(top) Tuba McKay runs in Kangoo Jumps during the Health and Wellness Exhibit at theThird Street Promenade on Saturday, August 22, 2009. (above) Bonnie Sullivan, (center) owner of Kangoo Jumps , demonstrates their low impact rebound sport shoes during the wellness exhibit. Kangoo Jumps are safe, low impact rebound sport shoes, providing many great health benefits.They can be use indoors, outdoors on paved roads, dirt paths, grass, sidewalks, at the beach or even on snow.

An actor portraying "The Toxic Avenger" promotes Troma Entertainment at Loews Beach Hotel during the American Film Market on Friday, November 7, 2008.

The business of independent motion picture production and distribution - a truly collaborative process - reaches its peak every year at the American Film Market. Over 8,000 industry leaders converge in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making, screenings, seminars, red carpet premieres, networking and parties. Participants come from over 70 countries and include acquisition and development executives, agents, attorneys, directors, distributors, festival directors, financiers, film commissioners, producers, writers, the world’s press all those who provide services to the motion picture industry.

Founded in 1981, the American Film Market (AFM) has grown steadily to become the premiere global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision-makers and trendsetters all gather under one roof. Unlike a film festival, the AFM is a marketplace where production and distribution deals are closed. In just eight days, more than $800 million in deals will be sealed — on both completed films and those that haven’t started shooting yet — making AFM the must-attend industry event.

The AFM transforms Santa Monica. The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and the Le Merigot Beach Hotel are converted into a busy marketplace. All 23 screens on the Santa Monica Promenade and the surrounding community become AFM screening rooms for the entire eight-day event and eight digital and video screening rooms are added just for the AFM. Participants may view more than 900 screenings of approximately 500 films - 31 new films every two hours - the majority of them world or U.S. premieres. Titles range from big budget blockbusters that will be released by the major studios in the U.S., to lower budget art and genre films recognized at international film festivals, all destined for theaters and television around the world.

With 8,000 attendees, 900 screenings, and seminars programmed by leading industry organizations, the American Film Market continues to be the pivotal destination for independent filmmakers and business people from all over the world.

(1) Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's Chairman of the Board, Tom Larmore, gets his shoes shined by Jefrey Grady (PH 323-872-4789) during the 2008 Business and Consumer Expo at the DoubleTree Hotel on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. (2) Amanda Breckenridge, Esthetician from Fringe Hair Salon & Day Spa, sprays a tan onto Tatiana Winograd during the Business and Consumer Expo. (3) Ho Nguen from the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum test rides a Segway (4,5) Laurel Rosen, SM Chamber President / CEO and Nat Trives, past SMCC Chairman of the Board, pick winning raffle tickets during the Expo (6) Past Santa Monica Kiwanis President, Ron Davis, recruits new members. (7) Spring A.M. de Haviland wins a prize at the Pacific Park game booth. (8) Santa Monica Police Deputy Chief Phillip Sanchez shakes hands with Ron Davis.

A woman examines Jerry Berta's Ceramic and Neon Sculpture of a Drive-in Theater during the Second Annual Santa Monica Art Festival at the Civic Center on Friday, February 22, 2008. Jerry Berta is the artist formerly known as the owner of Rosie's Diner. Berta always looked at Rosie's Diner as a giant piece of art. Now he is getting back to making smaller diners that are a little easier to take to Art Shows.

Corey Stroderd and his wife Yari, push their 18 month-old son Brenon, in the ultimate green vehicle, a hand-push car during the Alternative Car and Energy Expo (AltCar Expo) at Barker Hanger on Friday, October 19, 2007. The AltCar Expo was a rare opportunity for the public to test drive the latest and most technologically advanced electric, natural gas, biodiesel, hydrogen, fuel cell and ethanol cars—some which were unveiled for the first time ever at the show. The two day cutting-edge event also featured several hard-hitting speaking panels that discussed solutions to the current energy and climate crises while working towards forming coalitions and drafting future legislation.