Film event of the day: MarkIT Indie at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre
The new independent film organization MarkIT Indie set out to help indie artists and filmmakers build connections and collaborations that could push their work further. Its founders launched the group to create spaces where creative relationships might turn into sustained careers rather than one-off projects.
The venture began with actors and filmmakers Bel Deliá, Camilla Jackson, and Russell Jeffrey. Each brought years of experience across production, performance, and media, giving the organization an insider view of how indie projects actually get made and seen.
Bel Deliá is a film and TV producer whose career spans two decades. She started in broadcast television and later appeared in genre films including The Tunnel and The Tangle. She has continued producing and acting work on additional indie projects in the years since the organization formed.
Camilla Jackson has moved between journalism and performance, writing for outlets such as Blumhouse and Fangoria while also creating and starring in her series The Milli Show, available through Jash and Amazon. Her dual background in criticism and on-camera work shaped the practical tone of MarkIT Indie programming.
Russell Jeffrey is an actor and producer whose early credits include work for BuzzFeed and YouTube Red’s Vidcon. He has accumulated further acting roles in later films, maintaining an active presence in both theater and screen projects.
Evolution of Indie Film Networking Post-2019
MarkIT Indie’s first event captured a moment when indie filmmakers were still largely dependent on in-person gatherings to find collaborators and funding. In the years since, the landscape shifted toward hybrid models that blend virtual panels with occasional live meetups. Film Independent Forum continues to schedule annual sessions that pair industry talks with structured networking. SAGindie and various festivals now run recurring workshops that extend well into 2026, reflecting a sustained demand for the kind of targeted connection MarkIT Indie offered at its start.
Founders' Later Projects and Credits
Bel Deliá’s post-2019 work includes continued producing and acting roles that kept her inside the indie circuit through at least 2021. Russell Jeffrey added screen credits in 2023 and 2024, expanding the multi-hyphenate profile he brought to the organization’s early planning. These later projects show how the founders kept working within the same ecosystem they sought to support through MarkIT Indie.
The Ricardo Montalbán Theatre Today
The Ricardo Montalbán Theatre hosted the group’s inaugural program on April 29, 2019. The venue remains active in Los Angeles, presenting live performances, film premieres, and rooftop cinema events through 2026. Its continued programming keeps the space relevant for the same community of filmmakers and performers who attended that first MarkIT Indie night.
Resources for Indie Filmmakers in 2026
Filmmakers looking for ongoing support can turn to several organizations that maintain regular calendars. Film Independent offers panels and mentorship programs. SAGindie runs workshops focused on contract and production questions. LAIFF schedules screenings and networking sessions throughout the year. These outlets carry forward the core idea behind MarkIT Indie: giving independent artists structured ways to meet, share knowledge, and move projects ahead.
The April 29, 2019 event at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre marked the first public program from MarkIT Indie. Panels addressed budget realities, audience development, technical workflows, and the challenges of working across multiple roles. Representatives from BuzzFeed, Seed and Spark, Indie Rights, Etheria Film Night, Haven Entertainment, JTC List, and Spotlight PR joined filmmakers and performers including Lin Shaye, Emma Bell, Noree Victoria, Christopher Soren Kelly, Jessica Graham, and Haley Webb. The evening framed the organization’s mission in concrete terms: practical discussion paired with direct access to people already working inside the industry.
