Hailing 'the biggestAFM yet', the Independent Film and Television Alliance top brass welcomeda record 435 exhibitors from 36 countries and projected a best-ever 8,400attendees from 65 countries compared to 8,014 last year.

Organisers have scheduled592 screenings rising from 534 last year, and 431 market premieres compared to382. Both are records.

Numerous internationaldelegations will be on site this week, including the largest ever visit fromChina, as well as commissioners from Japan, South Korea and Spain.

UK film minister Shaun Woodwardwill arrive later this week, and IFTA will host bilateral talks on Nov 6between the US and Mexico to discuss production and location conditions.

Meeting the challenges ofrapidly evolving platforms, IFTA officers have prepared new riders to standardforms to deal with the assignment of wireless and internet rights.