The largest industry event dedicated exclusively to vertical microdrama production, distribution, and innovation. Where creators, studios, platforms, distributors, talent, and service providers come together under one roof.
Eric Guilmette
Actor | Producer | Poet
Eric Guilmette is an American actor, producer and poet based in LA. Eric is most known for his success in the vertical drama space.
He was voted the 2024 Vertical Legend and Best Actor In A Drama in the Vertical Drama Love Fan Awards and won the Sapphire Vision Award at the Vertical Awards in September 2025.
Some of his successful vertical series include You Belong With Me on ReelShort, Chosen By Fate on Pocket FM and Campus Rivals on Vigloo. He is one of the producers, actors & creators of the fan favorite vampire series Love & Blood, currently playing on ReelShort that was nominated for 8 separate awards in 2025.
To date, he has led 50 vertical series, several of which he’s produced, through which he has built a very devoted audience and plans to continue producing and acting in many verticals to come. He is also the author of the successful poetry book sex and oatmeal.
Peyton Tucker
Actress
Peyton Tucker is a Los Angeles–based actress and rising star quickly making a name for herself across the entertainment industry.
With many leading roles across the top vertical drama platforms and a growing presence in film and television, Peyton has built a reputation for her captivating performances, natural screen presence, and undeniable ability to connect with audiences.
Her work has reached millions of viewers worldwide, establishing her as one of the industry’s emerging talents to watch as she continues expanding her footprint across film, television, and vertical dramas.
Jeff Violette
Actor
Jeff Violette is an American Actor Based in Los Angeles, best known for his roles in Micro Drama Series.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Jeff graduated from Roger Williams University with a degree in Construction Management.
After working as a Project Manager in the Construction Industry for 6 years, he took a leap of faith to push his newfound part time passion for Modeling into his full time career by moving to Los Angeles. Shortly after moving to California, acting opportunities in the form of music videos and commercial projects presented themselves.
Once finding his love for this new medium in front of the camera, he is now known for his success in roles portraying both protagonist and antagonist characters in many popular Vertical Micro Drama Series.
Nick Ritacco
Actor | Athlete
Nick Ritacco is a Chicago-born actor, athlete, and avid baseball fan.
After coming to the conclusion that he probably wouldn't make it as the starting shortstop for the Chicago White Sox, Nick left home and moved to New York City where he received his BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts whilst studying and training at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. After performing in numerous theatrical productions and even launching a Shakespearean theater company, Nick found his way into the TV/Film world with a recurring co-star role on Showtime's "Homeland" and a co-star role on NBC's "Law and Order: SVU." In order to continue his pursuit of work in the TV/Film industry, Nick packed up what he could carry (including his tabby cat Korra) and moved across the country to Los Angeles, where so far he has found work mainly in the Lifetime Movie Network and Vertical Drama spaces. Although these days Nick finds himself onset quite often (Nick has shot over 45 verticals and counting at this point), he still finds time to watch his beloved White Sox.
Brooke Moltrum
Actress
Brooke Moltrum is an accomplished film and theatre actress based in Los Angeles. Her extensive training propelled her onto a Broadway stage in 2016, where she competed in the Jimmy Nederlander Awards.
Since then, she has built a professional career in theatre, musical theatre, and film. Her most recent work includes starring roles in over 30 vertical films, through which she has cultivated a dedicated, global fan base. Along with her accomplishment Best Actress at the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival, she's also been nominated for several awards within the micro drama space and won "Best Onscreen Couple" in 2026 for her performance with Nick Ritacco in "Love Always Finds Its Way". Brooke brings dedication, honesty, and emotional complexity to each role she has the opportunity to play. She is grateful to be supported by her family, friends, fellow artists, and ever growing, incredible fans. For recent credits or inquiries, visit www.brookemoltrum.com Instagram: @brookemoltrum
Felix Merback
Actor | Producer
Felix Merback is an LA based actor, producer, and prominent figurehead of the vertical micro-drama movement.
Felix pivoted quickly into the world of film/television in Los Angeles after graduating a Phi Beta Kappa Scholar from the Indiana University Theatre and Drama School in 2020. After a whirlwind of industry change post-COVID and a slate of highly-touted performances in festival darlings such as the features "Blood Star" and shorts "The Rut" and "Froggy," Felix found himself deep in the blossoming world of Microdramas, propelling him into vertical stardom, with viral hits such as: "The Summer I Turned Bad," "Game of Choice," "Billionaire Daddy: The Hunt is On!", and many many more.
This naturally shoehorned him into the producing world, leading the charge on his first ever fully produced series "Dungeons of Ecstacy" for the largest vertical distributor, Reelshort.
