Aron was Co-Chairman of AMC’s Open Road Studios, which released the movie Spotlight. Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture that year.
Aron has been a prolific communicator on X/Twitter for almost fifteen years, and with a wide following as his tweets have been read more than 400 million times.
Having had an eclectic and fascinating collection of life experiences, among them in 2007 Aron was only the second amateur at that time to ever have conducted the world-renowned New York Philharmonic orchestra in a public performance (before an audience of about 1800 people).
Aron has served continuously since 1988 on a myriad of more than twenty corporate boards in a variety of industries. His non-profit activities have included, among others, Board or advisory positions with the National Park Foundation and the National Forest Foundation. He currently also serves as President of the Pan Am Historical Foundation.
Aron is a cum laude graduate of Harvard College, and received an MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Business School.
Adam Fogelson was named chair of the Lionsgate MPG in January 2024. He is responsible for the studio’s worldwide motion picture operations, leading the strategic planning and execution of the studio’s slate of new theatrical, multiplatform and direct-to-consumer releases across creative, marketing, and distribution; the worldwide licensing of films from its 20,000+-title film & TV library; the continued growth and expansion of new and iconic franchises including The Hunger Games, The Housemaid, John Wick, Saw, Blair Witch, Dirty Dancing, Rambo and Now You See Me, among others; and the extension of the studio’s branded properties into stage plays, immersive live experiences and interactive video games as part of its Global Products & Experiences Group.
Eduardo Acuna is Chief Executive Officer of Regal Global Entertainment, one of the world’s leading theatrical exhibition companies, operating Regal Cinemas in the United States alongside leading international brands including Cineworld, Picturehouse, Cinema City, and Planet across Europe and Israel.
Since becoming CEO in July 2023, Acuna has led the company through a pivotal period following its emergence from Chapter 11, helping stabilize the business while repositioning Regal Global Entertainment for long-term growth. Under his leadership, the company has focused heavily on strengthening the moviegoing experience through investments in premium formats, projection and sound technology, food and beverage offerings, digital innovation, and theatre modernization.
Before joining Regal Global Entertainment, Acuna spent nearly two decades with Cinépolis, the world's third-largest cinema operator, serving in a range of senior leadership roles. As President of Cinépolis Brazil, he was named International Exhibitor of the Year by ShowEast in 2014.
Acuna has more than 20 years of experience across cinema exhibition, strategy and finance, and has served on the boards of Cinema United and the Global Cinema Federation. Earlier in his career, he held roles with McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, the Mexican Central Bank, and Mexico’s Ministry of Social Development.
He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he attended as a Fulbright Scholar.
Yves is an AI researcher and for the past 10 years has been the director of the “AI and Neuroscience in Media” Project at USC’s Entertainment Technology Center. ETC is a think tank and research center funded by all the Hollywood studios, as well as large technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and AWS. At the Center, Yves and his team use neural-symbolic AI methods to build agentic AI workflows and narrative intelligence solutions for the media industry. He is also the co-founder & CEO of Corto, an AI startup helping global brands and media companies understand and predict digital culture across millions of segments in 97 countries. Yves is a member of the Digital Storytelling Lab at Columbia University, and a member of the Generative AI Working Group at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Adam Chitwood joined TheWrap in 2021 as Assistant Managing Editor for Audience after working for over a decade at Collider, where he spent five years as Managing Editor after previously serving as Deputy Editor at the entertainment website where he helped build and manage the site’s content strategy. As Assistant Managing Editor for Audience, Adam oversaw TheWrap’s consumer-facing content strategy. He became Executive Editor in January 2023, overseeing TheWrap’s newsroom.
As a Managing Director and Head of YouTube’s Creator and Gaming team, Kim is responsible for managing the growth of the largest, most influential creators on the platform. In her previous roles at Google, she launched the Google BrandLab, an immersive strategy experience designed for top advertisers to develop their YouTube strategy. She went on to manage the global brand services function which included creative effectiveness, media measurement, and consumer insights. Her team pioneered the use of machine learning to build data-driven creative best practices for YouTube ads.
Kim joined Google in 2012 with 20+ years experience leading marketing teams at the intersection of technology and brand at Nike, Jamba Juice, and Prophet. Kim holds a BS in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Kim serves on the Creator Board for the IAB, on the Advisory Board for Women in Games International, is an Executive Member and judge for the Webbys as part of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Effies.
As Co-CEO, Jo oversees Whalar’s global agency business, driving growth across North America and leading a team of 90+ diverse voices. She has forged game-changing partnerships with iconic brands like Amazon, EA, NFL, Spotify, and Waymo, as well as leading platforms including LinkedIn, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
A recognized authority in the Creator Economy, Jo has shared her expertise at VidCon, Tribeca X, and Sundance, and has served as a judge for prestigious honors such as The One Show and Cannes Lions. Her industry impact is further reflected in her recognition as one of Ad Age’s Leading Women, Campaign’s 40 Over 40, and Campaign Inspiring Women, alongside her service on the Tribeca X Advisory Council.
