Michael Ryan re elected as chairman to IFTA AFM

Veteran British film executive Michael Ryan, director of IAC Film, has been elected to a second consecutive two-year term as Chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), it was announced today by Jean Prewitt, president and chief executive officer, IFTA. Also elected at IFTA’s annual members meeting were new Executive Committee members and the Board of Directors for the association.

Ryan, who ran unopposed, is the first IFTA Chairman from outside of the United States.

The Alliance’s seven person Executive Committee, headed by Ryan, includes newly-elected John Kochman (StudioCanal), Vice Chairman and Paul Hertzberg (Cinetel Films, Inc.), Vice Chairman, Secretary. Continuing in the second year of their two-year terms are Barbara Mudge (Worldwide Film Entertainment, LLC) as Chairman, IFTA Export Alliance; Lloyd Kaufman (Troma Entertainment, Inc.), as Vice Chairman; Lew Horwitz (Horwitz Entertainment Financial Services), Vice Chairman, Finance; and Mark Damon (Foresight Unlimited), Vice Chairman.

The Board of Directors consists of 20 members. Newly elected are Glen Basner (The Weinstein Company); Peter Elson (Global Cinema Group, LLC); Kimberly Ferguson (Gaylord Films/Pandora); Tony Ginnane (IFM World Releasing); Alison Thompson (Focus Features); and Kevin Williams (Kevin Williams Associates).

Reelected to the Board of Directors for another consecutive year are Steve Bickel (Aura Entertainment); Ehud Bleiberg (Bleiberg Entertainment); Nicolas Chartier (Voltage Pictures); Roger Corman (Concorde-New Horizons Corp.); Pierre David (Imagination Worldwide, LLC); Peter Graham (120 dB Films, Inc.); Robert Hayward (Summit Entertainment); Avi Lerner (Nu Image); Mark Lindsay (Kimmel International); Nicole Mackey (Fortissimo Films UK); Nick Meyer (Lions Gate Films International); Bobby Meyers (Meyers Film Entertainment, Inc.); Charlotte Mickie (Celluloid Dreams); and Michael Weiser (Pinnacle Entertainment).

Bob Mott (New Line Cinema) and Andrew Stevens (Focal Point Releasing, Inc.) will serve as alternates.

“Michael Ryan’s leadership as IFTA Chairman has had a significant impact on our association,” commented Ms. Prewitt. “The Executive Committee and Board of Directors have a global perspective and experience in the independent film business that is the perfect match for IFTA’s ongoing support of our worldwide membership base during this exciting period in our industry’s history.”

“As the world becomes smaller, IFTA’s voice becomes more and more important for the worldwide independent industry. I look forward to working with IFTA’s new Board and executives to pursue an agenda that expands the opportunities for the independent film and television industry,” said Ryan.

Michael Ryan has a long and significant relationship with the association and was a founding member in 1980. Since assuming the role of IFTA Chairman in 2003, he has been instrumental in extending the association’s outreach in territories throughout the world.

Ryan is director of IAC Film, an integrated film, television and media financing and distribution company based in London. He most recently served as executive producer on “The Feast of the Goat” starring Isabella Rossellini and Tomas Millian, and the soon to be released feature “Silence Becomes You” starring Alicia Silverstone and Thora Birch. Prior to IAC, Ryan served as Co-Chairman of J&M Film Entertainment for 21 years, which he co-founded with partner, Julia Palau.

About the Independent Film & Television Alliance
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 160 member companies from 22 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent of the IFTA’s membership are from outside the U.S. Collectively, the IFTA’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, will take place November 2 – 9, 2005 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. Most recently, IFTA played a key role in the drafting and lobbying for provisions within the American Jobs Creation Act - signed into law in 2004 - that offer production incentives in the U.S.