It’s not what you know. It’s who you know. This business truism has been around since before the Lumiere Brothers started fooling around with motion picture cameras. It’s doubly true in Hollywood, a town that runs on relationships.

How are you supposed to meet people to build those relationships? Making friends as an adult can be hard enough without having to pile career expectations on top of it. 

Our mission is to facilitate connections between production finance teams and producers, so we're here to help by listing a few of the best places you can find film networking events where that might be possible.

We’ll identify some of the best places to look for ongoing entertainment networking events, give you a calendar of networking events for the next three months, and even touch on the question: What is networking in the film industry?

In fact, let’s start there.

What is networking in the film industry?

“How to network in the film industry” is a topic we could devote an entire article to. But, to start with we’ll give some seemingly paradoxical advice.

Don’t go into an entertainment networking event treating it like an entertainment networking event. 

Here’s what we mean…

Yes, you do want to go to any entertainment networking event well-prepared. Dress appropriately. Know what your goals are, whether it's finding funding, discovering a director, or landing your next production accounting job. Be ready with what makes you special - did you just wrap production accounting services on a major film or episodic?

But don’t go in by obviously looking for “contacts.” Don’t be transactional - only caring about what people can give you. You’re looking for friends. You have to think long term in the entertainment industry, or you’ll never get past your first job. This holds true across the spectrum of different roles within the industry

That line producer you met at the PGA event might not be able to help you now, but in two months when she’s staffing up? You’ll be so glad you knew her.

Join these union film networking events

Hollywood is a union town, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that some of the best Los Angeles film networking events are hosted by those unions. 

We want to highlight two unions that you might find particularly interesting, even if they might require membership to attend.

IATSE

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is an umbrella union representing production employees from accountants to editors to costume designers. If you’re not in the DGA, PGA, WGA, or SAG, chances are you’re in IATSE.

Check out IATSE’s calendar for upcoming events. Don’t just focus on the mixers - you’d be surprised who you can meet at educational seminars and union meetings.

IATSE is made up of 355 local unions, each representing different craft specialties in different locations. Use IATSE’s local union directory to find the union that represents you and check their website if they’re holding any upcoming events.

You might even find events outside of Los Angeles! A New York film networking event is just a simple search away.

PGA

The Producers Guild of America (PGA) isn’t strictly speaking a union, as it represents people the law considers “management.” Instead, it’s a trade organization that “represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and emerging media.”

The PGA also hosts some pretty fantastic entertainment networking events. In addition to regular Morning Mingles and Happy Hours, they also have entertainment networking events for specific groups, such as AAAP or LGBTQ+ producers. 

You can find Los Angeles film networking events, New York film networking events, and even Bay Area film networking events with the PGA. However, most (but not all) require PGA membership to attend.

Attend GreenSlate mixers

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our own GreenSlate mixers. We host these entertainment networking events specifically to help different people in the film industry make friends and future partners.

You can follow our GreenSlate company page on LinkedIn to see what mixers / events might be coming up next in your area. You can also bookmark this article and check back later as we’ll update here with the latest. 

Oh, and we host the occasional virtual Q&A or interactive webinars and those can be good opportunities for production payroll and accounting professionals to connect. You can subscribe to get updates on upcoming webinar and Q&A sessions here.

Look into ongoing meetup organizations

While many film networking events are one-offs (such as film festivals), there are non-union mixers that hold events year-round. Some of these are dedicated to networking, others support filmmaking more generally. 

Gotham Film & Media Institute

If you’re looking for a New York film networking event, the Gotham Film & Media Institute is a good place to start looking. They seek to celebrate independent film and provide support and education to independent filmmakers.

To that end, they host various entertainment networking events and educational seminars. Some virtual, some in-person. Their centerpiece event is Gotham Week, a Project Market and Expo held in Brooklyn in the fall. The ultimate New York film networking event.

Membership in the Gotham Film & Media Institute is required to attend. Annual Gotham Film & Media Institute memberships start at $60 for a digital-only membership and increase from there.

Film Independent Networking Nights

For thirty years, Film Independent has been championing and supporting independent film in all its forms. Their most well-known way of doing this is the Film Independent Spirit Awards, but they also host educational events, screenings, and film networking events.

Film Independent offers a mix of online and Los Angeles film networking events. Some events are members-only, but most are not. If you do decide to join, Film Independent memberships start at $105 annually.

Women in Media & Women in Film

Women are notoriously underrepresented in the film and entertainment industry. A recent study by San Diego University revealed that “women accounted for 22% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working in the top 250 top-grossing films.”

Women in Media & Women in Film are two organizations looking to change that. Both are dedicated to achieving gender parity in the entertainment industry. To that end, they both host educational and film networking events to help lift up women, trans, and non-binary filmmakers.

Learn more about Women in Media’s film networking events and Women in Film’s networking events on their websites. 

ProductionHub’s events list

ProductionHub keeps a running and current list of production-related events that’s worth looking into from time to time to see what’s coming up. 

Join online production and payroll accounting communities

Active online communities can be a fantastic resource for finding relevant events and making valuable connections. 

