The 2012 American Film Market has recorded an increase in buyers of 6 percent (1,616 versus 1,523 a year ago) and welcomed 35 more buying companies than in 2011, showing an increase of 5 percent, the market announced on Monday. 

A total of 753 buying companies from more than 60 countries were present this year. The AFM Conferences, which launched in 2011, had more than 700 people attending each day.

Exhibiting companies at AFM were on par with last year at 357. 

Overall, the market drew more than 7,749 people.

“The healthy growth in new buying companies is the most important metric for us,” said AFM Managing Director Jonathan Wolf. “It shows that the global marketplace for independent film is continuing to expand.”

Regions with more buyers at the market included Asia (up 14 percent) and Latin/South America (up 17 percent). Among individual countries, Japan and Korea had the largest increase for buying companies, with Korea (up 26 percent) and Japan up (23 percent).

Attendance among exhibitor-affiliated participants (including their executives, producers, talent and guests) came in at 3,069.

Industry attendees, the non-buyers/sellers that include attorneys, bankers, directors, festival programmers, film commissioners, filmmakers, financiers and more, finished at 3,063. 

Additional AFM highlights included: 442 films screened; 82 world premieres; 327 market premieres; films from more than 30 countries; more than 650 screenings. 

The market runs through Wednesday in Santa Monica.