On the eve of TheWrap’s annual TheGrill business and media conference, speakers and top-exec attendees representing a cross-section of Hollywood’s creative, business and technology communities gathered Sept. 29 at Cipriani Beverly Hills to raise a glass to the speakers and leaders who helped shape this year’s event.
The evening welcomed a wide-ranging group of executives, entrepreneurs, creators, investors and industry veterans like TheWrap founder and Editor-in-Chief Sharon Waxman, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson, Whalar Co-CEO Jo Cronk, Loeb & Loeb LLP Partner John Kulback, Fox Entertainment’s Head of FoxNXT Jon Flynn, Paramount Skydance’s Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim and PGA CEO Susan Sprung, among many more.
The dinner offered an opportunity for guests to reconnect, exchange ideas and celebrate the people driving change across film, television, media, technology and the broader entertainment ecosystem. Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving industry, the gathering reflected TheGrill’s longstanding focus on bringing together influential voices from the business of entertainment.
TheGrill’s dinner was sponsored by Lionsgate.
From candid conversations and cocktails to photos around the dinner, TheWrap captured the highlights of the evening. Browse the gallery below for a look at the guests and moments from this year’s dinner.
Sharon Waxman, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, TheWrap and Adam Fogelson, Chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group
Kevin Grayson, President, Worldwide Theatrical Distribution, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, and Adam Fogelson
TheGrill 2026 dinner, Cipriani Beverly Hills
Makan Delrahim, Chief Legal Officer, Paramount Skydance and Harry Sloan, Chairman & CEO, Eagle Equity Partners LLC
Eliza McNitt, Filmmaker, Writer & Director
David Permut, Producer, “The Invite” & “Being Heumann,” and Sharon Waxman
TheWrapBook Vol.6
TheGrill 2026 dinner, Cipriani Beverly Hills
Christina Lee Storm, Head of Studio, Narrative, Secret Level
Prem Akkaraju, CEO, Stability AI
TheGrill 2026 dinner at Cipriani Beverly Hills
Sharon Waxman and Peter Wilkes, Chief Communications Officer, Lionsgate
David Permut and Sharon Waxman
Victor Elizalde, Founder & CEO, Viva Pictures; Susan Sprung, CEO, PGA; Jon Flynn, Head of FoxNXT, FOX Entertainment; and Sharon Waxman
TheGrill 2026 pre-dinner party at Cipriani Beverly Hills
TheGrill 2026 pre-dinner party at Cipriani Beverly Hills
TheGrill 2026 pre-dinner party at Cipriani Beverly Hills
Sharon Waxman and Prem Akkaraju
TheGrill 2026 dinner at Cipriani Beverly Hills
TheGrill 2026 pre-dinner party at Cipriani Beverly Hills
TheGrill 2026 pre-dinner party at Cipriani Beverly Hills
Makan Delrahim, Sharon Waxman, Adam Fogelson and Jo Cronk, co-CEO, Whalar
Sharon Waxman shares welcoming remarks
Sharon Waxman shares welcoming remarks
Sharon Waxman and Adam Fogelson
Adam Fogelson
(Left to Right) Prem Akkaraju, Makan Delrahim, Sharon Waxman, Adam Fogelson, and Jo Cronk
Prem Akkaraju, Makan Delrahim and Sharon Waxman
Jo Cronk
Prem Akkaraju
John Kulback, Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP
Eliza McNitt
Annie Hanlon, Co-Founder/Partner, Playbook PLBK
Ryan Kavanaugh, Co-Founder & Former CEO, Relativity Media
Marie-Josée Cantin Johnson, SVP, Strategy, AgilLink & Exactuals, Entertainment & Sports Banking, City National Bank
Victor Elizalde
Guy Shimoni, CEO & Co-Founder, Shortical
Christina Lee Storm
Ori Winokur, Head of Music & Entertainment Partnerships, Artlist
Jason Zada, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Secret Level
David Permut
Peter Wilkes
Susan Sprung
Kevin Grayson
Kim Larson, Managing Director & Head of Creator and Gaming Team, YouTube
Jon Flynn
Mike Slade, Partner & Co-Founder, Second Avenue Partners
Ross Gerber, CEO & President, Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management
Alex Von Bargen, Publisher, TheWrapBook & Head of WrapStyle
Shira Lazar, Founder, CEO & Host, What’s Trending
Jennifer Pharm, Agency & Creator Operations Manager at TikTok
Todd Terrazas, Co-Founder, AI on the Lot & FBRC.ai
Doug Scott, Co-Founder, Cinemalistics & UNXNOWN
Katherine Rundell, Senior Director of Partnerships, Cantina
Yves Bergquist, AI Researcher, Entertainment Technology Center, USC
Sharon Waxman shares closing remarks
TheGrill 2026 dinner at Cipriani Beverly Hills
TheGrill 2026 dinner at Cipriani Beverly Hills
Alex Von Bargen, Ross Gerber and Sharon Waxman
Adam Fogelson
Victor Elizalde and Guy Shimoni