In the world of production accounting in particular, there are some active and highly engaged Facebook groups where you'll find both lively conversation and upcoming events:

LA Production Accountants (5,600 members)

Line Producers & Film Accountants (8,700 members)

NY Production Accountants (3,900 members)

Atlanta Production Accountants (2,400 members)

Louisiana Production Accountants (1,200 members)

London Production Accountants (2,600 members)

GreenSlate is not affiliated with any of these groups and they all have their own rules for joining and posting guidelines, so be sure to check those before you dive in. One commonality with all of them is they don't tend to like blatant self-promotion. 

Sign up for film shorts and pitch events 

If you’re at the start of your entertainment career, a great place to meet other young filmmakers is at film short open mic nights. Filmmakers showcase their shorts at these regular events, showing off their budding producing, writing, and directing skills. 

You’ll see some mind-expanding cinema and make new friends just as hungry and ambitious as you. Two of the best Los Angeles film networking events of this type are Silver Lake Shorts and Open Screen LA. 

On the east coast, you can find Film Pitch ATL. Billed as “Atlanta’s best networking event for the film industry,” you can watch three filmmakers pitch ideas and projects to a panel of film industry pros. Stick around for the Q&A and, of course, the networking.

What are some examples of film networking events?

We’ve compiled a list of upcoming film networking events through December 2025. This list is current as of November 14, 2025, but check out the websites of the hosting organizations. New and exciting entertainment networking events are being posted all the time.

November

PGA Green Filmmaking: What it Means to be Sustainable

Date: November 20th

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

First and Third Wednesdays

Date: November 20th

Type: Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Description: Production company Citizen Skull has created a regular film networking mixer hosted in Silver Lake to foster community between active film and television professionals. This film networking event is specifically for on-set, in-office, and off-camera film professionals.

They also offer alcohol and food discounts. So if you’re in Los Angeles, stop by to make a new friend.

PGA Eastside Happy Hour (LA)

Date: November 20th

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

New Mexico Monthly Virtual Meet Up

Date: November 21st

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Virtual

Film Independent Members-Only Screening: Super/Man

Date: November 24th

Type: Film Independent Members-Only Film Screening

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Description: Film Independent members are invited to a screening of Super/Man, the documentary story of Superman actor Christopher Reeve and how he turned a life-destroying accident into a career of hope, activism, and family. Afterward, enjoy an in-person conversation with the filmmakers and find a new friend to discuss this powerful story for an impromptu film networking event.

Film Independent Members-Only Screening: Day of the Fight

Date: November 25th

Type: Film Independent Members-Only Film Screening

Location: Los Angeles

Description: Film Independent members are invited to a screening of Day of the Fight with a following conversation with filmmaker Jack Huston and star Michael D. Pitt. Day of the Fight tells the story of a washed-up boxer and his redemptive journey on the day of his fight after being released from prison.

December

First and Third Wednesdays

Date: December 4th

Type: Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Description: Production company Citizen Skull has created a regular film networking mixer hosted in Silver Lake to foster community between active film and television professionals. This film networking event is specifically for on-set, in-office, and off-camera film professionals.

They also offer alcohol and food discounts. So if you’re in Los Angeles, stop by to make a new friend.

PGA Holiday Party (NY)

Date: December 3rd

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: New York, NY

Gotham Film & Media Institute: Peer-to-Peer Virtual Meet-Up: Narrative Creators

Date: December 3rd

Type: Gotham Members-Only Mixer

Location: Virtual

Description: This members-only film networking event is an open and casual space to connect with other narrative filmmakers. Practice your pitches, find people to hold you accountable, and learn from fellow members and Gotham Alumni.

Gotham Film & Media Institute: Peer-to-Peer Virtual Meet-Up: Documentary Filmmakers

Date: December 4th

Type: Gotham Members-Only Mixer

Location: Virtual

Description: This members-only film networking event is an open and casual space to connect with other documentary filmmakers. Get grant advice, find people to hold you accountable, and learn from your fellow documentary filmmakers.

Bay Area Holiday Happy Hour & Networking Mixer

Date: December 5th

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Bay Area, CA

Women in Media Holiday Toast

Date: December 6th

Type: Members-Only Mixer

Location: Beverly Hills, CA

Description: The annual WIM Holiday Toast is Women in Media’s premiere fundraising and film networking event. Honor behind-the-scenes legends, participate in the silent auction, and meet new people dedicated to gender equality in the entertainment industry. 

PGA Holiday Party (LA)

Date: December 10th

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

LGBTQ+ Working Group Virtual Holiday Mixer

Date: December 10th

Type: PGA Members-Only Mixer

Location: Virtual

First and Third Wednesdays

Date: December 18th

Type: Mixer

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Description: Production company Citizen Skull has created a regular film networking mixer hosted in Silver Lake to foster community between active film and television professionals. This film networking event is specifically for on-set, in-office, and off-camera film professionals.

They also offer alcohol and food discounts. So if you’re in Los Angeles, stop by!

2026 - Keep checking back for event details and film festival dates! 

Film Festivals:

January
Sundance Film Festival
Date: January 22–February 1, 2026

March
SXSW
Date: March 12-18, 2026

April
Atlanta Film Festival
Date: April 23-May 3, 2026

May
Cannes Film Festival
Date: May 12-23, 2026

June
Tribeca Film Festival
Date: June 3-14, 2026

That’s it for now, we'll be back with more for 2026 by the end of the year, so bookmark this page and check back.