Editor

IFTA Also Announces Election Results For New Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the trade association representing independent producers and distributors worldwide, today announced election results for its Executive Committee, as well as 10 members and two alternates for its Board of Directors. The elections were held as part of IFTA's Annual Members Meeting at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles and concurrently at the British Screen Advisory Council in London.

Paul Hertzberg, President and CEO, CineTel Films, Inc., has been elected Chairman of the Alliance and begins his two-year term effective today.  IFTA membership also re-elected Executive Committee members to two-year terms: Pierre David (Chairman and CEO, Imagination Worldwide) to Vice Chairperson and Brad Kembel (Executive Vice President, International Distribution, Summit Entertainment) to Vice Chairperson/Secretary. All three ran unopposed. 

Executive Committee members continuing their two-year terms are Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard Rose (SVP, International Sales, Lakeshore Entertainment Group) as Chairperson of the Export Alliance, Richard Guardian (President, Guardian Entertainment) as Vice Chairperson, Avi Lerner (Chairman & CEO, Nu Image, Inc.) as Vice Chairperson/Finance and Mark Lindsay (Independent) as Vice Chairperson.

Elected today to two-year terms on the Board of Directors are outgoing Chairperson Lloyd Kaufman (President, Troma Entertainment); Shaked Berenson (COO, Epic Pictures Group, Inc.); Carl Clifton (Partner, Sales & Marketing, K5 Media Group GmbH);

Roger Corman (President, New Horizons Picture Corp.); Kirk D'Amico (President & CEO, Myriad Pictures); Albert Lee (CEO, Emperor Motion Pictures (HK) Limited);

Bobby Meyers (Founder, Meyers Film Entertainment); Kathy Morgan (President, Kathy Morgan International (KMI)); Ed Noeltner (President, Cinema Management Group); and Lise Romanoff (Managing Director, Worldwide Sales, Vision Films, Inc.).

Continuing their two-year terms on the Board of Directors are Steve Bickel (President, Orpheum Communications, Inc.); Nicolas Chartier (Co-Founder, Voltage Pictures);

Mark Damon (President & Founder, Foresight Unlimited); Clay Epstein (VP, Sales and Acquisitions, The Little Film Company); Tatyana Joffe (SVP, International Sales, IM Global); Tony Kandah (President & CEO, Hollywood Wizard); Brian O'Shea (CEO, The Exchange, Inc.); Wendy Reeds (EVP, Sales & Distribution, Tiger Gate); Mimi Steinbauer (President, Hyde Park International); Lisa Wilson (President, International Distribution, GK Films).

Jack Campbell (VP, International Sales, Maya Entertainment) and Peter Kujawski (EVP, International Sales, Focus Features) will serve as alternates.

Jean Prewitt, IFTA President & CEO, commented, "Paul's wide range of experience and enthusiasm will be extremely helpful as we continue to develop initiatives around issues confronting the Independents. We look forward to working with this talented Board on programs that are vital to our membership and the Independent sector at large." 

She continued, "I must also thank Lloyd Kaufman who has been a tremendous advocate for the Independents and IFTA these last four years. Under his leadership, IFTA has had a measurable impact on our industry and public policy."

Regarding the announcement, Mr. Hertzberg said, "I look forward to enhancing IFTA's voice and influence around the world while working with the executive team and Board to expand benefits for our global membership."

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 financial 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's premiere event, the American Film Market, held in conjunction with AFI FEST, takes place every year in 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 http://www.ifta-online.org/.