In 2023, Jo co-founded Whalar Group’s venture studio, Moby Ventures, and in 2026, she spearheaded the agency through its landmark acquisition by Accenture Song—the largest acquisition in the history of the creator economy.
Ross is the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, where he leads the company's corporate and investment management operations while also providing personalized financial guidance to individual clients. Renowned as one of the most influential investors across social and traditional media platforms, Ross regularly shares his investment insights and advice, earning him a prominent presence on global business news networks and popular investment podcasts. With appearances on leading media outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, Fox Business, and CNBC, Ross has established himself as a trusted voice in the finance industry.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Ross remains deeply engaged in music and is contributing to the industry as a co-creator and managing member of Cocoon Music – Malibu. He also invests in and advises NoCap Shows/Cold Canyon Club, a video and live event music company, and serves on the executive board of the Guardians of the LA Jewish Heath Organization in Los Angeles. Additionally, Ross is actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, supporting various causes in the local community and beyond. With his multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication to client success, Ross continues to make a significant impact in both the financial and music realms.
John Kulback is an industry-leading dealmaker and trusted advisor to clients across entertainment, media and technology.
John’s clients include publicly traded media companies, major studios, film financiers, production companies and digital creators across all aspects of financing, development, production and distribution. He also has significant experience advising artificial intelligence, creator economy and celebrity-backed consumer companies as they scale from early stage into sophisticated corporate and commercial partnerships.
John’s strategic advisory work has included counseling an ultra-high net worth family office on eight- and nine-figure growth equity investments in the media/technology and media/consumer sectors. He also has partnered closely with CEOs and C-suite executives to align organizational purpose, vision and mission with capital strategy, performance metrics and commercial partnerships.
John maintains a broad network of business leaders, executives, entrepreneurs and creatives. He is the founder of several long-running industry working groups and curates communities focused on building bridges between storytelling and technology.
Jeffrey is an entrepreneur and entertainment industry executive who has reshaped the media landscape throughout his career. He is a Founding Partner at WndrCo, an investment firm backing category-defining companies, where he advises portfolio companies including Aura, Airtable, Alembic, Netomi, and Writer. A dedicated philanthropist, he serves on the boards of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, CalArts, and LA28.
Jeffrey has been recognized with the Palme d’Or, the Motion Picture Academy’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the National Medal of Arts, and the TIME100 Impact Award. He co-founded DreamWorks and served as CEO of DreamWorks Animation, after leadership roles as Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios and President of Production at Paramount.
Kimbal Musk is an entrepreneur and philanthropist with a personal mission to revolutionize the way people connect and share experiences. Musk is the CEO and Co-Founder of Nova Sky Stories, a company dedicated to empowering artists and producers to bring awe to live audiences around the world. At Nova, Musk leads a veteran team of engineers who develop and innovate the world’s safest, most advanced light drones. Nova represents Musk's commitment to blending technology with storytelling, creating communal experiences that bring people together.
Prior to Nova, Kimbal founded a number of sustainable food companies including The Kitchen, Big Green, and Square Roots, that reflect his enduring commitment to sustainable food systems and community empowerment. He serves on the board of Tesla and was named a Global Social Entrepreneur by the World Economic Forum. Follow him on X @Kimbal and Instagram @KimbalMusk.
Brent Weinstein serves on the senior leadership team at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he oversees Digital Media, Podcasts, Games, Talent Business Ventures, and Speakers. He also plays a central role in the agency’s M&A and investment strategy and, in partnership with the Technology division, co-manages CAA’s Intell data team. With more than two decades of experience, Weinstein is recognized for building precedent-setting business models and forging partnerships that bridge traditional and digital media.
Prior to joining CAA, Weinstein was Chief Development Officer at Candle Media, leading corporate and business development efforts and partnerships for divisions including Hello Sunshine and Moonbug. During more than 20 years at United Talent Agency, he helped launch and lead multiple divisions — from Digital Talent and Podcasting to Ventures and Emerging Platforms — ultimately becoming Partner and the agency’s first Chief Innovation Officer. He also co-managed UTA’s Insights and News divisions, guided strategy for its Global Music and Speakers businesses, and played a key role in the company’s M&A activity.
Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine, a global leader in entertainment research and strategy, serving all the major film studios, television networks, and streaming services. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of Hollywood, having personally tested over 5,000 film titles, where his work significantly impacts how movies are made, marketed, and released.
In 2024, Kevin received American Cinematheque's prestigious Power of Cinema Award for his contributions to the film industry. He is the author of two bestselling books: Audience•ology (Simon & Schuster, 2021), offering an inside look at the power of audience pre-release movie test screenings, and How to Score in Hollywood (Simon & Schuster, November 2025), exploring the secrets to success in the movie business. Kevin brings his expertise to life as the host of the popular podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger (Apple Top 100), and continues educating the filmmaking community through keynote speeches and global presentations. He has produced twelve TV movies, including the Emmy-winning Wild Iris, and the upcoming 2026 documentary Ash & Crayons, a story of innocence and resilience in the shadow of war.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy, and the Producers Guild of America, Kevin also serves on the boards of six nonprofit organizations. He currently resides in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, a producer and former creative advertising executive, and their labradoodle, Kasha.