On November 18, the DGA and The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) presented the panel discussion/networking mixer Light at the End of the Tunnel or Just Another Train Coming? A Realistic Look at Financing and Distribution in the Midst of an Uncertain Recovery, in the Guild's Los Angeles Boardroom.

The event was designed to educate DGA members about the current market trends in film financing and distribution. The evening also served as an informal setting for these members to make contact with executives from independent production companies.

Following a check-in period where the invited DGA members signed up for breakout sessions, there was a brief panel discussion about the current state of the industry and predictions on where it's headed in the very near future. The panelists were The Film Department's President of International Sales, Steven Bickel; Lakeshore Entertainment's Senior VP of International Sales Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard Rose; Voltage Pictures' Owner/President Nicolas Chartier; The Little Film Company's VP of Sales & Acquisitions/IFTA board member Clay Epstein; 120 dB Films partner Peter Graham; Nu Image group CFO Trevor Short; and Magus Entertainment founder Peter Wetherell.

After the discussion the attendees engaged in break-out sessions with the panelists before everyone reconvened in the boardroom for a cocktail reception.