Laurie B. Kirby, Esq.

Owner & President of FestForums® 

Laurie B. Kirby, Esq. owns and produces FestForums®, the B2B conference for festival producers, organizers, and industry leaders to learn and network all in one place. The conference includes various panels, exhibitors, awards, concerts and parties galore presented in a relaxing convivial environment. We discuss technology, sustainability, safety, wellness, marketing, operations, and many more topics with mixers and a trade show designed to cultivate networking.

Laurie was the former President and Chief Creative Officer of the IFFS (International Film Festival Summit) and the IMFCON (International Music Festival Conference & Lineup Magazine. She was also the Executive Producer of the Newport International Film Festival, the Barbados Film Festival, and The Ojai Film Festival. She has consulted for film festivals and filmmakers as well as served as a producer and consultant on independent films.

Laurie was an attorney for over twenty years and established The Legends Tour, the senior division of the LPGA. She was General Counsel to The Audubon Society of RI. She has represented professional athletes, newscasters, musicians, golf properties and nonprofits. She began her career as the assistant prosecutor and trial attorney in Middletown, RI. 

Laurie is a frequent speaker, interviewer and moderator at dozens of festivals and corporate conferences, including NIVA, SXSW, Mill Valley Film Festival, Future of Festivals in Berlin, Event Tech Live, SMA Sponsorship Mastery Summit, IFEA, BizBash, TourLink, San Francisco Music Tech Conference, Maui Music Tech Conference, Sponsor Secrets, Canadian Music Week, IEG, Event Expo, The Mill Valley Film Festival, Pollstar, The Catalina Island Film Festival, Film Festival Flix, The Napa Valley Film Festival, The Wolff Den, and The Lady’s Filmmaker Festival on all aspects of the industry. Additionally, she is often quoted as an industry thought leader in publications such as Variety, Indiewire, Forbes, The Street, AMP and Music Festival Business. She has also been a contributor to Indiewire, Eventbrite & Sonic Bids. 

Laurie has served on, and presided over non-profit boards throughout her career including The Lobero Theater, Newport International Film Festival, and The Montecito and Newport County YMCA’s.

She currently resides in Montecito, California and has three grown children and one adorable granddaughter.
For more information go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-kirby-esq-a830b517/