Editor

INDEPENDENT FILM & TELEVISION ALLIANCE® APPOINTS

JENNIFER GARNICK VP, COMMUNICATIONS, AND ROBIN BURT AS VP, MARKETING & MEMBERSHIP

The Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®), the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television industry, and the voice and advocate for independents worldwide, today announced the appointment of Jennifer Garnick as Vice President, Communications, and the promotion of eight-year IFTA veteran Robin Burt to Vice President, Marketing and Membership.

In their new roles, Garnick and Burt will report to Jean Prewitt, IFTA President & CEO, and Jonathan Wolf, Executive Vice President of IFTA and Managing Director of the American Film Market® (AFM®). 

At IFTA, Garnick will develop and manage overall communications strategy, including the growth of the organization's online and social media presence. She will also work directly with members of the organization and the industry at large on a variety of new initiatives; create and oversee new digital marketing opportunities and programs; and be involved in the planning and execution of the AFM.

Burt, formerly IFTA's Director of Marketing, will continue to oversee all marketing and sponsorship activities for the AFM, as well as spearhead worldwide membership recruitment for IFTA. In addition, he will manage outreach for IFTA CollectionsTM, a non-profit service that collects secondary royalty income for its participants and to date has paid them more than $90 million in royalties and levies.

"Jennifer and Robin have proven themselves to be strong executives with a deep understanding of the independent film and television business, as well as a wealth of creativity and contacts," Prewitt said. "This marks a reunion of sorts with Jennifer, who impressed us previously when we worked closely with her as a key member of our outside communications team. Robin has played an integral role in the success of the AFM throughout much of the past decade and this promotion recognizes the increasing role he has assumed in representing IFTA to the industry."

Garnick joins IFTA from her previous role as VP, Publicity and Talent Relations, at Buzzmedia, which has more than 40 leading digital brands centered in pop culture, including Buzznet, Celebuzz, Idolator, Just Jared and Stereogum. During her four-year tenure there, Garnick helped turn Buzzmedia into the fastest-growing and largest independent entertainment publisher on the web. Previously, she served as Vice President of The Lippin Group, specializing in campaigns for feature film, music, television, entertainment web sites, corporate entertainment and a variety of entertainment-related events, including film festivals, trade shows, award shows, premieres and concerts.

Prior to joining IFTA in 2003, Burt held marketing and sales posts for a variety of entertainment organizations, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Special Olympics and the Organizing Committee for the 1994 Soccer World Cup.  

About The Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®)

The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 150 member companies from 23 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and institutions engaged in content finance.

Collectively, the Independent Film & Television Alliance's members produce more than 400 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year and generate more than $4 billion in distribution revenues annually.  The organization is also widely recognized for producing the American Film Market® (AFM®), the world's largest motion picture trade event held in conjunction with AFI FEST each November in Santa Monica.

As the voice and advocate for the independent film and television industry worldwide, the Alliance speaks out on matters of critical importance and, where appropriate, actively lobbies governments around the world in regard to measures directly affecting the independent industry.  For more information on IFTA and the American Film Market, please visit IFTA-ONLINE.org