After the success of that series in the domestic market, Felix joined forces again with his original partner for "Dungeons" - legendary horror director Charlie Band - for the formation of FMA Productions: a full-service production house hosting original and unique vertical projects for the biggest apps in the microdrama space. They are joined by partners, and vertical stars, Eric Guilmette, Sarah Molisky, and Rebecca Stoughton.
FMA Article: https://deadline.com/2026/03/charles-band-full-moon-features-microdrama-fma-productions-1236752414/
Felix has several high profile series yet to be released, including CheraTV's highly anticipated show "Ashton Heights," which has wrapped principal photography in Atlanta, and National Lampoon's Alpha Academy which has wrapped production on its first two seasons in Tampa, Florida.
***Felix is the recent winner of Best Villian from the 2026 VDL Fan Awards for his portrayal of Lafayette in Game of Choice, and the 2026 Apollo Awards Winner for Best Supporting Actor in Swipe Left for his portrayal of Robert.***
Felix is currently booked as a recurring guest on the new streaming series "Lostlings", set to wrap principal photography later this month.
Deadline Release for Lostlings: https://deadline.com/2025/06/lostlings-adapted-for-tv-by-iyanu-studio-lion-forge-1236443081/
Felix's new film "Dead Janitors Club" has recently been acquired by Blue Fox Entertainment for distribution and worldwide sales, and the film is set to hit American theatres later this year.
Deadline: https://deadline.com/2026/02/blue-fox-dead-janitors-club-efm-1236715517/
He is thrilled to be joining the Vertical MicroDrama Market in Vegas this year and cannot wait to meet everyone!
Buzz Leer
Podcast Host
We’re excited to welcome Buzz Leer, host of The Vertical Buzz, to Vertical Microdrama Market 2026 for a special LIVE podcast taping at SAHARA Las Vegas.
Join Buzz as he sits down with industry leaders, creators, talent, executives, and innovators shaping the future of vertical entertainment. Expect candid conversations, exclusive insights, and behind-the-scenes access to the people driving the fastest-growing segment of filmed content.
Be part of the conversation on Saturday, August 15th as the global vertical entertainment industry comes together in Las Vegas.
View the full lineup of panels, workshops, screenings, networking sessions, and special events taking place throughout the market.
Magnificent Motion Picture Works
“The Vertical Microdrama Market is where real deals happen. Essential for anyone serious about vertical content.”
We are proud to announce the Vertical Microdrama Market (VMM) 2026, created by Magnificent Motion Picture Works (MMPW), coming to Las Vegas. MMPW is a forward-thinking production company dedicated to developing and producing compelling film and media content, with a focus on innovation, storytelling, and scalable entertainment ventures. With a strong foundation in both creative development and production execution, MMPW continues to support projects that push the industry forward. As the creator of VMM, MMPW is driving a first-of-its-kind marketplace where creators, platforms, studios, and investors converge to shape the future of vertical storytelling.
Film Nevada
The Vertical Micro Drama Market 2026 is presented in partnership with Film Nevada, the state’s official film office and a leading resource for filmmakers, studios, and production companies working in the Silver State.
Experts in production support, location services, and Nevada’s film tax incentive program, Film Nevada helps creators bring their projects to life while fueling the growth of Nevada’s entertainment industry.
Vertical Shorts Festival Awards
The Vertical Shorts Festival Awards will headline Saturday night, August 15, 2026!
The First Festival for Vertical Cinema. Celebrating bold storytelling in 9:16.Vertical Shorts Festival is a global celebration of short-form films created specifically for vertical screens.
Our mission is to elevate mobile-first storytelling and redefine how cinema is experienced in the 21st century.
Vertical Shorts Festival was founded to celebrate a new generation of filmmakers. In a world where stories are consumed in portrait mode, vertical cinema has evolved beyond a format! Above all, we spotlight creators who are shaping the language of modern storytelling.
Real to Reel Capital
We’re excited to welcome Real to Reel Capital as an official exhibitor at the Vertical Microdrama Market (VMM) 2026 in Las Vegas.
Real to Reel Capital is a capital advisory and investment platform focused on film, television, and media-driven ventures—specializing in connecting creators, studios, and entertainment companies with strategic investors and structured financing solutions.
Their work sits at the intersection of storytelling, capital, and scalable deal-making across both content and experiential projects.
So, You Want to Be a Gold Digger?
So, You Want to Be a Gold Digger? is a provocative documentary exploring the hidden intersection of wealth, attraction, power, and social mobility in modern relationships.
