Meet Kristen Konvitz of ICM Partners

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Konvitz.

Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. You can include as little or as much detail as you’d like.
I grew up in a film industry family. My father and mentor had a varied career as an agent, studio executive and for the greater part of my life, an entertainment lawyer. From an early age, I traipsed through film sets, industry events and observed insider conversation at the dinner table. I left Los Angeles to attend NYU undergrad and immediately went on to get a Master in film from Columbia University.

I became enamored with that life and quickly ingrained myself in the New York independent film scene, hanging out in the now sadly shuttered Kim’s Video and loitering for triple showings at the Angelika theater. It was in these hallowed rooms that I discovered the filmmakers who operated on the fringes. The ones who sustained life-long careers making meaningful and artful films that did not wait around or care for Hollywood to give them the go ahead. The doers who were outclassing much of Hollywood in terms of cultural impact and pioneering a renaissance of independently-minded cinema.

I worked at some of the top independent film companies. Beginning my career working in acquisitions at The Weinstein Company and then made the transition to Wild Bunch to assist in opening its first U.S. office. For six years, I worked in acquisitions and production at Wild Bunch, one of the leading independent film sales, financing & distribution companies – working on films such as THE WRESTLER, TWO LOVERS and BACHELORETTE. Prior to joining ICM, I served as the Head of Production for New York-based film fund and production company, Stay Gold Features. Their first film was Sundance breakout, PATTI CAKE$ which sold in an all-night bidding war to Fox Searchlight.

Other productions include David Robert Mitchell’s upcoming UNDER THE SILVER LAKE to be released by A24 and SXSW award winner, THE STRANGE ONES. After 15 years in NYC, I decided last summer to return home to Los Angeles to work as an agent at ICM.

Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Any industry with a foothold in the arts has its challenges. The film business is constantly in flux and changing.

There is always the constant of rejection and failure. Films you fight for that go to competitors. Films you champion that can’t get into a festival or find a distributor.

Filmmakers that fire you. Ultimately, the only way to overcome is to know that you if you put in the work and tried your best, you cannot take it personally. Failure is just a part of a competitive industry.

Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
ICM is a full-service talent agency. We are a niche department in the motion picture division in that we essentially serve as in-house independent producers. Any project that comes through the agency that needs to be done independently (i.e outside the traditional studio system) we help to make those come to fruition and ultimately find homes. We source financing, help to package talent elements, formulate the film festival strategy and find the film’s a distributor.

It is an interesting thing to be known for, but we are known for getting the more outside the box, seemingly difficult projects done.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Watching films with my dad of course! I specifically remember being very young and watching Pinocchio as we danced around the living room.

Image Credit:
Chyna Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.