Guided by Alla Kesser, founder of Gold Digger Academy, the film examines the psychology and social dynamics behind what society labels “gold digging” - challenging audiences to reconsider the complex relationship between love, security, ambition, and identity.
Gold Digger Academy
Gold Digger Academy is a personal development and behavioral education platform founded by Alla Kesser, focused on helping women better understand social dynamics, self-presentation, confidence, communication, and...
relationship psychology within high-level social and professional environments. The academy combines principles of behavioral psychology, etiquette, body language, emotional intelligence, and personal refinement to explore how perception, identity, and social positioning influence modern relationships and opportunities.
OPTIX Studios
Full-scale, state-of-the-art production studio built for modern + vertical storytelling.
The Vertical Buzz: LIVE
Join Buzz Leer as he sits down with industry leaders, creators, talent, executives, and innovators shaping the future of vertical entertainment.
Expect candid conversations, exclusive insights, and behind-the-scenes access to the people driving the fastest-growing segment of filmed content. Be part of the conversation on Saturday, August 15th as the global vertical entertainment industry comes together in Las Vegas.
ABOUT US
Vertical microdramas are short-form, vertically filmed episodes designed specifically for mobile viewing. Built around fast hooks, cliffhangers, and rapid pacing, each installment keeps audiences tapping to continue watching.
The Vertical Microdrama Market is the premier global gathering dedicated exclusively to the fast-rising vertical storytelling industry. Designed as the definitive international hub for creators, studios, platforms, distributors, and talent, the event brings together every major component of the ecosystem under one roof. Featuring a dynamic trade show floor, expert-led workshops, industry panels, screenings, networking receptions, and a prestigious awards ceremony, this is where the future of short-form vertical entertainment is defined.
From breakthrough creators to established production companies, attendees gain direct access to the people, technology, and partnerships shaping the next generation of mobile-first storytelling. Whether launching new projects, securing distribution, scouting talent, or discovering emerging trends, the Vertical Microdrama Market stands as the single most important annual event for the global vertical content industry.
Position yourself at the center of the industry’s fastest-growing storytelling format and gain visibility within the vertical content community.
Explore new production tools, evolving mobile technologies, and the distribution channels driving the expansion of short-form vertical content.
Enjoy packed screenings, buzzing receptions, late-night watch parties, and a crowd that brings real energy from the first panel to the final celebration.
![event layouts and seating charts [digital project]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69a50f6d1354236b44b25551/69a7665a112c1ad005f693b3_filming%20micro%20drama.png)
why this is important
Vertical microdrama has rapidly emerged as one of the most disruptive forces in modern entertainment, reshaping how audiences consume stories and how producers finance, distribute, and monetize content.
With billions of viewers now consuming short-form, mobile-first programming worldwide, vertical storytelling has become a defining format in today’s entertainment landscape.
The industry requires a central marketplace where talent, creators, distributors, investors, and service providers can meet, collaborate, and scale projects internationally.
This event fulfills that need by providing a single global platform where the entire vertical storytelling ecosystem converges.
Beyond networking, the event accelerates careers and launches productions. Actors gain direct access to casting opportunities, producers secure distribution and financing, platforms discover new hit series, and service providers connect with clients at the moment projects are being formed.
By bringing every part of the industry together in one place, the Vertical Microdrama Market is not just a conference. It is the engine powering the future growth, professionalism, and global recognition of vertical storytelling.
Join thousands of industry professionals from across the world at the largest gathering dedicated to vertical microdrama production, distribution, and innovation. Registration grants access to the full event experience including the trade show floor, panel discussions, educational workshops, project showcases, screenings, networking sessions, and exclusive industry watch parties.
Producers will hold distribution meetings, and many projects will move directly into production from connections made at the event.
Hear directly from producers, distributors, platform executives, and creative innovators driving vertical storytelling.
Connect directly with producers, distributors, and platform executives shaping the industry.
Actors, directors, writers, producers, investors, distributors, equipment suppliers, film offices, locations, and post-production services all attend to build relationships and close real deals.
Be surrounded by creators, fans, and industry professionals who share a passion for vertical storytelling.
Casting directors will be actively meeting performers throughout the event.
the Venue
BOOK WITH US AND SAVE:
Special room rates are available through our SAHARA booking link for VMM. Secure your stay today and take advantage of exclusive event pricing.
Official updates, press coverage, and major announcements from the Vertical Microdrama Market.
Find answers to common inquiries about the event.
Register today to attend the Vertical Microdrama Market.
Exhibit, volunteer, or apply for press credentials and take part in the industry’s most important annual gathering.
Gain perspective from executives, producers, and innovators driving growth, distribution strategy, and content development across vertical platforms.
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